Glasgow Courier. — 1844-12-24 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

COUNTY CLARI-DRILDEUL MURDER.  We have tbe painful duty this day to reoord one of the most determined sets at muraer which has ever disgraced the annals of our hitherto peaceful county. In a vast number of cases of a similar nature, the clouds of night or the depths of the plantation have screened the murderer, who, like the conchaet tiger, has sprung upon his devoted victim; brit, in the present ease, open day beheld the commission of the foul deed. On Friday afternoon, between the hours of one and two o'clock, two fellows, both of whom were armed, entered the house of Thomas Heffernan, of Crusbeen, about eight miles from Ennis on the road to Gort, and inquired of Mrs Heffernan if her husband was at home. Both she and her servant-bov replied that he was not in. "Ton Be," replied one of the fellows,'" he is in the house." Whether Mr. Heffernan had been apprised of their intentions or not, we cannot determine, but keppening to be it his stable,which was adjoining thekitaimm,he hastily shut the door, which was open. Thereupon they suddenly sprang at the door, and Mr. Heffernan bylaw not bis shot.ilder to it _ _  capable of Containing a single Heffernan, while the other lev fired. Heffernan instantly fell. timised Heffernan was paralyee  meant' seised his aide, and fe of the viee4 to make •  movement to secure one of ihe murd as they coolly took their departure, but one of them presented his gun at her, signifying if she made any motions for assistance she would meet the fate of her husband. When they bad gone, she rushed to Heffernan, whom she found lying upon the ground, weltering In his blood! Summoning that strength which bad been previously denied her, for she was now alone, her servant man, Pat. Grady, having skulked out of the house when he saw the men enter, she raised him, his hands firmly pressed at his right aide holding his inteetines, which were protruding, and half carried him to his bed. The unfortunate man seemed quite resigned, and said to her, "do not bother yourself—l am well enough." Heffernan very shortly after espired.—lnformation having been conveyed to the authorities at Ennis, Captain Leyne and Sub-Inspector H. G. Kelly repaired to Crusheen early on Saturday morning, and fully investigated the case. On a postmortem examination about fifty slugs were extracted from the body, which presented a most horrid spectacle. In the course of the day, Mr. Martin, coroner, held an inquest, when a verdict was returned, "That the deceased died from the effects of gunshot wounds inflicted by a perm.. -- -known." An individual has been apprehended Iccessory to the murder. Haim named John in-law to Heffernan —both atte” ,ppeared the deceased and Claney ba„ .ome acres of land. Heffernan ha.b. -vas on the eve of ejecting hi possessed the freehold; ma at is suspected, has origin Ind the very immediate cot remaining within their own alatives resided hard by— while tx heard, and making no effort to aseertax. use or effect of it, surely no great distance may to discover the parties. The servant of Heffernan, as If to am in the commission of the deed, or, at least, to make himself extremely indifferent as to the fate of his master, secretly lounged out of the house, rendered no assistance to his distracted mistress, and stated that he could not recognise the ruffians, as they parted by the bsok door; while Mrs. Heffernan declared they left by the front door, where he was standing. Mrs. Heffernan said she could identify one of the murderers. They were wrapped in dark great coats, under which they concealed their arms; and one of the guns was much longer than the other. Heffernan was a small farmer, and about 60 years of age. He had shortly before his awful death partaken of dinner; and having just entered the stable with a pitchfork full of hay, which he brought from the stack, he had been observed by his murderers, who were, of course, so certain be was in the house. For some time past he was in such imminent danger of his life that he regularly, at night, kept a pitchfork at his bed-side. The commission of this murder has created a great sensation in both town and country.