O’FARRELL’S LETTER TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
The following is a copy of a letter read by Mr. Macleay, M.P., in the Assembly at Sydney, as the dying declaration of H. J. O’Farrell:— “ Being now about to appear before my Creator, I feel it my duty to give expression to my heartfelt sorrow for the grievous crime I, have committed. From the very bottom of my heart do I grieve for what I have done. I have hitherto said that I was one of many who were prepared to do the deed had I not done it. 1 had not the slightest foundation for such a statement. I was never connected with any man or any body of men who had for their object the taking of the life of the Duke of Edinburgh. Never was lin any other than an indirect manner connected with that organisation in Ireland and elsewhere which is known by the name of the Fenian organisation. I wish moreover distinctly to assert that there was not a human being in existence who had the slightest idea of the object I had in view when I meditated on and, through the merciful providence of God, failed in carrying into effect the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. I have written to the printers of two Irish periodicals an address to the people of Ireland ; and so certain was I of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh that I stated therein that which I believed would be the fact; and I think I have more than implied that I was but one of an organisation to carry the same into effect. I need but say that the truth of the latter portion rests upon slighter foundation than the former; in fact that, unless from mere hearsay, I had no founda tion for saying there was a Fenian Association in New South Wales. From continually thinking and talking of what I may still be allowed to call the wrongs of Ireland, I became excited and filled with enthusiasm, and it was when under the influence of those feelings that I attempted to perpetrate the deed for which I am most justly called upon to suffer. “H. J. O’Faekell.”
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Bibliographic details
Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 117, 16 May 1868, Page 6
Word Count
370O’FARRELL’S LETTER TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 117, 16 May 1868, Page 6
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