A TRAGEDY 147 



which was sent me was, " that Coles could not tell ; he could 

 not account for it, yet something completely possessed him with 

 the idea that the man who shot him, and the others who were 

 with him " (I think there were three or four), " all came from 

 Carleton." Soon after he made this death-bed declaration the 

 poor fellow died. At the time that this took place there were 

 no county policemen; the parish constable was usually the 

 oldest and most inefficient man that could be found, and, aware 

 of that fact, I advised my being sworn in as special constable, 

 and any warrant for the apprehension of the murderer to be 

 committed to my care. I was in the midst of making a search- 

 ing inquiry when word reached me from Mr. Magenis, that one 

 of the gang was prepared to turn king's evidence, and that he 

 had in fact given him information as to who it was that shot 

 the keeper, and where he was at that moment at work, naming 

 a lonely barn in the fields not far from Carleton. I knew the 

 barn alluded to : none of my men were at home ; so, there being 

 no time to lose, Mr. Magenis and myself repaired at once to the 

 spot. We tied up our horses, and I begged Mr. Magenis to 

 keep a look-out round the premises, in case the man should 

 attempt to run away, while I entered the barn and outhouses in 

 search of him. The barn was the first scene of investigation ; 

 there lay his jacket and the newly threshed corn, so I was sure 

 I was close upon him. In another instant I heard Mr. Magenis's 

 voice, and on joining him I found him with the man in custody ; 

 it was then agreed between us, that he should ride off to another 

 barn, where there was one of the gang supposed to be at work, 

 and keep a watch over it while I conveyed the prisoner to 

 Harrold Hall. I then produced a cord from my pocket and 

 tied the prisoner's elbows together, and proceeded along the 

 high road, having to pass through the village of Carleton. The 

 man appeared very reluctant to walk and very sulky, and asked 

 me " What I took him for ? " I replied on a charge of murder, 

 telling him at the same time he might say as little or as much 

 as he pleased about it ; but that, whatever he said would be 

 noted down by me, and perhaps used against him. He 



