BALLINA CHRONICLE Ballina, Mayo, Ireland Wednesday, April 17, 1850 BARBAROUS MURDER IN CLARE On the night of Wednesday, the 10th inst., as Arthur O'Donnell, Esq., of Denrynalicka, was returning home from his herdsman's house, he was met on the road within a few perches from his own house, when he was murdered with stones, and some other sharp instrument, the upper part of the head was nearly severed by a blow, as if from a hatchet, his brains were besmeared upon the road and the body had several large wounds. Such an appalling murder the records of agrarian outrage never chronicled, and his body was so disfigured that it was some time before the inmates of his own house were able to recognize him, and his head was so lacerated that it appeared one mass of piecemeal. The supposition is that this deed was committed by recipients of relief whom Mr. O'Donnell was wont to strike off the lists at the weekly revision by the Board of Guardians in Kilrush union. The murdered gentleman was son of the late John O'Donnell, of Ennis, banker and brother of Capt. O'Donnell, formerly of the 25th. A man is arrested on strong suspicion. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/