The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1887-07-16 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN TYRONE.  A MADMAN'S MURDEROUS PROGRESS.  A Newry correspondent reports that one of the most shocking events that has ever taken place in the county occurred a short distance from Rathfriland, on Saturday morning. James Heslip, the man who has committed a series of murders, is a saddler by trade, and has been in business in Rathfriland for several years. About three years ago he had to be kept in an asylum for a short time. On Monday of last week the police arrested him and brought him before the magistrates, but as no person was present to swear that he was a dangerous lunatic he was liberated. His relatives took charge of him, and kept him in their house until Saturday morning. Heslip, after leaving the house of his relatives, walked over to his own house. He was next seen to come out again with a billhook in his hand and walk across the town in the direction of Ballyroney. He met and attacked two carters, who whipped their horses, and so ascaped injury. Other persons, unfortur ately, did not escape. An old man named Samuel Henning was shortly afterwards found lying insensible and covered with wounds, and beyond hope of recovery. He next appears to have killed an elderly woman named Nancy Mulholland, whose body was gashed and mutilated in a shocking manner. In one of the fields adjoining the road along which Heslip was passing some people were making hay. A young woman named Maggie Spiers, her father, and two young men were working with scythes. Heslip entered the field and rushed at them with the billhook. The men defended themselves with their scythes, and the maniac retreated. He, however, immediately returned to the attack, and rushed upoa the men with so much determination that the two young men were frightened and fled. The madman then struck the young woman a blow with the billhook on the side of her head, cutting her skull in two and killing her on the spot. He then attacked her father, and striking him a dreadful blow knocked him senseless. Heslip then walked out of the field and pursued his way along the road. At some distance from the place where he had murdered Maggie Spiers and fatally wounded her father, Heslip met a woman named Eliza Higgins, and attacked her and beat her about the head with the billhook until she became unconscious. The doctors are of opinion that she will not recover. Heslip then stripped himself and jumped into a lake near at band, and swam about for some time. Afterwards be attacked every person who came in his way. The crowd fled precipitately at his approach. One old man, however, had provided himself with a weapon by a tying e ra.n old bayonet eni to a aliie apa rpooxl ye a, ando fc in af rdonnetsesa ht ah de by this time apparently expended itself, and, being bard pressed by the crowd, be ran off and flung himself into the lake, emerging again in a few minutes, and charging the crowd again and again. By this time the police had been summoned. They found the murderer in the centre of the lake, which was surrounded by excited people. The constables at once plunged into the lake, and after a terrible struggle secured fleslip and brought him on land. He was then removed' amid the execrations of the crowd to the police barracks in Rathfriland, and on the way he narrowly escaped being lynched. Subsequently he was taken to Armagh Asylum. On Saturday an inquest was opened on the victims, and adjourned.  A GENTLEMAN in nothing at all, about to proceed to the sea, is stopped by a policeman.—Policeman: What do you mean, sir? You are bathing without a proper costume, from a prohibited portion of the shore.—The gentleman: Bathing! Nonsense. I'm going to commit suicide.—Policeman: Oh, I beg your pardou; that alters the case! TILE class was studying the history of the Roman Empire at the time when Christianity was diffusing itself through the whole world. The teacher turned to one of the students and said: Was Rome growing all this time ?—Pupil : Yes, sir.—The teacher turned away with such a look on his face that the boy knew he was wrong, so he added quickly, Smaller!