AN AFFECTING SCENE IN COURT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1134, 25 January 1884, Page 3

AN AFFECTING SCENE IN COURT.

(Ereum# Star's London G'-ri espondent). The trial of the famous “Invincible” Joseph Poole, fo- the murder of John Kenny, conclu led with a most sensational incident. Poole, it seems, is-quite unlike the luffi ms who have preceded him to the scaffold. He was a tailor by trade, a man of considerable education, and blessed with a glib tongue. His first trial, vou may remember, was abortive, the, jury being unable to agree, and Poole appears to have fully anticipated that the second would t-nninate similarly. The verdict of “guilty” (returned aftei only 49 minutes deliberation) consequently came upon him as a surprise, and for a moment he looked as though about to faint. The C'e-kof the Cou'tasked Poole iu rhe usual way what he had to sty why sentence of death should not be passed upon him. The prismerietrained a moment silent, and then drawing himself to his full height proceeded in a load, steady voice as fo.lows : “ Well, gentle ocu of the jury, yon have found me guilty of the mur.ier of John Kenny ; but 1 sav iu the presence of this crow led court, and in the presence of the countrymen I love so well, that the charge is false. The man who says i am guilty of the murder of John Kenny is a liar. It is bine 1 was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and as one I go the scaffold. Our objects '-a-re not murder; our object was to free L eland from the cursed rale of Engla-d, The Crown have brought forward my brother-in-law, Lamie, a man who tried to have me murdered, and who tried to mur.ier othe-s. They have also. brought forward a man who ray able counsel has depicted in language 1 can’t make use of. There are many points mv counsel have not brought forward Of course they may have had their own reasons for doing so. I wish, however, to bring forward these points! particularly some r warding Superintendent Mall.>n asking a knowing | erson to swear false in ibis ease, When the Crown were entity of asking one person lo swear false,su ely thev would be guilty of asking another. Now, Eliza Kearns vas bron-tht down to the dete dive office by Mr Eastwood and Mr Stratford, and Mr Mallon asked her was she in S ville place on the night the assassination was committed, and had she seen the deed done. The young girl denied it, and then he asked her would she admit it if Francis Grundy, her sweetie art. was released from prison, or if lie sent her a message out --f gaol. She said if sbe di-i so w-uld he p'aje Grundy in a position to marry her. If the Cr..-> „ would be guilty of this, surely they would not be backward in asking Mr Geogho.-an. 1 did not deny when arrested being with Kenny that night, and acknowledged leaving wiiii Kenny. Therefore, when i acknowledged that I eon Id not be asking Lamm to get parties to swear I was elsewhere on that night. I am not accountable if the man was struck down by my side, which is false. lam not accountable for his death. Ido not deny being a member nf the Fenians. 1 was a F nian since I was eighteen years of ago,' but never belonged to the Vigilance or any club belonging to the organisation. My object was simply to wait until mv fellowcountrymen would tie prepared to"strike a blow for inoependence, and I intended to take part with them Mv otject was not murder. It is false that I hail anything to do with the murder of Kenny, or knew anything about it previous to him being niur tered. If I had known anything about it I would not have gone with him that night to his house. I would have arranged hat Kenny could be deprived of his life.on his way home. It is a mere nonsensical idea to say that I had anything to do with it I now declare my innocence, and state ray ft m belief that it is owing to my being an enemy, humble as lam, of the Government under which I have the misformhe to live that I have been persecuted in the manner I have been, ■still, I am not •■"raid to die, nor am I ashamed nf what has brought me to the scaffold. It is not mttrd. r—tt is bei"g a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood which has brought me to the scaffold, and I am prepared to die. for it- My felloweonntrym-n, of whom I sea so many here, I bless for placing such implicit ooufi fence in me, believing [ could be true in the midst of the temptations by winch I was surrounded. Farewell my countrymen ; farewell all ! Three dice s for the Irish Republic, and to Hell with Em--lish tyranny !” D Po *le s father, a grey-haired man, who occupied a seat in the gallery, ho.an to wees this stage, and cried out “Oh, Joe, Joe !” The prisoner, turning his face towards him, said in a faltering voice : “ Keep up. father ; keep up.” His L -rdship, who w's deeply affected, observed that tho evidence had left the jury i o alternative, and he quite agreed with th ir verdict. He sentenced the priso-er to be executed on December 18