Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Thursday 22 February 1866, page 4


FENIAN ITEMS.

THE police were searching for Stephens on December 21, in Irishtown, Dublin.

Mr. Luby, who is now a prisoner in Mount-joy Convict Prison, is the son of a clergyman of the Established Church. The Rev. Dr. Luby, the fellow and dean of Trinity College, and the well-known author of " Luby's Analysis," was the unfortunate gentleman's uncle, and Thomas Clark Luby is said to be one of the most well-trained scholars of his time. The family is originally from Kerry.

The inspectors of prisons who made inquiries into the escape of Stephens from Richmond Gaol, have given in a report recommending the dismissal of Mr. Marquess, the governor. Their decision dissatisfied the Board of Superinten-dence, a committee of the corporation, and they memorialised Lord Wodehouse to appoint a special commission to make a new investigation. The Lord-Lieutenant refuses to do so, is satis-fled with the report of the inspectors, in accord-ance with whose recommendations he has dis-missed the governor, and intimates, in conclu-sion, that henceforth he shall keep the appoint-ments to the city gaols in his own hands. The board is very dissatisfied, and talk of instituting

an inquiry of their own.

Byrne the watchman in Richmond Gaol, charged with aiding in the escape of Stephens, was examined before the police magistrate on Saturday, December 2. The evidence of McLeod, who says he heard the footsteps in the corridor, was taken, as well as some other wit-nesses, who, however, could throw no light on the matter. The prisoner was then committed

to take his trial.

It is said that a military force of 4000 men will guard the city of Cork during the trials. The military authorities in Dublin have deemed it necessary to adopt more stringent measures for the preservation of the peace, and have ac-cordingly directed that until further orders one troop of cavalry, one battery of artillery, and one company of infantry shall always be under arms in Portobello Barracks, the guards in the other barracks be doubled, and one troop of cavalry always saddled and in readiness in Linen

Hull Barracks. .

Hegarty, the Cork blacksmith, recently ar-

rested in London as a member of the Fenian Brotherhood, has turned approver. The inti-mation of the fact has caused a number of per-sons to disappear from Cork and its vicinity. A man named Murphy has also been arrested in Cork, and on his lodging being searched Fenian papers were found. He is supposed to be really a person named Riordan, against whom the Go-vernment have for some time had information. One of the informers states of this Riordan that he was a carpenter who had been employed at the military barracks, who knew where all the old exercise arms were, and was acquainted with every hole and corner in the barracks, and with whom several discussions had taken place as to how to take the garrison. The real James Red-mond, the Fenian fugitive, for whom a reward of £50 was offered, is believed to have been now arrested in Enniscorthy. He is a ticket-of-leave man, and a daring character. An individual named D'Arcy, a cabinct-maker, has been taken into custody in Kilkenny on a charge of attempt-ing to seduce a soldier from his allegiance. The soldier who was an artilleryman, immediately communicated with his superior officers.

It is said to bo the intention of tho Govern-ment to transfer tho Fonian convicts from Dublin to Dartmoor, or somo other convict depot in England.

The report that Stephens had arrived in Paris is stated now to bo fully confirmed. It is furthor stated that his extradition has boen demanded by the British Government on tho ground of prison-breaking, to which demand the French G-ovornmont roplied by referring Hie British minister to tho crime for which Stephens was originally committed, contending that the minor offence of prisou-broaking is merged in tho high politicnl crime imputed, and refusing, consequently, to surrender the refugee.

The Eanner of Ulster reports a singular dis-covery of pike-heads. A few days ago, it oppoars, tho ownor of nn establishment in Downpatrick, ordered a considerable number of " grapes " from a highly respectable firm in tho hardware trade in Belfast. In duo time a largo caso supposod to contain the articles alono was duly forwarded, without any examination, to the county of Down Bhopkeoper. On the party who issued the order proceeding to examine tho contents of tho ease, he was considerably surprised at finding, in the centro of each bundle of " grapes," a number of piko-hoads of the most approved workmanship. Tho members of tho Belfast houso from which tho novel consignment was made were no less as-tonished than tho party who gavo the order on hearing intelligence of tho discovery. No doubt tho piko-heuds woro intended for another part of tho country ; but, as it turned out, they have found their way into the hands of the constabulary.

On a recent night, a man named John Cun-ningham, a pipemukcr, residing in Winotnvcrn Btrcct, Belfast, was arrested on a chargo of having sworn two soldiers of the 58th Bcgiment

to bo Fenians. This is the first case of tho kind that has occurred in Belfast.

A lawyer's clerk, naniod Androwj M'Erlane, has been arrested in Belfast, ehnrgod with send-ing a threatening lettor to llio Attorney-Gonernl, warning him against proceeding with tho Fenian trials. The man arrested lately suffered six months' imprisonmont for cursing tho Queen and tho Princo of Wales in the .public streets. Ho was brought beforo a magistrate, who ro mnnded bim. It is rumored that ono of tho Bolfaat Fenians turned informer.

The Irish Exocutivo havo thought it necessary to put a troop of cavalry temporarily in Dublin Castle, in uddition to tho force of police ulroady stationed there, and tho infantry force placed permanently in (ho barracks immediately ad-joining. The mon remained under anns through-out tho night of December 16.

A respectablo young man, clork in the em-ployment of tho Govornmont at tho General Valuation of Ireland Office, Dublin, WOB, on December 4, at a late hour, brought beforo the magistrate on a charge of Fenianisin. Ho was arrested tho previous night for being drunk, and while boing convcyod to tho polico station dropped a paper which the constable picked up.

