Patrick Hurley, a noted skullcracker (1849)
Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 7:34 pm
On Wednesday night last, two men went to field of turnips on Col. Wyndham’s model farm at Kildeemon, near Miltown, and beat the watchman (Edmund Hogan) with sticks, inflicting fourteen cuts — two of them fractures — on his head, from the effects of which he now lies without the least hope of recovery. On hearing of the outrage the Miltown police, with their usual promptitude, repaired to the scene, and arrested Patrick Hurley, (a noted skull cracker) who was at once identified as one of the two had made this savage attack upon Hogan. The only cause which can be assigned is, that Hurley was dismissed some short time ago by Mr. Gray from the situation of watchman, and Hogan appointed in his stead. The Magistrates committed Hurley for further inquiry. What aggravates the enormity of this crime is, that Hurley has been for years past receiving constant employment in Col. Wyndham’s farm, and though dismissed for sufficient cause, from the situation of watchman, was still employed, even up to the day preceding the outrage, as labourer on the firm (Clare Journal, and Ennis Advertiser - Monday 24 December 1849).