DISCOVERY OF THE MURDERED BAILIFFS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2486, 25 March 1882, Page 3

DISCOVERY OF THE MURDERED BAILIFFS.

The discovery of the bodies of the two missing bailiffs of Lord Ardilaun at the bottom of Lough Mask reveals one of the most atrocious crimes (says the " Argus " correspondent) committed in recent times, even in the most lawless districts of Ireland. A report was circulated that the bodies had been found at the bottom of this lake, chained together. The statement was afterwards proved to be incorrect or premature, and doubtless originated in the common belief in the neighborhood that the missing men had been so basely disposed of. The discovery ultimately made is said to have been due to information given by an old woman. She declared that on the evening of the day when the bailiffs were missed she saw several men row out to to the oentre of the lake and drop into the water two loads. Lough Maf-k ia a comparatively small sheet of water lying in a portion of the County Galway, known as " Joyce's Country," and some thirty miles distant from the town of Galway. Immediately outside the town is Lough Corrib, whioh stretches in a north-easterly direction for upwards of twenty miles, and seven miles beyond the northern extremity of Lough Corrib is Lough Mask. Acting on the information supplied, the services of a steam launch were secured, and twenty-three bluejackets belonging to Her Majesty's gunboat Banterer, were engaged for twelve days searching the portion of the lake indicated, occasionally exploding dynamite in order to bring the bodies to tho surface. The lake was dragged in all directions, and at length their persovering efforts were rewarded with suooess. The bodies were found in 24ft. of wator, nearly close together, each enclosed in a separate sack, heavily weighted with huge stones to make them sink. The spot where they were discovered is not far from the shoro, and only a short distance from the houßO of the man Kerrigan, now under arrest on suspicion, and with whom the bailiffs were seen to go for the purposr of serving writs. Their employer, Lord Ardilaun, is a popular Irishman, known for his great wealth and his liberality as a landlord. The people against whom ho he beon at length foroed to proceed had refused to pny rent for years, and disdained all suggestions of compromise. They trusted to their own savage charaoter and the remoteness of their mountain distriot, and they oertainly have sustained their evil reputation. Lord Ardilaun has interested himself untiringly in the disoovery of the fate of his unfortunate servants. It is probable that the men were killed before they were immersed in the Lough. Pour bullets wore found in the head of the elder bailiff, and several in tho body of his nephew oi grandson. Captain Grant, of the Banterer, had the bodies wrapped in sailcloth, and forwarded by a party of polioeman to a temporary polico barraok. A short time afterwards the corpses were placed on a jaunting oar, and a procession of the constabulary on cars having been formed, the remains were carried to Olonbar Courthouse, to await an inquest. Several arrests of suspected persons have been made, and more are expected. There is abundant evidence to show that the fate of the unfortunate man was matter of common knowledge throughout the distriot, while the horrible orime by whioh their existence was terminated seems to be regarded with sullen and brutal indifference.