Pagina 169 di 657

McCarthy came running up to the lodge to say that he had found

his father dead in the wood, and to ask for the help of the

lodge-keeper. He was much excited, without either his gun or his

hat, and his right hand and sleeve were observed to be stained

with fresh blood. On following him they found the dead body

stretched out upon the grass beside the pool. The head had been

beaten in by repeated blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The

injuries were such as might very well have been inflicted by the

butt-end of his son's gun, which was found lying on the grass

within a few paces of the body. Under these circumstances the

young man was instantly arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful

murder' having been returned at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on

Wednesday brought before the magistrates at Ross, who have

referred the case to the next Assizes. Those are the main facts

of the case as they came out before the coroner and the

police-court."