STRANGE MURDER AT DUNGANNON.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 301, 31 May 1875, Page 3

STRANGE MURDER AT DUNGANNON.

(Northern Whig , March 19.)

The members of the Home Rule party residing between Ponadown and Dungannon, who had attended the demonstration in the latter town on Wednesday, returned home to their different districts by the train leaving at twenty minutes to five p.m. The carriages were unusually crowd3d, but the utmost order and good feeling prevailed. The train proceeded from Dungannon to Trew and Moy, where a number of tie passengers alighted, this being their destination. In about two minutes after leaving ‘his station, and about five miles from Dungannon, a dreadful murder was committed the facts of which, as far as can at present be ascertained, are as follow ; —lt appears that in one of the thirdclass carriages a young man named Daniel Hagan, who attended ;he meeting at Dungannon, was seated on the right-hand side near the window, in company with his two sisters, one on each side of him. The train was proceeding at its usual pace, and the occupants of tke carriage were congratulating themselves on the favourable nature of the weather fluring the day, and the success that had abended the meeting, when they were alarmed by the sudden breaking of the glass in the window hear where Hagan was sittirg, and the circumstance that Hagan fell motionless to the floor at his sister’s feel. The utmost consternation ensued, and the people were so confounded by the sulden nature of the transaction, that it was some minutes before the mystery could be solved. At first it was surmised that a stone had been thrown through the window which had struck the unfortunate man, and that he had merely been stunned by the blow, bat on further examination it was discovered that a charge from a firearm of some description had entered his head, and that he had been killed instantaneously. The wail of kmentation made by the women in the compartment when the truth of the event became known was most heartrending, and was heard by all the passengers in the long line of carriages. The next station at which a stoppage was made was Yernersbridge. Here the majority of the passengers, who were unaware of the awful tragedy that had occurred, alighted to ascertain the cause of the strange noise they had heard, which they were not long in doing. Hagan was seen lying dead in the carriage, the side of his face the shot had entered being partly blown off, and the blood streaming from the wound. The men in the carriage came out, and ran up and down the platform, calling frantically for a policeman, but no policeman was to be found. The guard and station officials had the utmost difficulty in getting the people to take their seats, and after considerable delay the train moved off for Annaghmore, taking the body with it. At Annaghmore the confusion was as great. Two policemen, who were on duty on the platform, were made acquainted with the circumstances, and said they would take charge of the body. A Roman Catholic clergyman who was present exerted himself in the most praiseworthy manner in restraining the conduct of the people, who were uttering imprecations on the head of the murderer, and vowing to have vengeance. The carriage in which the body was was detached from the train and shunted up into a siding, where the police will remain guard on it until the coroner holds the inquest, which it is expected will be to-day. Hagan resided in the vicinity of Annaghmore, and supported himself by agricultural pursuits. He was a married man, about 30 years of age, and leaves a wife and family. It may be stated in connexion with the tragedy that a gentleman in one of the firstclass carriages alleged that he saw a man, a short distance from Trew and Moy station, kneeling behind a ditch with a gun in his hand levelled in the direction of the train. He did not see the shot fired, but immediately afterwards he heard a report and saw smoke. Several persons heard the breaking of the glass. It is quite possible, in the excitement that prevailed, and the short delay of the train that took place at Annaghmore, that the police did not inquire for the names of material witnesses of the occurrence ; but it is to be hoped that they will volunteer to come forward and give evidence, so as to throw all possible light on this terrible transaction.