THE PHŒNIX PARK ASSASSINATIONS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3659, 6 April 1883, Page 4

THE PHŒNIX PARK ASSASSINATIONS.

fDunedin Star's London Correspondent,. The further the charges against the supposed leaders of the Dublin Assassination League are proceeded Avith, the more explicable does the hitherto mysterious conduct of tho police and Castle officials become. They evidently made up their minds not to arrest anyone "till the fullest essential information was in their possession. This is now the oaso ; and long before the present letter appears in the colonial papers I sincerely hope, as I fully expect, to see the Phoenix Parks murderers strung up "as high as Haman." The methods on which the assassination of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Air Burke Avere committed has been fully made known. "It appears,' (says the Evening Standard of Saturday last, February 3) "from information m the possession of" the authorities, that when the Assassination Committee decided to put to to death Government officials, they included in their primary order for execution Air Forster (the then Chief Secretary), Air Burko (the Under - Secretary), and Air Alallon (Chief of the Detective Police;. The miraculous escape of Air Forster on more than one occasion has been mentioned ; but it has not been explained how, on the day when the most perfect arrangements Avere made for slaying him on his return from the Castle to the" Park, a slight accident upset the designs of the murderers. The cab, draAvn by a Avhite horse, Avas stationed in the loAvei 1 Castle yard, and Avhen Air Foster s carriage emerged through the archway from the upper yard the cab was started so as to keep before it. This was done, hoAvevcr, with such rapidity that the white horse came down on his knees, there being a considerable decline in the ground. Air Forster's carriage SAvept past, and had got a good start before the decoy cab was able to follow it. Fortunately for Air Forster, he did not return to Ireland again after going over to discharge his duties in the House. The Assassination Committee, however, held to their determination to make Air Burke a victim, and no doubt the authorities are hoav convinced that there avus no preconcerted intention of killing Lord Frederick Cavendish. In proof of this, tho police are aware that on the evening before the Park assassinations all arrangements for murdering Air Burko that night were made. The sentinels Avere posted, the cab Avas in the Park, and the car Avith the four executioners avus stationed at the place where the double tragedy was enacted on the Gth of May. Providentially, however, Air Burke did not pass through the Park in his customary avuv, but Avent to his club. It was rumored among the conspirators that the killing of Lord Frederick Cavendish was an unfortunate necessity, and that, Avere it not that His Lordship gallantly sought to defend the Under-Secretary, ho would not have been molested. The story of the tragedy, as detailed to the authorities from reliable sources, Avould tend to .show that over twenty persons participated in the arrangements for the murder and the actual commission of the crime. Persons familiar Avith Air Burkes appearance had been detailed to signal his departure from the Castle, and the signals, commencing from the footpath and front of the City Hall, Avere carried along the quays. The moment Air Burke entered the Park gates the fact avus announced to those arranged as sentinels farther on by the waving of handkerchiefs. At the last moment there Avas very nearly a failure. The signalman nearest the victim, and close to the place chosen for the murder, avus _so much overcome by the contemplation of the dreadful matter in Avhich he avus participating that he avus unable to pass the necessary sign. There avus a cab under a clump of trees close to the pole ground, and the occupants avcto evidently aAvaiting some escort, it Avas to these men that the gentleman who has been advertised for spoke, and lie gives a minute description of them. The moment the murders Avere perpetrated this cab Avas driven rapidly out of the Park in the direction of tho North Circular road. Information has been supplied to the authorities as to the complete arrangements which were made for the assassination, and it is understood that one of tho persons Avho acted iv a minor capacity in the plot has given evidence at the Castle. The ear Avith the four murderers started from Dublin at half-past three in the afternoon, entered the Park by the Island Bridge gate, left the road, and crossed on the grass between the Phoenix and the Civil Service Cricket Ground. The occupants of the vehicle, OAviug to their rough exterior aud muffled - up appearance, were closely scrutinised by one of the cricketers engaged in fielding. After the car had reached the rendezvous the men acurpted the same line of conduct as they had observed on a previous evening. They lay on the grass in a group at the Vice-regal side of the main road, the car being pulled up at the opposite side. As Air Burke and Lord Frederick Cavendish were approaching, a man, disguised in the garb of a Roman Catholic clergyman, and who, it is alleged, came from Paris by a circuitous route, stopped a gentleman avlio j was passing and asked him avlio Avere those coming up. The gentleman Avas able to inform him, Avhereupon the mock priest suddenly showed great agitation, and rapidly disappeared among the trees. " It has transpired that the murders of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Air Burke were not the only crimes arranged for that CA'cning. In vieAV of success attending the attack in the park, the gang were determined to try their hand at getting Air Alallon, the Chief of the Detective Force, out of the way, as he had shoAvn a true instinct all through in dealing with members of secret societies. Confederates were posted along the North Circular road, Avhich Air Alallon Avould have to traverse on his Avay home. They avltc, hoAvever, foiled in their intention by the fact that lie avus accompanied by tAvo constables. A somewhat curious advertisement appeared in the Dublin papers a couple of days since, to the effect that if the gentleman avlio some nine months ago left an outside car for repairs at a certain timber merchant's on the outskirts of the city did not claim such car Avithin a specified time the car must be sold. The notice avus regarded with some little suspicion, as it is iioav just nine months since the Park tragedy. The police are at present investigating the matter. Tho gentleman avlio had been advertised for in connection Avith the polo match avus to-day accompanied by tAvo of the smartest detectives in the force driving to various parts of the city, evidently on important business.

