The Times
London, Middlesex, England
March 18, 1831

At the Cavan Assizes on Saturday, Lawrence Finnegan, James M'Connell, Felix Murray, John Murray, and Patrick M'Crodin, were arraigned for the wilful murderof Miss Jane Deane, daughter of the late Mr. John Deane, of Droumouslin, who was murdered at Skeane on the 15th of November. An approver, named Peter Igo, stated that in consequence of a previous arrangement, he went on the night in question, in company with the five prisoners, to Mr. Deane's house. They saw the deceased and her sister sitting at the fire combing their hair, when Finnegan fired through the window. The deceased cried out, Oh, Margaret!" and fell. The prisoners then fled. Margaret Deane, the sister stated that when the shot was fired, Jane fell into her arms. She saw none of the prisoners. Her sister lingered till next day, when she died. Several other witnesses were examined, whose evidence corroborated the approver's in all the main points. After an able and luminous charge from the learned Serjeant, the Jury retired, and returned in about half an hour with a verdict of guilty. They were immediately sentenced to be executed on Monday morning. They were labourers. The only offence which Miss Deane committed was her father having taken lands from which the previous possessor had been ejected.

The Scotsman
Edinburgh, Scotland
March 23 1831

At the Cavan Assizes, Lawrence FINNEGAN, James McCONNELL, Felix MURRAY, John MURRAY, and Patrick McCRODIN, were arraigned for the wilful murder of Miss Jean DEANE, daughter of the late Mr John DEAN, of Droumouslin, who was murdered at Skeane, on the 15th of November. An approver named Peter IGO, stated that in consequence of a previous arrangement, he went on the night in question, in company with the five prisoners, to Mr DEANE's house. They saw the deceased and her sister sitting at the fire combing their hair, when FINNEGAN fired through the window. The deceased cried out, "Oh Margaret!" and fell. The prisoners then fled. Her sister lingered till next day when she died. Several other witnesses were examined, whose evidence corroborated the approver's in all the main points. After an able and luminous charge from the Learned Seargeant, the jury retired, and returned in about half an hour with a verdict of guilty. They were immediately sentenced to be executed on Monday morning. They were labourers. They only offence which Miss DEANE committed was her father having taken lands from which the previous possessor had been ejected. A letter from CAVAN dated Monday se'enight says a melancholy spectacle was witnessed in CAVAN this day ? the execution of five men for the murder of Jane DEANE. They appeared on e after the other at the final[?] drop, and every man of them declared, in the most solemn and impressive manner, appealling [sic] to that God before whom they were about to appear in an instant, and with whom they expected to be eternally happy, that they were wholly innocent of the crime of which they were to suffer.

Submitted by: County Cavan Newspaper Transcription Project