hhQciiQns Muriet.
{"newspaper_name": "The Southern journal.", "edition": "01", "page": "p3", "byline": ""}
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AuvviouS HAuayi'


Inquest after nearly thirty years.-On
Wednesday an inquest was held in the
parish church OF Bennett, county Of
Donegal, before Mr.. Miller, coroner,
TO investigate the circumstances con.
nected with the death Of female
found buried in Ballikinard bog. 1t
appeared from evidence that while
some men were occupied cutting turf
on Friday evening, the 2lst inst, they
discovered the body. dressed in dark
stuff gown and fannel petticoat, with
a scarlet handkerchief tied round the
head. The body was in a state Of the
most perfect preservation, the flesh
not in the least decayed or shrivclled,
but perfectly firm, and free from all
unpleasant smell. The wretched wo-
mad had evidently been baibarously
murdered, as her throat was cut in a
most (rightful manner-the hair and
ribbon encircling the head, stained
with blood, and the left arm broken.
Several witnesses were examined who
clearly recognized and identified the
body as that of Betty Thompson, wife
Of Owen McSwine, deceased, who
suddenly disappeared in the month Of
May, 1914, under circumstances of a
most suspicious nature. 1t had al
ways been rumored in the neighbor.
hood at the time, that she had been
murdered, as was generally supposed
though. strange to say, no search
was made, nor did ever any inyestiga-
ton take place until the body was
accidentally discovered near the SUR
face Of the bog.


This neglect and want of inquiry is
the more to be regretted as there is
very little doubt that sufficient cvis
dence formerly existed 10 have led 10
the conviction Of the murderers. 1t
was really astonishing to see a human
for thirty years inhumedin bog, with
the lineaments apparently perfect
and unchanged as on the day the un-
fortunate creature was murdered; and
the clothes OF the deceased were un.
injured by the time. Even the small
pox, with which she was slightly
marked, was clearly discernible, from
powerful antisceptic properties of
the bog. The figure was finely pro-
portioned, and the limbs perfectly
elastic, and most exequisitely formed,
with beautiful dark hair flowing down
the neck, as If yelling from the eye Of
nature, the horrid deed of an unnatu.
raj assassin. To the credit of the pa.
rishloners, every exertion was made
to throw light on the mysterious deed,
but without effect. The jury found
that "The body was the body Of Betty
Thompson, who disappeared in the
month of May, 1914, and that she
came by her death in consequence Of
ii wound inflicted on her throat with
some sharp instrument, by some per-
son or persons unkuown.-Derry Pa
per.