THE PARNELL COMMISSION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2040, 18 January 1889, Page 2

THE PARNELL COMMISSION.

« (PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION,) Lokdon, January 16 Patrick Delaney, a convict connected with the Phoenix Park murders, giving evidence before the Commission, swore that the Invincibles received enormons sums of money from the Land League, besides expensive arms. He was personally sworn to murder Earl Spencer, Viceroy of Ireland, Lord Cavendish and all obnoxious officials. The witness stated that during two fruitless attempts to murder Mr W. E. Forster, and also daring the Phoanix Park tragedy his special orders were to shoot all intruders who might interfere with the assassins at their work. At another time he was ordered to murder Judge Lawson, who would have been killed if witness had not warned a detective. Frank Byrne told the murderer he need not be afraid of having to stop work for want of money. " Before the « Times "-Parnell Commission Patrick Delany, member of the Dublin branch of the Fenians till the year 1882, said that Tjnan was the real " Number One." Witness took an oath to. murder the Dublin Executive, and received ord«rs to shoot Judge Lawson and Burke, after Mr Forster had been disposed of. It was arranged to shoot Mr Forster m Brunswick street on one occasion, but the plan failed m consequence of that gentleman proceeding to his home by another route. Molloy was deputed to murder Mr Anderson, Crown Solicitor. Witness stated that he was present when tSir Frederick Cavendish' and Mr Burke were murdered m Phoenix Park, but he did not assist m the murders beyond J—^lrfug-waxcrj;; HB-coirfiTOoo<l^«m<l-jjtaa sentenced to death by the Special Commission which tried the Phcenix Park murderers, but his sentence had since been commuted. London, January 17. Evidence was yesterday adduced before the « Times "-Parnell Commission, to show the complicity of Irish members m the Phcenix Park murders. Patrick Delaney stated that m 1879 he. several times attended joint meetings of members of the Land League and the Fenian organisation, which were held at Dublin, and that Messrs Michael Davitt, Parnell, Daniel Egan, Joseph Biggar,' John Dillon, B,rennan, and Harris were present on these occasions. The witness named seventeen Invincibles, including Brennan, Egan, Sheridan, Tynan (the alleged mysterious " Number One "), and Byrne, who were regarned as leaders by the Fenians, to which party witness afterwards' belonged. The central administration of the Fenian party issued orders that members of the organisation were not to oppose the wishes and decisions of the Land League. Egan and Byrne supplied, them with "money at different times, the Fenians sometimes receiving as much as £400 at one time, and Mrs Byrne provided them with the knives and revolvers intended to be used m the murder of the Castle officials. The plan of the murders was discussed by the Inyincibjes Coqnql, who ordered Joseph Brady and Tinjothy ]£elly to shoot "Buckshot" Forster, The witness Delaney, on the occasion of the Phcßnix Park murders, was posted at a certain spot, with instructions to kill anybody proceeding over King's bridge while the murder was going on. Repeated efforts were made to kill Mr Forster, who had several very narrow escapes, but'they all miscarried. The Invincibles Council also gave orders to murder Mr Burke and others. Several times the officials were «' shadowed " with a view to carrying out this intention, but something turned up eaoh time which caused a failure of the plans, until at length Sir Frederick Cavendish and Mr Burke fell victims m Phoenix Park. Immediately after the murders a Committee meeting of the Invincibles was held, at which Byrne produced hush money, more daggers and revolvers. Brady suggested at this meeting that the Dublin detectives should also "' be killed, but Byrne^ objected to this proposal unless they had the authority of Egan. Byrne s,aj4 tljat he preferred that EaFl Spencer should be killed. The witness identified the handwriting of a number of letters as that of Egan. Several of these letters show that Parnell was being consulted. In the course of his evidence before the " Times" -Parnell Commission the witness Delaney said he undertook to murder Judge Lawson. but his movements exciting the attention of the detectives who were promoting the judge he was arrested and sentenced to ten years' penal seryitude. witness swore (hat Michael Dayjtt was QU most intimate terms with Sheridan and Egan, with whom he had imnnri.ant, vAlatinna