" The vigilance of the police iv arresting two men on Wednesday for what they considered suspicious conduct towards Mr Justice O'Brien may be accounted for by a circumstance not previously published. The learned Judgo presided at the last Commission, and in some way incurred the displeasure of secret societies. It is stated that an elaborate plot was arranged for his assassination 011 Sunday morning last on his way to or from the Westland row Roman Catholic Chapel. On Saturday night, however, un informer exposed tho plot to the Chief of the Detective Department, who took tho precaution to have the judge carefully guarded, and to have a considerable number of police and marines in plain clothes in and about the chapel." IDENTIFYING THE MURDERERS. —SCENE IN COURT. The excitement in Dublin and more especially at Kilmainham last Saturday, when the charge of being concerned in the Phorjmx Park assusiuatioiis was first openly formulated against a nmnber of the Leaguers now in custody, beggars description. The special correspondent of the Loudon Observer (published every Sunday morning) wired to his journal late on Saturday night as follows :—

"From an early hour this morning the approaches to the County Court-house at Kilinainham -were thronged with a surging crowd, Struggling, and almost fighting tlieir way through the cordon of policemen who jealously guarded tlie doorway of the Court, and only allowed reporters, members of the Bar, and the holders of tickets signed by the Chief Commissioner of Police to enter.

"At twelve o'clock to-day the interior of the Court was crowded in every part. Amongst the spectators were nmst of our prominent public officers. Mingled with them were some members of the nobility, and here and there might be seen persons whose relatives had fallen victims to assassins' bullets and knives in Ireland during the past two or three years. At a quarter past twelve several policemen entered the Court, briuging with them eight of the men who had on previous occasions been charged with conspiracy to murder, some of the eight having been charged with the attempt to assassinate Mr Field. Immediately on the prisoners being placed in the dock, Mr Murphy stated that tho prisoners were charged with the murder of Lord Cavendish and Mr Burke on the Oth of May last. Tliis statemeut, made by the leading Crown Prosecutor in grave sonorous tones, created

