The Sun. — 1861-05-17 (London, England)

DROGHEDA MURDER.  INQUEST—VERDICT OFWILFUL MURDER. On Wednesday the investigation before the coroner and jury was held, and occupied the entire day. Around the door of the house in which the inquest was held a large crowd of men, women, and children congregated, and remained from the beginning to the close, notwithstanding but little information was to be had, as few but the jury and constabulary , eccupied the room. The jury having been impannelled in the West Gate Barracks, where the body lay, and having taken a view thereof, proceeded to the house of Mr. Tully, vintner, where the inquiry was held. The coroner having called over the names of the jury, and the prisoners having been brought in, he stated that in this case it would be well to have a post mortenz examination made of the body. The jury having expressed their wish that it should be done, Dr. Kelly was sworn, and proceeded to the barracks to make the necessary examination. Margaret Rafferty called, sworn, and examined —Lives in Fairtlough's-lane, Sunday's-gate. A fortnight on last Sunday, witness's mother called her about half-past three o'clock, saying Mary (witness's sister) was sick. In a few minutes after she‘rose and came down, her sister was delivered of a child. Heard the child crying. Witness's mother pressed the child's throat to keep it from crying, so that the noise might not be heard. Asked her mother what she was doing ? She answered that nobody would know anything about it. Ran up to bed, but came down as she could not sleep. On coming down the second time she observed her sister Mary lthe child's mother) with her hands on the throat of the child. The child was then smothered. Witness told her sister to take it up and do something with it, which she did. It was put under a box in the room until evening. Saw the body next morning lying on a dunghill. Told Margaret M'Guiggan next day that Mary had had a child, and that she smothered it. Did not like to tell Head-constable Murtagh anything about the case when he was up at the house on Saturday the 11th.  The mother and sister asked the witness some questions relating to the alleged fact that the mother of the infant held the child before the fire for some time to see if there was any life in it. Nothing important was elicited.  Margaret M'Guiggan deposed that the first witness (Margaret Rafferty) never told her that the child was smothered. Never heard of Mary being in the family-way. Would not believe it if Margaret said so, as she thought very little of what she said. She did tell witness she believed it was all over, by which witness understood that a child was born but did not come to life, or something that way. Head-constable Murtagh sworn—Deposed he got the body of the infant on Monday. The elder Mary Rafferty produced it to him, and stated it was her daughter's. It was buried in the house. Went on Saturday last to the house, when, in reply to his question, was Mary confined, Margaret stated she knew nothing about it. Afterwards the mother informed him, and said she would give every information respecting the matter. The elder Rafferty alleged the child was still-born ; the younger, thinking it might be alive, baptised it. They both denied it was on the dunghill. The Coroner having charged, the jury (consisting of 14 persons) remained for a considerable time together, after which the following verdict was handed in :—" The deceased infant named Rafferty was murdered by Mary Rafferty, senior, and Mary Rafferty, junior, her daughter, on the 28th day of April, 1861."  A warrant was then made out, and the prisoners committed for trial.