The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

DEATH OF THE EXECUTIONER OF ROBERT EMMET.

Dublin, Aug. 26—Last Monday an extremely old man died in the workhouse at Ballina, Mayo county, and two days later was consigned to a pauper's grave. His name was Barney Moran. He was a native of Dublin, and so long as he was able to tramp about he made a livelihood as a professional ballad singer. He believed himself at the time of his death to be about 99 years of age. He made a singular revelation to Dr. Maston and the chaplain of the workhouse. He told them he was one of the band of soldiers who, on the night of May 18, 1798, accompanied Major Sirr and Swan to the house of Nicholas Murphy, a wealthy merchant, where Lord Edward Fitzgerald was concealed, and effected the capture of the rebel chieftain. Barney Moran avowed in that terrible business he faithfully discharged his duty as a loyal soldier to the British crown; but his most startling revelation was that he was also the executioner of Robert Emmet. This confession has been corroborated. Moran's ill-gotten gains did not prosper. He quitted the army, and after enduring a life of hardship and privation for half a century, exactly seventy-five years after Emmet's death his executioner has found a pauper's death and a nameless grave.