intense excitement in Court, as it was not supposed that the direct charge of murder Avould be made at this stage of the inquiry. Some of the prisoners on hearing the charge laughed, but their jocularity seemed forced, strained, and almost pre - arranged. M'Caffery and Peter Carey, against Avhom prior to to-day there was but little evidence, seemed greatly altered in their appearance and bearing/ and did not join in the strained merriment, The first Avitness called Avas John Fitzsimmous, who after some delay was brought into Court, and advanced to the witnesses chair. Hois a man past middle age, with grey hair, and intelligent expression. He had the appearance"of a respectablo tradesman, and he gave his evidence in a careful manner. He described the finding of knives and a rifle in the loft iv Carey's house, and after considerable scrutiny identified the newlyelected Avorking man's Toavu Councillor, Avho had been sitting iv front of the dock in a listless indifferent attitude. On being identified, hoAvever, his manner changed. .He stood tip, and listened to the further of the Avitness with great attention. Peter Carey avus also identified by Fitzsimmous, after a still longer scrutiny and delay. He had been standing at the back of the dock, and the Avitness seemed to be very near-sighted. Peter Carey came forward to tha front of the dock after he Avas identified. A thrill of horror ran through the croAvdcd Court Avhen Air Alurphy said ' Produce that rifle and those knives,' and eager expectancy Avas marked on every countenance as a detective advanced to the table with a AVinchcstcr 9-shot repeating rifle and a bundle Avrapped in a glazed cover. E\ - en some of the prisoners leaned forward Avith eager curiosity. The bundle avus opened amidst a dead silence, and Air Alurphy handed to the Avitness two knives Avith long glittering blades and short black handles. These weapons are, as described by Drs Porter and Alylcs, the surgical instruments known as large amputation knives, with blades about eleven inches long and three-quarters of an inch broad, narrowing to a point. The handles are three or four inches long, and arc scored, for the purpose of giving a secure grip to an operator. After the production of the knives, James Carey consulted Avith his solicitor, but the Avitness Fitzsimmous Avas not cross-examined. Inspector Smith, Avho, on the information of Fitzsimmous, found the weapons in Carey's loft, was next examined. Ho avus dressed in plain clothes, and advanced to the table AA-ith the AVinchester repeating rifle in his hand. The Inspector is a tall man, about forty years of age. He has a broad, high forehead, deep-set eyes, and jet black beard. His maimer Avas .self-possessed as he detailed the finding of the Avcapons and the shoAving of the knives to Drs Porter and KaA-anagh. This Avitness avus not crossexamined. Then folloAved the medical evidence, Avith horrifying details of the fearful wounds inflicted by the murderers. Surgeon Porter —a tall, slight, elderly gentleman, Avith fair complexion aud silver hair —described in deep, full tones the appearance of the mutilated bodies of the murdered j secretaries. Air Alurphy held up before this Avitness one of the deadly, glittering knives found in Carey's house, and asked if the Avounds lie described Avould be made by such a weapon. The Surgeon in Ordinary to the Queen in Ireland said they Avould, and explained that .some of the injuries must liavc been made by knives having a great length of blade, such as the one produced. After Surgeon Porter's examination Air Thomas Myles, house surgeon of Steven's Hotel, gave his evidence. He is a tall, poAverfully-built young man, Avith blonde beard, deep-sot eyes, and sharp, decisive manner. Ho described the postmortem examination, and as he detailed the Avounds and their shape he took up one of the knives, held it Avith professional skill, and explained lioav its keen blade corresponded exactly Avith a fearful gash in Air Burkes body, Avhere the Aveapon penetrated the back, pierced the heart, and came out at the breast of the murdered man. Dr Afayles aa'us not cross-examined. The witnesses avlio Avere about the scene of the murder, and who identified some of the prisoners as being on the spot, Averenext produced. Stephen Hans, a tall, chubbyfaced man, Avith fiorid complexion, blonde moustache, and military appearance, aged about forty, aud a chairmakcr by trade, deposed to seeing a group of men lying on their faces on a grassy slope bordering the footpath of the principal road through the Phoenix Park. The description of the scene by the Avitness and the lurking of the assassins waiting to spring on their helpless victims sent a thrill of horror through the occupants of the Court-house. AVirh intense excitement all present Avaited almost breathlessly the answer to Air Murphy's question ' Can you identify any of the men you saw there;-' and Avhen tho Avitness AA-ithout hesitation answered that he AA-ould know tAvo of the men a movement of surrjrisc and relief ran through the audience, and found expression in a siqrpressed hum. Hans then turned round and pointed out tho third man in the front toav of the prisoners, a man Avhose deathly pale face, deep set eyes, thick black beard, covering the greater part of his countenance, and hair falling in straight masses from his forehead, makes his appearance one of the most remarkable of the prisoners. This is O'Brien, the shoemaker or blacksmith. As Hans pointed him out the expression of his face changed for the first time since the commencement ot the proceedings. An uneasy spasmodic twitching of the muscles of his mouth gave the semblance of a smile to his gloomy countenance, but he avus otherwise unmoved. Then Hans pointed out Brady as the other man whom he could recognise. This latter prisoner quietly smiled Avhen he was identified, but still leaned on tho edge of the dock in a careless attitude. The Avitness avus cross-examined by Dr. AVebb at considerable length, but nothing of the slightest importance Avas elicited. AVhen the depositions of Hans Avere being read OA-er, the prisoner O'Brien said in a loav tone 'It is a lie,' at the portion referring to his identification. Sarah Hans, the Avife of tho last Avitness, a sallow-faced Avomen of about thirty-five years of age, neatly dressed, quiet, gentle, yet self-possessed in manner, corroborated her husband, and also fully identified O'Brien and Brady, although the prisoners changed their positions, apparently with design. George Goolden, the doorkeeper of the Phoenix Park, a hale, Aviry-looking, elderly man, Avith Aveatherbcaten high-coloured face, next deposed to seeing the car being driven from the scene of the murder and identified Brady. The prisoner smiled uneasily and slightly flushed on hearing this evidence. Professor Cameron, the city analyst, a tall man Avith long brown beard, streaked Avith grey, gave CA-idence of finding blood stains on one of the Aveapons produced in Court. The last Avitness examined Avas a farmer from the StraAvberry Beds, named Francis PoAvell. He doposed to seeing a group of men standing besides a clump of trees close to the scene of the murder. This Avitness identified Brady as one of those men, and created a sensation byjalso identifying M'Caffery, avlio had not previously been pointed out by any of the witnesses."