Phoenix Park Murders.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 110, 17 April 1883, Page 2

Phoenix Park Murders.

James Carey, the informer, is a tail, well-built man, of forty or forty-five. He is a master builder m a fair way of business, and member of the Dublin Town Council. His face and bearing indicate coolness and determination. His high forehead and pleasant-looking light eyes are ca'culated to inspire confidence ; while his quiet demeanour, decent dress, and general air of respectability mark him out a=» different from the ordinary run of his fellow~artisans, and suggest the successful tradesman. Mr Murphy, Crown prosecutor, began his long and laborious task with a solemnity of voice and manner which plainly indicated the importance of the task he had m hand. Carey crossed his legs, laid bis hands (which on this occasion were without the habitual black gloves^ on his knees, and settled himself down to answer tho Crown Counsel's interrogations with a dogged determination, which, as the afternoon wore on, and his narrative reached its more ghastly stages, degenerated into brutal frankness and revolting levity. Listeners shuddered as they heard him ex plain, by' way of parenthesis, when he stated that Brady wiped his knife on the grass, that it was «to take the blood off,' and turned away with feelings of siekeniag horror when he laughed as he stated that he had suggested that the two knives with which Lord F. Cavendish and Mr Burke had been so ruthlessly murdered should be sent to the Irteh National Exhibition . Commencing with Carey's connection with the Fenian organisation, Mr Murphy led rapidly up to the month of .November, 1881, when John Walsh came to Dublin to establish a society ' which was to make history.' Carey was the first sworn member of the 'Irish Invincibles.' Standing with his right hand holding the knife extended to him by Walsh, he repeated the oath which bound him to obey the behests of the parent society m London, and to pay the penalty of violation with his life. The Irish Inyincibles were rapidly organised. The Dublin branch was to consist of only fifty members, and these were all ' picked men/ The men were se« 'ected as far as possible from the ranks of the Fenian Brotherhood. Earl Cowp«r and Mr Forster, who at that time filled the positions of Vie roy and Chief Secretary, were the first victims marked out by the London organisation for 'removal,' as murder was generally termed among the ' Invincibles.' After these ' tyrants' had been got rid of, the Irish branch was to be left to choose its own victims. The our members of the Dublin Council soon set to work. In December, 1881, they paid a visit to the Phoenix Park, to * mike the acquaintance' of the Caief Secretary. On their return to the city they were introduced by Walsh to a m n disguised as a priest, who was kno«vn as the ' Rev. Father Murphy,' and whom Carey afterwards discovered sto be none other than Mr P. J. Sheridan, of Tub'borcurry, County Sligo, a prominent Land League organiser and orator, and ons of the defendants m th 9 celebrated State Trials of 1 880. This - gentleman was said to be on his way to the west and south tcr establish branches of the "Invincibles" for the removal of Mr Clifford Lloyd and men like him. Then Captain McCafferty, a notorious Fenian leader, who was tried and sent to penal servitude m 1867, but afterwards released, appeared on the scene. He brought funds, and bis contributions often reached £50. To McCaffery, Carey suggested that knives were the best weapons for their purpose. They were soon forthcoming. One morning a woman, who Carey swears he afterwards found was the wife of Frank, Byrne, Secretary of the Land Confederation of Great Britain, the English adjunct of the Land Leagne, . arrived at Carey's house, and delivered to him a Winchester repeating-rifle, a couple of revolvers, six knives, and a supply of ball cartridges. A second time this woman came over with an almost identioal consignment, but the knives were two less m number. Then appeared on the scene a mysterious figure m the coaspiracy. This man was never known by name to Carey. He simply passed as " No. I."' His bearing and language were those of a military man, or one who has seen service. He supplied all the funds, superintended tho arrangements, complained to the members of the Society of the repeated failures, and chidtid thf-m for their lack of industry. The sensation amongst the audience m the Court reached its height during Carey's recital of his movements at the time of the assassination. The nan suspecting victims ■ were about two i hundred yards froau the assassins, who had meanwhile split up into three groups to take their places on the path. The first group consisted of Curie ?, Fagan, and Hanlon — three men whom no one would for a moment suspect of such a crime as murder, Twelve feefe from them were Brady and Kelly, while six feet further, along;, the path, were Delaney and Caffrey. Carey looked back and saw tho two gentlemen pass near the first three assassins. It was exactly seventeon minutes past seven. He saw them also pass the second two without any action being taken, and ho thought——, bufc he did not finish the sentence. A moment afterwards the two men, Bradv and Kelly, executed a i right-about movement, and closed with ] their victims. Carey saw Erady strike Mr Burke with his left hand, and th^t , was all he waited to see. He made rapidly for Island Bridge Gate, and there overtook Smith. With him h« appeared m several places where he was known, for the purpose of lotting himself be seen. That evening he met Curley, who gave him his version of the mnrderSj and it was from him- thkt Carey obtained confirmation of the rumour that Lord Cavendish had also fallen. Later oa Carey met Brady, who gave him the lo!lo»ving account of his share m the ghastly deed ; " I pat my hand upon Mr Burkes left, shoulder and stabbed him. While doing so, the other gentleman struck me m the faie with an umbrella and said fOh I you ruffian.' With that 1 got annoyed and excited, and I followed him, and he put

up his r.rm, and I struck him on the arm. He went out on the road, and 1 settied him there. I looked round, an i 1 saw Tim Kelly at Mr Burke. He was at him, and coming away from him, and I weat back myself and cut Mr Burkes th:ont."