See: The Co. Cork McCrystal — A Murder Mystery
A wonderful fellow member of the GREEN ROOM, Karen, did a search for me to help me solve the mystery in my own mind. (One of the many benefits of belonging to the Green Room!)
*From the clipping:
TRANSCRIPTION — Newspaper Clipping
FATAL QUARREL IN COUNTY HOME.
In the Cork District Court on Monday, before Justice Sullivan, Michael Power, an old man, was remanded in custody on a charge of having murdered Thomas Coatsworth, a native of Belfast, in Cork County Home during dinner last Sunday by stabbing him through the left breast with a knife.
A statement, alleged to have been made by Power, said that he was cutting bread when Coatsworth hit him in the eye with his fist. Power returned the blow, forgetting that he had a knife in his hand when he struck him on the breast.
*A second clipping was found by Karen –
TRANSCRIPTION — Newspaper Clipping
MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE.
A sentence of four months’ imprisonment was passed at CORK Circuit Court yesterday on M. Power, stated to be between seventy and eighty years of age, who pleaded “not guilty” to an indictment charging him with the manslaughter of Thomas Coatsworth, alias Michael McCrystal, at Cork County Home, on the November 24th last.
Will we ever know why Thomas Coatsworth (alias Michael McCrystal) punched Michael Power in the eye? Did he really punch him in the eye? Were there witnesses to the altercation? Did these two men have a history of verbal or physical altercations? These questions will likely never be answered. 1929 was almost one hundred years ago. Today, a four-month sentence may feel he got off lightly. However, to an old man in 1929, it may have seemed like a life-time. Did he serve the sentence? When did he die? This is a mystery that likely will never be resolved.
If you are a relative or simply interested in old mysterious events, please make a comment below and share your thoughts!
*Source: Findmypast - this incident, both from Irish Times, Dublin, the first November 30, 1929 and then January 16, 1930.