THE ESCAPED ASSASSINS.

Patea Mail, 22 September 1882, Page 3

THE ESCAPED ASSASSINS.

A report from London says the Foreign Office confirms the arrest at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, of one of the assassins of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke. A detective of the Irish Constabulary has been sent to Caracas to receive the prisoner, who gives his name as O’Brien, alias Westgate. The New York Heralets St. Thomas special snys :—He was arrested on the 16th instant on his own confession, and he shipped on the Bth of May, under the name of O’Bryan, on board the British barque Gladstone, from Swansea to Caracas. He says he left Dublin on the night of the 6th of May by steamer to Swansea, and the names of three of his accomplices and other details of the murder were taken by deposition before the British consul. He is a Scotchman, and in figure tall and slender. He says he was employed by O’Connor and other persons, and the price of the deed was £2O to each person concerned, and in his opinion £2O was more to an Irishman than an Englishman’s life.

It is believed the Venezuelan Government will surrender him, although thwe is no extradition treaty. Parties who have seen the man give credence to his confession, but the Dublin detectives are disinclined to believe the story. There is no doubt two of the men engaged in the murders did escape abroad, but not to Venezuela, and neither of thorn is named O’Brien. Later despatch from Dublin says, from information gleaned there, it appears that Westgate, or O’Brien, sailed on the day of the tragedy from Northwall for Swansea at half-past seven p.m., or ten minutes before the assassination occurred. Consequently he could not have been a participant. Some of his friends were with him at Northwall one hour before tde vessel sailed. The Dublin authorities are confident that Westgate is innocent, but it is thought he will have to be brought to Ireland to satisfy public feeling. In London the belief increases that Westgate’s story has some foundation. On the 27th the Home Secretary refused in the House of Commons to answer a question relative to the arrest, on the ground that it would be inconsistent with the public interests.