THE CASTLETOWN MURDERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1192, 2 January 1885, Page 3

THE CASTLETOWN MURDERS.

The fo’lowini! are the circumstances connected with the murders at Castletown Roche, in Ireland, for which William Sheehan has been arrested in Auckland :—Un October 17, 1877, prisoner’s rn ther, Kate Sheehan, his brother, Thomas Sheehan and his sister, Hannah Sheehan, suddenly and somewhat mysteriously disappeared from their farm, which adjoined the prisoner’s farm. From what the prisoner stated at the time it was generally understood that prisoners relatives had gone to America, and nothing more was thought of the matter nu'il the early part of September last, when the remains of three human beings, two women and a man. were found in a well on an adjoining farm, about halfa mile from the house formerly occupied by prisoner’s missing relatives. The police have since then I een investigating the matter, and eventually such evidence was obtained as to justify them in issuin' a warrant for prisoner’s arrest on the charge of murdering the three persona; and it is understood that a detective officer is now on his way to the Colony. The murdered family consisted of Mrs Sheehan (the mother), Thomas Sheehan and Mary Sheehan (son and daughter). There was, besides these, William Sheehan, an elder son. In October, 1577, William was about to be marri d, and the mother (who held the land in hei own name) ol jectod to the match, believing the matrimonial consideration was not sufficient for her son. The circumstance gave rise to a great deal of biek, ring, and it is believed to have led to the murder of the mother with her two children. Tiiey dis appeared suddenly and in a most mysterious manner, and nothing whatever was heard of them until their ho lies were found at the bottom of a well. Their disappeara co was the subject of conversation, and it was hinted that foul play bad been resorted to, but William Sheehan had many friends in the locality, and they accepted his explanation that the mother and her children had gone to America, with money he ha-1 given them out of his marriage portion ; and they managed to hush up all the sinister rumours that were afloat. An old man named Dimne, who was taken into custody on suspicion after the inquest, has given information which has led to the warrant for William Sheehan’s arrest beinr issued. At. first Dnane shielded the side broth", and toll a story, if true, coinpef ly exonerated him. He now avers that that story was false, and has ' rought lor. wrrd a very ma e. ial witne s in the person of a servant girl named Mnrgaiet Reilly, who to a great extent corroborates his statements. A third important witness also c one forward, and it is believed that ; here is a second man concc-n ed in the e-in e. Many minor matters which go to e-miPete the chain of circumstantial evi

deuce have been ascertain 'd, and the theory of ih" p dice us io the murder is that Wiliam Sheeban decayed his brother Thomas i <• an out-office and stranged linn there, with i o assistance of Hie second man, and that both returnin'.’ quickly to the dwelling urprise the mother ’-nd daughter, and s ra ufed them, or despatched He m by tome nth r expo Lions means. Nti'her Duane or the servant girl heard any noise. The thim witness who has come i'orwar I will give evidiiieoasio the removal of flic bodi « ii’gbt, and he, it is I cli‘*«i<l, w tii he able to ih-ibify the parties ..pgage.l in life ghastly work In.the Auckland Police Court I ■ sp'olm - Thomson sid that the prisoner, aft v being duly can.ioued, admitted tba' be was William - htehan tar. lie lui'l lived at Castletown K die, in County Cork, and th t his mother, biother, ami sister had gone to America. It seemed to be a relief to him to talk, after fhe surprise of the anest was over, and the statement he then made was as folio vs : —“I came from Ferraov. My mother Kare, my brother Tom, and my s'ster Haim hj left on a car about that time for Formoy. The farm was six miles from Castletown Koclic, and 12 from ' ismore. They bide me food day when '.hey were leaving. Tiiev said they were going to F, vmoy. Th-y b d spoken before about going to America nut I did not know they were siomg there. I "ever saw or heard of them after that, 1 did not kill them We always lived on good terms. We had 00 acres of land rented from Miss O.iphant, at, L2 per acre. She was a hard landlady. If she had been married, may be I would be there yet. We had a servant called Mary Reilly ; she was out for the cows when they left in the car. 1 do not know who was the -driver It was a Derby car. Du me was at home at the time ; it was between 11 ami 12 o'clock in the morn ng. They had told ino they were going f > America to stay about a fortnight, and come ' nek again. Broderick’s farm was f lie second farm from orns. 1 know the well on it; it was 4'lft. or Soft deep. It was a mile and a hah from our bouse to the well. My brothers John, Junes, and Edward are still in Ireland. The farm has never had a tenant since I left it. I had a letfer from Home anout six months ago. if Duane knew anything, he could not keep it so long as this ; ho would let it out, m five minutes. 1 was mirricd to Mary Ann Brown in November, seven years ago. My mother never was against my marrying her.”