The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1883-10-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE ALLEGED MURDER NEAR CORK.  On Monday the charge against the men in ctutody for the murder of James Spence, on Sunday week, near Dripsey, was partly investigated at Coachford, before Mr. Starkie, R.M., and two local magistrates. The ten prisoners who are charged with the offence were conveyed from the county gaol, in Cork, on cars, guarded by a heavily armed escort. No demonstration t )ok place, but the large crowds of peasantry who collected in Coachford showed the great interest th4t was felt in the proceedings. The principal parties in custody are John Murphy and his wife Ellen, and a farmer named Walsh. The remaining seven prisoners consist of five farm labourers, a stonemason and a shoemaker.  The evidence given in the course of the Inquiry went to show that a few days previous to the murder the prisoner John Murphy was in Cork, and meeting one of the sons of Spence, warned him that his father bad better be caretul of what he was about. The threat had reference to the letting of the grazing at the -farm which Spence had taken from Murphy's sister. On Sunday morning young Spence and his brother went to look after the cattle that had been placed on the land in dispute, and found them missing. They met John Murphy, who stated that he had the cattle in his stall. An altercation ensued between them, Murphy asserting that Spence had no right to put his catt2e on the land, and that he would drive them off, by force if necessary. The two young Spences auently went to Murphy's house for the cattle, and Mrs. Murphy, the wife, struck one of theta in the face with a stick, and accompanied the assault with a threat. The cattle were again put on the farm, and old Spence remained about the place during the day for the purpose of taking care of them. An old woman, a servant in the employment of Miss Murphy, deposed that at about nightfall she heard a discussion going on in the field between Spence and the prisener Murphy with regard to the cattle, Murphy warning him to take them off. Shortly afterwards a large crowd of people gathered, and she saw the prisoners Walsh, Barrett, and Quinlan pass by Miss Murphy's house and go in the direction of the mob. She heard a great tumult, and saw the cattle being driven away, The prisoner Walsh was on a fence 4" wheeling" a stick, and when the crowd dispersed, ete and Miss Murphy went out and found out Spence lying insensible in the field near where Walsh had been standing. The medical evidence proved that death was the result of a terrible wound, which smashed in the back of the head, separating the occipital and parietal bones. The case had not concluded at the rising of the court.  On Tuesday the inquiry was resumed. The ten prisoners were present in custody. A young lad named Murphy proved that he saw the prisoner John Murphy collecting a crowd on the day of the murder. The men armed themselves with sticks, and Murphy divided the handle of a pitchfork in two, giving one part to the prisoner Quinlan, and the other piece, upon the end of which was a metal ring, to the prisoner Walsh. The witness identified the latter weapon. Catherine Murphy, the claimant of the farm in dispute, and the sister of John Murphy, was examined. She said that on the evening of the outrage she saw a crowd of persons, but did not leave her house. It was dark And when the people left she went into the field and found Spence lying insensible. He lived only half an hour. A young man named Murphy assisted in removing the injured man into her house, but she had to place a shawl over Murphy's head in order to disguise him, as otherwise he would have been afraid to lend assistance. The inquiry was again adjourned.