Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1882-12-02 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

ASSASSINATION OF A DETECTIVE  IN DUBLIN.  DESPERATE AFFRAY.  A terrible murder was committed in Dublin on Saturday night. Four detective officers out on special duty were attacked by three men in Abbe, Street, and Detective Cox, a fine young officer, was shot with a revolver in the back of the skull, and died before reaching the hospital. Detective Stratford drew his revolver and shot one of the ruffians in four places, and then arrested another of the gang, while a third was captured by another officer and wounded. The murderer was taken with his dead victim to Jervis Street Hosoital. It was found that one of the bullets had pierced the man's right shoulder and had penetrated his neck, two shots had struck his wrist, shattering the bone, whilst another had pierced his arm above the elbow. The body of the unfortunate constable, which lies in the dead-house, has a fearful wound on the back of the skull, caused by a bullet of large size. A later telegram says there were six detectives together, named Stretford, Eastwood, Cox, Williams, Naughton, and Beaty. They had been watching the &seaming, whom they suspected of having arms in their possession, for some time, and on Saturday night it was discovered that some of I them had broken into a house. The miscreants, on finding they were observed, walked across the roadway opposite the Natiog office, and were followed by the police. One of the gang shouted, "low is the time to fire," and almost immediately Constable Cox closed with one of them named Ds oay, but was instantly shot by him. A desperate struggle ensued, but Dooley, after being pierced by four bullets, was eventually felled by a blow from the butt end of a pistol by Constable Eastwood. A second ruffian named Devine held Eastwood by the arms, but a rifleman who was passing drew his ow, rd and putting its point to his throat, compelled him to surrender. The prisoner Devine was finally taken to the police station, where two revolvere end seventeen cartridges were found in his possession. He is stated to be a returned convict, and to have served two months' imprisonment for burglary. The detective Stratford, who narrowly escaped, says he fired no less than five shots, while Eastwood, who shot the man, discharged two shote. It is stated that there were about ten men in the attacking part,. The police are busily engaged investigating the matter, and other arrests are soon expected. At the inquest held on Wednesday in Dublin relative to the death of Detective Cox, the jury, on the suggestion of the Crown Solicitor, returned a formal verdict of " Died from a bullet wound," without goidg into the evidence at length. The four prisoners charged with his murder were again brought before the Police Magistrate on Wednesday, and some further evidence) was given. A young machinist stated that he ran away when he heard . . . . . . .  the report of the shots being fired. There being no evidence to implicate Woodward and Ryan, they were discharged. Devine and Poole, who denied that they had any connection with the assassins, and wished to cross-examine each other,•were committed to take their trial at the next Commission Court.