CLOSE OF THE BARBAVILLA MURDER TRIALS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2549, 22 August 1884, Page 3

CLOSE OF THE BARBAVILLA MURDER TRIALS.

At Dublin, on June 18tb, Patrick Pagan, Johu Fagan, J. Boylan, J. Gaffney, J. M'Grath, and M'Cortnick, a poor law guardian, wero placed on trial for the second time on an indictment charging them with having on March 24th, 1882, conspired to murder Mr William Barlow Smith, D.L., of Barba. villa, in the County of Westmeatb. The first trial of the pnsoners took place eight days previously, when the jury disagreed. The Court on this occasion was chiefly occupied by police and special jurors, few others being present. Sergeant O'Brien, having stated the case for the Crown, the two M'Keons (father and son) repeated the evidence they gave on the previous trial, and the Court adjourned. The new informer, Cole, was then called. In cross-examination he admitted that, though he was aware Ibe conspirators, of whom he was one, were going to shoot Mr Smyth in bis carriage when returning from church on Sunday night, he himself went to church the same morning, and attended mass with his wife. One of the. witnesses, a woman, refused to give evidence, and made her escape from the witness box. She was brought back by a policeman, and then she threw herself down and covered her head. Judge Lawson threatened to send her to prison, but she persisted in her refusal, and called the Crown Prosecutor a bully. Her depositions "were then accepted as evidence A number of other wilnessea were examined to prove alibis for the prisoners. Mrs O'Dwyer, sister to William McCormick, deposed thet when visiting her brother in the cells, Pat Cole (now an approver) said that he would swear anything to get out of that. John Hoey, the warder in charge of the prisoners, said such a conversation could not have occurred without his having heard it. The trial occupied three days, and terminated in a verdict of <• Guilty," with a recommendation to me:cv. . McGrath, on account of his extreme old age, was only sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard 1.-ibour. The other five were sentenced to seven years' penal servitude each. A scene of considerable, excitement occurred when Mr Justice L'-twson pronounced the sentences. The gallery of the Court was filled with the friends of the prisoners, a.id a wail was raised. The two i t and Boylan declared that ihey had boe-.i comviefced by a packed juiy, ..uk! ih-'.c " there would he moio u's f'ft.n.' presumably refen-iiig to miuder.-j. All the prisoners were greasy e^cued. ivlr Justice Lawson suid that he thoroughly agreed with the veidic-t. and that but for the recommendation of the jury he would have inflicted the extreme