January 8, 1935
8-1-1835
The Tipperary Free Press published in Clonmel states-"Two murders were
committed in the public streets of Thurles on Saturday last between 3 and 4
O'Clock, by individuals who are known, and one of them is in custody fully
charged, the other after slaying his victim, went deliberately through the
streets and by the police barracks, and has not since been heard of. One of
the persons was named Egan, from Toomevara, the other Cantwell from
Whitefield.
A Rival journal the Clonmel Herald, published in the same town and the same
day, gives a totally different version in every particular, save that two
murders had been comitted in the Streets in Thurles. It says "that there was
only one murderer, who worked in a tobacco manufactory in Thurles, named
Maher, who, after a hot pursuit by the police, swam a river and escaped:
that the two murdered men were both named Ryan, the first killed in the
street by a blow of a stick loaded with lead, which instantly deprived him
of life, the second in Pudding-Lane, by the blow of a stone which knocked
him out. That one of the murdered men was from the Colliery, the other from
Wingfield near Templemore, further that the deed was comitted on Sunday. .
These accounts could scarcely be reconciled if last Saturday night's Gazette
did not furnish a clue by the offer of 100s. reward for the apprehension of
Michael Maher , who on the 27th attacked John Egan, (not on the street, but)
on the road from Thurles to Toomevara, beat him, and broke his skull, of
which he has since died. The Gazette does not even take notice of the second
murder.
The last mentioned journal states, that on Monday morning last , at so
public an hour as 9 O'Clock, 13 men, well armed with long guns, proceeded
through the County, to Milltown, to a farm belonging to Mr. Doherty, where
they left a threatening notice and inflicted personal abuse on the caretaker
named Devane, ordering him to give up his situation and holding. As they
were seen going in the direction of Mr. Murphys, of Woodford, about 60 of
his tenantry collected, and supposing that the armed men were going to
attack the owner, offered their assistance to repel them, and if Mr. Murphy
would assist, to attack and secure the 13. This Mr.Murphy (having but one
gun in his house) prudentially declined, and the party passed in peace. They
were subsequently observed and pursued by Captain Long (magistrate) assisted
by the Rev. Mr. Moloney, Roman Catholic Curate of Clonoulty, and the Police
of the stations which they successively passed at Rathcannon, Thomastown,
and Bansha, till their horses were tired, and they finally lost all sight
and trace of the marauders at Grantstown. The threatening notice is given at
length. It is stated to be written in a good hand, and evinces a superior
style of Whiteboy literature.
