William Porte Diary, 1881
Friday Feby 4
Between the hours of midnight and 2 Oclock am one year ago this morning, the frightful Donnelly Tragedy was enacted. And on the preceeding page it will be noticed that the prisoner Jas Carroll was aquitted of the murder of Judith Donnelly of which he was accused, The frightful event is now passing into matter of history, and the probablilty is that it will forever in this world remain a Secret who were the guilty parties.
Source: J.J. Talman Regional Collection, University of Western Ontario Archives, William Porte Diaries, B4940, William Porte, William Porte Diary, February 4, 1881.