THE CASTLETOWNROCHE MURDERS. The Prisoners Before the Cork Magistrate.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 112, 25 July 1885, Page 4

THE CASTLETOWNROCHE MURDERS. The Prisoners Before the Cork Magistrate.

On Monday, June Ist, the inquiry into this case was opened before the Cork Magistrate. The suspicions hinted the week before were fully confirmed. David Browne, brother-in-law of Sheehan, now stood beside him in the dock, or rather sat, for Brownes mental condition was such that he could not keep his feet. In appearance and manner, he was a complete contrast to his brother-in-law. Sheehan is a dark, resolute-looking little man. His demeanour was cool, not to say insolent. Browne is a large, flabby, fat man. He seemed sunk in hopeless anguish. It had been at first decided that the inquiry should be private, but it was afterwards determined to admit representatives of the press for a reason stated at the opening of the Court. Mr Eaton, the presiding R.M., said his attention had been called by the solicitors for the prisonersto an article which appeared that morning in the Cork •* Herald," and which, if that had been a Court of Assizes, would have amounted to very serious contempt of Court. It was moat improper, and was calculated to prejudice the case of the prisoners by an assumption of their guilt, and utterance of statements which could not be rectified from evidence. This was the principal reason for departing from their first resolution that the inquiry should be private, namely, that the press should have access to report the proceedings. On the second day of the trial the excitement of the crowd outside the County Court of Cork was great, but comparatively subdued. The evidence of Fitzgerald, as to the finding the remains of the bodies in the well, was given in a very matter-of-fact style. Detective Walker will be heard in evidence next week.