Ireland Case No. 5937Murder · Co. Kerry · 3 Oct 1882
Pardons recommended for two men hanged over 1882 Kerry murder
Sylvester Poff and James Barrett were hanged in 1882 for the murder of Thomas Browne near Scartaglin, Co Kerry. The Cabinet has agreed to recommend posthumous presidential pardons for them.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports8 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThomas Browne was murdered while working in one of his fields near Scartaglin, Co Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThomas Browne was murdered on 3 October 1882. (irishtimes.com)
- courtPoff and Barrett were convicted on the evidence of a single witness, who changed her story many times. (irishtimes.com)
- courtPoff and Barrett were convicted in December 1882 despite pleas of innocence from both. (irishtimes.com)
- sentencePoff and Barrett were hanged in Tralee Gaol. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA witness claimed to have seen two men shoot Browne on his farm. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution could find no motive for the alleged murder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Cabinet agreed last month to recommend posthumous presidential pardons for Poff and Barrett. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 5 May2024Who are the two men set to receive a pardon for being wrongfully convicted of murdering a landlord 142 years ago?
Historical feature on the 1882 murder conviction of Poff and Barrett, reporting the Cabinet's agreement to recommend posthumous presidential pardons and the doubts about the trial.
victim, Thomas Browne, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Browneconvicted, Sylvester Poff, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Sylvester Poffconvicted, James Barrett, 20s, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Barrett