Glasgow Courier. — 1864-10-20 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

TWO SISTERS DITIRDERD NEAR BAL. BRIGGAN.  A correspondent of the Dublin Express gives the following, particulars relating to this horned tragedy: —A murder, as horrible as has ever been recorded in this country, was committed on Monday evening, at about four miles from this town. The house in which the victims lived is about five miles from Rush station, four from Balbriggan, and about twenty from Dublin. It is situated at the roadside, near the top of a hill or slope, and certainly not less than half a-mile from the nearest habitation. The names of the murdered women are Ellen Murphy, aged about 35, and Anne Murphy, her younger sister, aged about 25. Their brother Richard, with whom, up to Monday, they appeared to have lived in comparative content and happiness,is about 50 years of age. This brother of the murdered women has been arrested, and though no formal charge has as yet been made against him, the magistrates of the district, who held a private investigation as to the facts of the case, consider that a grave suspicion is attachable to him of being the author of his sisters' death. It appears that some seven years ago—in 1857—the father of the deceased died, leaving a wife, two married daughters, a son, Richard, and the two daughters, Ellen and Anne (both deceased). The father held a small farm of 14 acres under a Mr Davis, and was rather comfortable than otherwise. At his death there was, it is alleged. a will found, by which the father, after mentioning his married daughters, and bequeathing theni one shilling each, left the farm to his son Richard (the prisoner), with a charge upon it of £l5 to each of the unmarried daughters (now murdered). The prisoner entered upon the ownership of the farm, his mother and sisters housekeeping for him and assisting in the farm yard and dairy, and it is said that all were on the most amicable terms up to and long after the mother's death, which took place about three years ago. Since then, and up to within the last two or three weeks, there does not appear to have been the whisper of a disagreement between the brother and sisters;, but a matter then occurred, from which it is supposed some dispute arose. One of the executors of the will, a man named Cahill, died about. three weeks ago, and it is surmised—though so far it is only surmise—that the two sisters feared that if they did not immediatelj, claim the money to which they believed themselves entitled, they would lose it altogether; that, accordingly, they asked their brother fur it; that he denied the existence of a will at all, and that some angry dispute arose in consequence, ending in a tragic .manner to the ill-fated sisters. Though the brqther is ii.nder arrest a present, this is, so far as I can leap, thP only motive suggested for the commission of the exeFable deed. . On searching the house, the will, the eazetouce ef which the primer hid provieuely  denied, was found, and an old frieze coat which he was stated to have been seen wearing the day of the murder. On this coat there were two marks, evidently of blood, but as it was found lying very near one of the murdered women, much importance cannot be attached to the fact. One mark was under the collar and the other inside the tail, the latter being as large as the palm of one's hand. This was not the coat he wore, however, when he was taken into custody. The weapon with which the frightful deed was perpetrated has not been found, though abundant proof exists that it was a hayfork, of which two or three were found about the premises, notwithstanding that a diligent search has been made by the constabulary.