published in the Scots Magazine
Patricide Enniskillen, May 9 1822 We have this day to record the perpetration of a crime, the blackest in the catalogue of human depravity. Some bad feelings, it appears, had lately arisen between James KEYS and his son John, living with him the townland Shane, situated in the mountains not many from Church-hill, concerning the proposed division of the house and farm, on the terms of which they could not agree. On the 23rd ult. the parties went out to their ordinary labour, and, in the evening, John returned alone, carrying his father’s spade along with his own. To an inquiry as to the cause his father’s remaining behind, he replied that he was delayed on the mountain looking for goats. The man, however, not making his appearance that night, or next day, suspicion was excited, and a search set on foot, but it was not till the 1st instant that the unfortunate victim was found, buried under a ditch where the son had been working. The body, which lay with the face downwards, was quite naked, and there were two dreadful wounds on the back and side of the head, besides the ribs being entirely separated from the backbone. Under these circumstances, the son, who made a show of assisting in the search, was taken into custody. He betrayed great agitation on finding himself suspected, and shortly after confessed a sort of minor participation in the crime, endeavouring to incriminate his brother as the principal party. An inquest was held on the body by Mr. TROTTER, Coroner, and a verdict returned, that the deceased came to his death of a repetition of blows inflicted on him by his son, John. Much praise is due to John FAUSSET Esq. and the country people in general for their active assistance in tracing this horrid business, and securing the wretched man accused of its perpetration, who is now lodged in the gaol of this town. -- [email protected] www.cotyrone.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ _______________________________________________ [email protected] UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
