THE PHŒNIX PARK MURDERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2069, 17 April 1883, Page 2

THE PHŒNIX PARK MURDERS.

+ EXAMINATION OF PRISONERS. ♦: The pi'oceedings at the Kilmainham Police Court on Saturday, 17th February, had a dramatic interest surpassing any similar incident that has occurred in recent years, and they will be the general subject of curiosity and discussion in every part of the kingdom. The court-house was crowded from an early hour, and amongst those present were a large number of ladies. Shortly after twelve o’clock Mr Murphy arrived, after having closed the case for the Crown against Mr O’Brien, and entered into consultation with his colleague, the Crown Solicitor. The prisoners—l 3 in number—were brought into the court under a strong escort of police constables at half-past twelve o’clock. FITZHARRIS. Tbe first person to step into the dock was the cabman, Fitzharris, who was arrested a few nights ago. He is a man of about forty-five years of age, stoutly built, with a very forbidding cast of countenance. His hair is very grey, small eyes peer out of heavy and constantly frowning brows, a thin, fair moustache hangs from bis upper lip, but does not hide his wide, thick lips and mouth. His nose is short and thick, with the bridge broken. A grey stubble surrounds his red, flushed cheeks. A muffler was swathed round his throat, and he wore two coats. THE OTHER PRISONERS. After Fitzharris came Joseph Brady, Joe Carey, Timothy Kelly, Laurence Hanlon, James Mullett, Joseph Mullett, Edward O’Brien, William Moroney, Daniel Delaney, Michael Fagan, and on a couple of chairs were placed two prisoners .who had not been previously charged at the present inquiry. They were Patrick Delaney and Thomas Doyle, the former of whom has recently been sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude for the attempt to shoot Judge Lawson, and the latter was at large until Friday night. • Daniel Delaney stretched over the edge of the dock, shook hands with his brother Patrick, and attempted to speak to him, but was prevented by a constable. JAMES CAREY. The prisoner who attracts most observation is James Carey, a successful candidate at the last municipal elections for the city of Dublin, and who previous to his arrest on the present charge obtained some notoriety as an agitator for civil reform and as a selfconstituted representative of the working classes of the city. He claims credit for having exposed some defects in sewerage works which had been constructed by a Scotch contractor. When giving evidence at the inquiry which was instituted to examine the charges against this contractor, Carey then described himself as a working bricklayer. A conple of years have sufficed to change him into a master builder and a town councillor. FITZSIMONS, Fitzsiraons’ is the most notable figure in the dock. He is in the prime of life, aged apparently from 40 to 45, tall, and well formed. His forehead is high and somewhat retreating, his nose is, long and straight, his eyes are light, his hair is dark brown, thick, and wavy, and a long thick beard and moustache cover his cheeks, upper lip, and chin. The expression of his face denotes calculation, watchfulness, and determination, He is a man who apparently has emotions completely under control, as he has remained' unmoved whilst listening to evidence that bore heavily against him. He is very well and carefully dressed, generally wearing kid gloves in the dock, JOSEPH BRADY. Joseph Brady, against whom there is the greatest weight of evidence, both in Mr Field’s case and the Park murders, seems the embodiment of brute strength and reckless determination. He is apparently not more than 25 years of age. His girth of chest and breadth of shoulders seem immense, his neck is short and very thick ; he has short, thick, dark brown hair that descends low on his forehead. His eyes are small, and turn restlessly to light and left whilst his head is fixed. His nose is short and

straight, his lips are thin, and are almost constantly stretched in a smile, sometimes apparently genuine, but mora frequently mechanical like a prizefighter’s at the call of time. His massive and severe jaws are uncovered by hair, and a very slight moustache darkens his upper lip. His complexion is sallow, and under an expression of reckless good humour he pays careful attention to the evidence and to every event that happens in the court. EXAMINATION OF MICHAEL KAVANAGH, THE CARMAN. A great sensation was created, not only amongst the spectators, but in the dock, by the appearance of Michael Kavanagh, the carman, who had previously been identified in the Field case. When he came into court under the charge of a detective and stood at the foot of the witnesses’ table the prisoners seemed to be thunderstruck. They gathered in knots and conversed together in whispers. James Mullett, Brady, and James Carey entered into earnest consultation, and their murmured conference did not seem very reassuring. James Carey’s manner in particular seemed greatly changed. His face assumed an anxious look that never left it during the day, and although several of the prisoners came over to make remarks to him he did not seem to heed, but stood with his face to the court, occasionally stroking his beard nervously, with his head bent. Contrary to his usual custom, Mr Murphy commenced the proceedings without any remarks, and the witness Kavanagh wgs sworn amidst a profound silence.

This informer is a tall young man, with black hair, cut closely, and shaven face. His features are prominent and regular, but a very low forehead and a long chin gives his countenance a sinister expression. His manner whilst giving evidence was quiet and selfpossessed, and even when detailing the dreadful crimes in which he was engaged he appeared unconcerned and unmoved.

The first question asked by Mr Murphy, “Were you the owner of a car on the 6th of May last?” created intense excitement in court, and the evidence describing the movements of some of the prisoners on that fatal day was listened to with profound attention. Joseph Brady’s anger became uncontrollable when the witness stated that he was driven by him to a public house in the immediate vicinity of the park gates on the evening of the murder. Ho stood up in the dock, his face flushed, and he shouted out in hoarse tones, “You are a -blasted liar,” and then hissed between his teeth, “ Blast you, you cur, you are!” and turned away.

Kavanagh described the route he drove, both to the scene of the murders and the way from the park after the deed had been perpetrated, and when he mentioned the prisoner Fitzharris by his sobriquet of “Skin the Goat,” and identified him, the latter first winked at a reporter, and then, in a gruff, husky voice, shouted, “Begone, ye scorpion ; don’t call me nicknames.” This expression brought down a reproof from Dr. Webb, but Fitzharris seemed very well pleased with himself, and looked round at the spectators, his ruddy face wreathed with smiles.