Partial transcript of trial of Tim Cadogan for murder of W.S. Bird, Bantry, West Cork. 1900 and botched Execution. Page 8 is missing.

The murder and later trial caused a sensation. Bird was a land agent and one of the estates he managed the White estate of Glengariff, Cadogan was evicted for non payment of rent, despite three requests Bird refused to re instate him. The Brooks mentioned working in Warners was also a Methodist.

Bird was a popular figure in Bantry the family was long in the area appearing in the Bantry estate records from around 1750 and was well respected.

There were two trials on the first the jury filed to reach a verdict but he was convicted on the second trial.

DNA evidence would suggest a link between the Cadogan family and the O’Sullivan (Ceohanach/Johnny Owens). They in turn are reputed to be the family from whom Margaret Thatcher’s ancestor a Sullivan washerwoman from Kenmare came from.  I have not been able to substantial this.

Courtesy Dan Sullivan, Kealkil.

Apart from the legal issues the transcript gives an idea of a busy fair day then held on a Saturday.

Other people and businesses mentioned are Warners, this closed around the 1980s and was incorporated into the present Super Valu group controlled by the O’Keeffe family. The Warners were Methodist and one of the family appears in probate records then in Kilcrohane from around 1620 perhaps they were involved in the fishing industry.

The public house of Tom Hurst is where the present Bank of Ireland is. The Hursts descend from a North of England coastguard based in Bantry now an insurance company. Tom Hurst’s son Eddy was a model farmer living at Beach House which had been the Bird house and was involved in the Bantry and Durrus Agricultural Show.

Execution:

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS19010309.2.39