James Sheppard

343

Maureen Withey on 23rd March 2022

Source: Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. James Sheppard, alias Shephard, Shepherd, age on arrival, 25, per Blenheim I (3), 1839, Tried 1839 at Tipperary, Life, for Murder. DOB, 1814, native place, Tipperary Co., Married, 2 female children. Catholic. Tailor. ----------------------------------------------------- Clonmel. James Ryan and James Sheppard were indicted for the wilful murder of John Lanigan. The brother of the deceased deposed that he and his brother were waylaid on the night of the 13 h of February, when deceased was struck with stones. Sheppard was of the party; witness ran away, and was about getting into bed when the body of his brother was brought in; he did not alarm the police, because he thought his brother might not have been dead. John Fogarty stated that on the night in question, hearing a noise on the road, he hid behind a ditch and there heard Paddy Carroll say “he is settled”, in his informations it appeared witness attributed the words to Paddy Ryan. Sheppard was apprehended forty five miles from the place of the murder, where he passed under the name of Ryan. A witness was examined for the defence, in order to show that the deceased’s brother and the rest of his family were not aware of the deceased having been beaten the night in question, and that consequently the first witness could not have, been present. The jury, after consulting about an hour, returned a verdict, acquitting Ryan and finding Sheppard guilty of murder. The Pilot, (Dublin), 20 March 1839.