From the archives of 1728 comes the dark tale of Captain Parks of Sligo, who is described as a Gentleman of considerable Estate in the neighbourhood, who was condemned to be hanged, for hiring Ruffians to murder his eldest brother’s child and its mother, for a fortune that was to defer to him by their demise.
The Ruffians did not murder the mother but decided to rob her instead but were apprehended for the robbery, one of them turned state evidence and it was then discovered correspondence with Mr Parks who thereupon was taken up and condemned to die, his death sentence was reprieved for a week to allow him to get his affairs in order when it was expected the sentence would be carried out.
