TRAGEDY IN AN IRISH POLICE BARRACKS.

On October 31st a terrible series of murders was committed by a constable at the police barrackß at Ballinadrumna, County Kildare, the murderer subsequently taking bis own life. The scene of the tragedy is on the borders of County Meath, not far from EnCold. Tho (hocking affair occurred at night. Constable Filkingion attacked Sergeant Bogon and his family m the barracks, killing the unfortunato officer, bis wife, and threo ohildreu, aDd seriously wounding four others. The news reached the constabulary office at 11 o'clook, and by the next train Assistant-General Whelan, accompanied by Mr Hurle, private secretary to the Inspector-General, and Dr Gordon, prinoipal surgeon to the coostabulary foroc, started for the scene. The divisional commissioner, Captain Stokes, with County Inspector Lock and Distriot Inspectors Supple, Boberteon, and Tyuke, who heard the news at different police stations, also repaired to the spot. ' Dr Joseph Bmyth, coroner for County Kildare, arrived at Ballinadrumna on Wednesday, to hold inquests m connection with the shocking occurrence m that tpitp, He first opened an inquest on tho bodies of Sergeant Bogan, bis wife, and throe ohildren, saying that ho would take up the inquest on Pilkington afterwards. Sir Nugent, J.P., read the statement which baU been made by Elizabeth Bogan, a ohild, which was to the following effect : — " In the middle of the night we were all woke. Fathera nd mother, with all my brothers and sister*, nins m number, were all m father and mother's room. The door oponed, and Borneone entered tho room, and a match was lighted by the person entering, and then I saw it was Constable P ilkington. He then fired tbr.ee shots. I heard my mother say, 'That is b, shot,' and that was of I. After ho fjred the shots be bad a stick m bis hand, with wjjioh be struck down all tho children. J *a> tearing tbe room after being atruok whon he caught bold of me Bnd asked mo was I mad also, and he cried at the same time. I looked the door of the room on tbe inside, but ho came back and burst it, and boat tbe children again. He then went out, and I beard a nhot fired," Tbo coroner and the jury then prooeeded to ll;o bouse nt which the injured children are being eered for, and read ovor the statement t3 tho girl Klizibpth, who lay m bed. She said she had nothing to add to it. District Inspector Nipple, examined, said that he know of Ms own knowledge that (he two men h»d lived on the best terms together. Bogan had often asked witness t> prpmots Filkington, and had always spoken m ievinu qf Ijjp hjghept praise of him. Mary Kelly, the day servant of jibe barracks, examined, staled that when she entered the bouse and found what had occurred she heard the surviving child, Elizabeth Bogan, calling to her softly, "Come here, till I tell you." Pilkington was very fojjd of tbe children, constantly playing with Ibern, and would givs one of thorn a ponnjr npofij- " ej-qry day. Medical evidanoo was thon gjvon bb to the came of death. In tbe ease of tbo father and mother death bnd been o msed by revolver shots piercing the brain, and m thooaee of the children by blows, apparently from a baton. The jury re'urned a verdiot to the effect " Tbpfc tho decoosod bad been murdered by Constable pilkington." The foreman said tbat they relumed thinks to Almighty God tbat tho little child Elizabeth had been spared to tell tbe tale, otharwiao their country people might have been under a terrible suspicion. Tbe inquest on Pilkington was then opened Patriok Oonyngham, who had been m a pyblic-house with tbo deceased on the 1 evening of the occurrence, and was the ' lait person ia his company, stated that the ' deceased Imd a gl«tw of whisky and two > bottles of etout.. He was not du;nk, but appeared jolly. He had an artificial 1 manner that night which witness had never ' e,oe» m him before He would not allow 1 witness to gs ff/th him further than the > Jeyel of a bill nea^ ibe barracks. The djis- ' trjot inDjflctor being B»&ed 'if 'hjp knew of ' &nf peculiarities about the deoeaßecJ, S l '^ • ihftt Pil^ogWfl ffore » w ig, about which 1 he was very fcouoby j liufc foe was a steady, 3 good man. A brothes of tho dsgg&sed r gave evidence to tbe eft'ept thai;, m addition " to having ao aunt who was m a lunatip ! &*f turn, tha deceased had an uncle similarly ' affected. Dn Bobisson said that he had ' known tho deceased, and that he had tat* ' pectod him of having besa tubjept to epileptio ' fits. Tbe jury returned a verdict " That the ' deceased died from injuriet inflioted by bin)', 9 self, while labouring under temporary m