THE "OMAGH MYSTERY."

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 7

THE "OMAGH MYSTERY."

■ » ■ MR. EXTRICAN'S RECOLLECTIONS Some interesting facts in connectio | with the "Omagh Mystery," the remarl I able Irish-crime dealt with* recently i the "Star" supplement, were given Vj a "Star" reporter this morning, by Mr. A. J. Entrican, of Auckland, who was a boy when tbe affair happened, and well remembers the great ssnsuticn the trial made. The murderer was a mar. named Montgomery, a sub-inspoet.r ol police, and his victim was a hank cashier \ named Glasse. Mr. Entrican supple jii ents the very interesting account oi i the affair given by Mr. Justice Parry nnd tells of the rather remarkable manner in which the stolen money wa- : found. Near the village where the crinu wi\d committed there wa* a sort of ditef over which there was a rough bridge o] causeway. Going along to work om ir.oruing, a farm hand made a "swish' nub v the bridge witli a sickle he wai carrybw, and said to his companion ".Many a rabbit 1 have got frcm undo: tle-e!" Onite unknown to himself tin chance swing of the sickle had cut tin Laud that was round the notes. Tin notes- thin freed were afterwards washee . down tie ditch and were found scatterei ■ about, and that led to the o tiie rest of the stolen property. i Mcngomery was tried three times be ' foie a jury could asrree upon a verdict— : which in the cntl was "guuty"—but ii ; spite cf the strain the man must havi been under, his professional instinct appear to have been stronger than hi: dread. .or Mr. Entrican tells hoy Montac itv expressed surprise that tin police hail n■ t noticed how lie earriei ll c mi ncy away without being seen, am then he explained how it was done Wren he went to the bank Montaomerj was wearing a big waterproof coat. H« pinned the bottoms the sleeves so as to make rf tbe arm. a "sort of pocket in which he stuffed t'.ie .notes, and his appearance did not attract any par-tii-nlsr notice. Mr. Entrican was born within live nubs of the Tyrone village where the crime was committed, and his father was on tiie jury that eventually found Montgomery guilty. It was a man named Entrican who saw Montgomery coming out of the bank alter iv. had committed the murder, but he was i:o rcl :tion to Mr. Entrican's family. Tho name is a very uncommon one, . However; and Mr. Entricaix say. he never met it outs'de his own family except in the nisit of this witness ia the famous ,0-uagh mystery. v