The Lucan Murders

[Burning of the Ryder Barn]

[...] The last trouble in which the family was involved consisted of a charge of incendiarism laid against the old man and his wife. On the night of the 15th of January the barns of Patrick Ryder, a neighbour, were burned to the ground. That night the four boys, John, Thomas, William, and Robert, were at a wedding party, and as the outrage could not be attributed to them it was fastened on the old folks, who were arrested, but subsequently released on bail. The case was set down for hearing yesterday, but prior to that time the accused had appeared before another and a higher tribunal. [...]