The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1871-04-22 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

MURDEROUS ASSAULT BY MINERS  ON MURPHY AT WHITEHAVEN.  On Wednesday evening, Murphy, the notorious anti-Popery lecturer, was announced to deliver an address on "The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church," in the Oddfellows' Hall, Whitehaven. Eight o'clock was the time fixed for the commencement of the proceedings. By that time the hall was crowded by an audience which may be better described as more numerous than select. The discourse had not iiroceeded more than tea minutes or a quarter of an hour when an interruption took place which at once fanned into flame the latent sparks of disturbance, Yellir.g and hooting effectually rendered nugatory every attempt which he made to obtain a hearing ; and the consequence was that, without much loss of time, he gave up the task in dispair. Surrounded by a body-guard of volunteers, he tvas borne down the staircase as far as the first landing, where he availed himself of the kindly shelter afforded by the apartments of the hall-keeper. A large crowd lingered rou .d the doors of the hall for well nigh an hour, desirous evidently of "assisting" in some way, dependent on circumstances, at the departure of Murphy for his lodgings. Gradually the impression gained ground that the cause of all the excitement had made good his escape by the back way, and by ten o'clock out a handful of folks remained congregated in Lowther-street. Murphy, nevertheless, had not then made his escape; but this he effected shortly afterwards, without molestation. The disturbance in the hall did not assume any very rancorous character, and the outside crowd never lost temper or became unmanageable. In fact, "the fun of the thing" seemed to be the moving principle which ' had influenced the collection of not a few. Superintendent Little had taken every precaution for preventing any breach of the peace. Hut, on Thursday evening, the bitter feelings which Murphy generally creates in the minds of Roman Catholics found expressim in an organised attack on the lecturer, which may prove fatal. Murphy, notwithstanding the disturbance of the previous night, determined to resume his lecture, and for that purpose repaired to the hall about an hour before the time appointed for the commencement of the improving discourse. The doors had not been regularly opened, one policeman only stood at the entrance, when a body of miners from Cleator Moor, said to be Irishmen, and numbering from three to four hundred, arrived in regular marching order, in front of the building. The word of command—. halt"—being given, they came to a standstill with military precision. A detachment then made their way into the hall, found Murphy in an ante-room, and, it is said, threw him downstairs. He was then dragged outside, where he was knocked down, beaten, and kicked until life appeared extinct. His assailants then left him, and marched off, before it was possible for the authorities to interfere. He was carried into the hall, where he remained under treatment by three doctors. Yesterday he was removed to his lodgings on a stretcher, presenting a shocking appearance, his head having been beaten nearly out of all human appearance.