Murders in Ireland.

Otago Witness, Issue 1602, 5 August 1882, Page 22

Murders in Ireland.

SHOOTING A MAGISTRATE AND HIS BODYGUARD

(Home News.) A frightful double murder was perpetrated at Ardrahan, near Gort, County 6alway, on the afternoon of Jt TOe Bth. Mr Bourke, of Rahassane Park, who for some time past hS been under special protection, was returning home, accompanied by his bodyguard, a soldier belonging to the Royal. Dragoon GuaSs, when seveml shots were fired by some persons concealed behind a wall. The shots took immediate and fatal effect upon both Mr Bourke and his guard. The police, as soon as the crime was discovered, set out to track the assassins, who have, however, not yet been ar-

Mr Bourke, the murdered gentleman, about 40 years of age, was the son of the late Mr J. J3ourke, Crown solicitor for Mayo, was educated at Stonyhurst and Clongowes Wood, and graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, as senior moderator. In 1359 lie was called to the bar, and afterwards successfully practised in India for several yeais. On his return to Ireland, after amassing a considerable sum of money, he bought Raktssane, which had been in the possession of &n o?d family well known in

the district. He had also property at Curra-, leieh near Claremorris, County Mayo, which he had inherited. He is stated to have been a tfood landlord, and during the recent distress fa his neighbourhood he took an active part in assisting the people, with whom he was very popular. When the distress ceased, and he, began to look for his rents, the tide of popular feeling turned against him. His life was threatened, and he was obliged to go about armed. Even when attending his place of worship with his family he had to take a doublebarrelled gun with him. This was made the subject of an indignant complaint to the Lordlieutenant by a Roman Catholic clergyman, and the congregation demanded his expulsion. He recently stated to the late Under-secretary, the ill-fated Mr Burke, that he knew he would' be shot sooner or later. The precautions which he took were ridiculed in the Land League Press, and it was pretended that he was perfectly safe. Mr Bourke has lately been constantly attended by a soldier of the Dragoon Guards. On the day of his murder he was ( returning on horseback from attempting to collect some rents, followed by his escort, and while passing through a place called Ardrahan,' near Gort, several shots were fired by persons, in ambush, some of which took effect on both, riders, killing them instantly. Their bodies' were soon afterwards discovered on the road.i but no trace of the murderers was found, 1 although it is stated that six men were seem leaving the spot. Mr Bourke contested Mayo ; /with Mr O'Connor Power at the last election, but one, and was nominated to oppose the Rev. j Isaac Nelson at the last election,' but withdrew ;i he also on one occasion contested Tralee with! Lord O'Hagan.' He is described as a kind andj amiable gentlemen, generally liked by all who, came in contact with him. He,was no relation! to the Under-secretary who was recently mur-l dered in Dublin. ! Mr Isidore B. W. Bourke, brother of the murdered' gentleman, has addressed the follow-: ing letter to the newspapers :— ' How loner, are we to bleed for the follies and feebleness of apolitical party? Last night my murdered brother wrote me saying : It appears that the sub-commissioaers are instructed to reduce rents, and it may be concluded that tha Radicals, with their leader, are in theParnell; interest secretly.' I endorse my dead brother s words— written, I may say, m his blood— and" I ask the English people, How long areweto, wait for an end to this reign of terror? Whilst parties are quibbling over words blood is being Spilt with absolute impunity. Igo now to Ireland, perchance to fall as my brother did, though I have escaped the bullet on the battlefield Would God that his death brought peace to Ireland— if so, his or mine were little matter: but, alas! each fresh victim is but a fresh example to overawe those who hold land,' ■ and an incitement to further outrage on the • Tjart of needy scoundrels, with a reward m the transfer of property from those who have few Votes to those who have an overpowering majority. How long are the assassins to govern Gillooly, Roman Catholic bishop of El^ phin, a near relative of Mr Walter Bourke, has directed the priests of his diocese to admonish their 'flocks' to use every effort to bring the assassins to justice. Dr Gillooly has been throughput strongly opposed to the Land League agitation. ' :