It was found to refer to tho cost of a number

of rifles, revolvers, and miscellaneous weapons, tho total of which WOB sot down at foot as £820. His doBks at tho offico whoro he was employed woro then searched, and somo MSS. found -ono a " plan of revolution ;" others, essays on military tactics ; and all, it is stated, signed with his namo. Tho case was not opened up, but a remand was granted.

Stephens, it would .ippeor, had not paid for

the furniture in his suburban villa when tho

police made their descent upon it, and, it need hardly bo said, ho had no opportunity of doing so subsequently. Tho consequence was, that the upholsterer who supplied tho furniture put it up to auction soveral days ago ; but, although moro than one article sold well, the whole did not bring the original prico. To the pleasant astonishment of this tradesman, how-ever, Mrs. Stephens called upon him soon nfter the auction, and on learning the amount of his IOSB, at onco paid it in full.

THE SPECIAL COMMISSION IN CORK.

Mr. Ju6tico Fitzgerald, and Mr. Justico Keogh ¡ tho judges went to Cork on December 14, by the ordinary mail train, preceded by a pilot engine. Great crowds awaited their arri-val in Cork, but ull very good-himiorod. The Bpcciul commÍBBÍon was opened on the sumo day. Bumours of a plot to assassinate tho judges having been circulated, they wero escorted to tho court-houso by squadrons of cavalry and mounted polico. Tho Court-houso itself was filled and surrounded with military force, and their lodgings aro strongly guarded.

Mr. Justico Fitzgerald, in delivering the chargo to tho grand jury, contradicted the re-port that he had attended a Privy Council meeting, which advised these prosecutions. It was utterly devoid of foundation. At the con-clusion of tho charge, some bills were sent up to the grand jury, and the court Boon afterwards adjourned.

The judges sat ni 10 o'clock on the morning of

December 15. Charles Underwood O'connell was the first arraigned ; but his trial was post-poned in consequence of tho non-arrival of his solicitor. John M'Afl'erty, an American cap-tain, was then put forward, and got a jury half foreigners, having challenged 17. The Attor-ney-General addressed the jury for the Crown, after which Nagle, the informer, was examined, mid the jury wcro locked up for the night. The proceedings wcro almost n repetition of

those in Dublin.

At the sitting of the court on tho morning of December 10, Mr. Justico Keogh and Mr. Justice Fitzgerald took thoir scats on tho bench. Captain John M'Ai forty, charged with being a centre of the Fenian Brotherhood, was again pluccd at the bar, when Judgo Fitzgerald usked the Crown counsel in what manner they con-sidered the overt acts alledged ugainst this pri-soner had been sustained. Counsel were heard

on this point. Judge Fitzgerald biiid, having carefully considered this caso last night, the court had como to the conclusion thnt thero was no evidence to Btiblaiu an overt net on tho part of the prisoner after tho fetcam tender arrived at port. They would direct the jury to acquit linn. A verdict of acquittal was returned. The prisoner will be detained until the close of the commission, to give the Crown an opportunity of considering the course to be adopted.

Immediately after the decision in this case, Mr. Underwood O'Connell was again put forward for trial. Mr. Butt then challenged the array of jurors, as not having been fairly and impartially constituted, alleging that the Protestants upon it were in the propor-tion of eight to one. The Attorney-General joined issue on this, triers were appointed, and the result of their scrutiny was that they declared the jurors to have been fairly and impartially returned. The court then adjourned till De-cember 18, when the Crown, however, did not think fit to proceed with his case. Instead of O'Connell, two minor leaders of the Confede-racy, Bryan Dillon, and John Lynch, who held the rank of B's, were placed at the bar, charged in one indictment with having conspired to depose the Queen, &c., and with illegally drill-ing and being drilled in furtherance of that design. Several witnesses were examined, among them three approvers, and the case for the prosecution was closed. On the 19th, Mr. Butt addressed the jury for the defence, and nearly occupied the whole day. The jury re-turned a verdict of "Guilty" against both pri-

soners. Each of them addressed the court

with fluency. They were sentenced to ten years' penal servitude.

Tho ensos of Joromiuh O'Dono van and Thomas

Duggan woro then taken up. Tho latter was accused of having boon a centro, and of having attempted to swear in as Fonians two soldiors belonging to tho 4th Dragoons, atationed at

Cork. Thoso soldiors lind also heard it said that thero wcro five Fenian warders in Eich

mond prison, " who would liberate Jamos Stephens and his associates whenovor thoy pleased." Warnor's wns, as on the former trial, tho principal testimony, in addition to that of tho troopers. Mr. Butt asked tho court to rulo that tho two Boldiors who gavo ovi dence should bo considerad as standing in the category of informers, but tho judges refusod. At a lato hour of tho day Duggan and O'Dono van woro fouud guilty, mid the formor was sen-tenced to ton years' ponai servitude and tho lattor awarded fivo years.

On tho following day, December 20, Charles Underwood O'Counoll, who had been a captain in tho Federal sorvico, and whoso trial had boon

frequently postponod, was put upon his trial, which lasted to tho evening of tho 21st. Sovornl

witnesses wcro examined. Mr. Butt addrcssod

the jury on bohalf of tho prisoner, and Mr. Barry replied. Mr. Justice Keogh charged tho jury. Tho prisonor was found guilty, and sentenced to 10 years' ponai servitude Ho mado a violent spcoch, and after boing Bcntcncod said, " I hopo thoro will bo an oxchnngo of prisoners beforo that time."