THE MURDERED INFORMER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1341, 11 August 1883, Page 4

THE MURDERED INFORMER.

James Cabby was a man of about middle age. Some three years ago he was a humble working mason; but on the formation of the Invincible organisation his circumstances appear to have wonderfully improved, and he commenced business on his own account as builder and contractor. In November, 1882, he was elected a member of the Dublin Town Council, and was at that time a pretty considerable owner of property. He was then known by his former mates as “ Gentleman Carey,” who lounged about with a cigar always in his mouth. At the trial of the Phoenix Park murderers, he wore a light suit of clothes, and had on a gold watch chain, a ring on his finger, and the corner of a blue and white silk handkerchief peeping out of his breastpocket ; his boots were fashionable, and his " get up " evidently had been a matter of careful consideration to himself. As to his features, they were regular enough, but his forehead is low, and his eyes insincere. Despite his attention to his toilet, his appearance was far from pleasing. He had a hangdog look about him, which showed that he was not proud of his position. Persistently he kept his head hung down, and spoke in a very low voice, looking at the oilcloth on the table just in front of him, and at nothing else. So long ago as 1861, Carey was connected with the Eenian organisation, and from that year to the end of 1878 was a member of the directory. They called themselves the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and occasionally met at his house. In 1881 he was introduced to Walsh, who had gone to Ireland “to establish a society that would make history,” and, in conjunction with him, established the Invincible Society, the object of which was “to remove all tyrants from the landor, in other words, to murder Government officials. The society was liberally supplied with funds, which it is supposed were furnished by the Land League. It instigated several crimes, but its crowning effort was that ter« rible deed of blood committed on the 6th of May, 1832, in Phoenix Park, when Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr Burke were foully murdered. When, months afterwards, the police succeeded in getting upon the trail of the assassins, and had got them under lock and key, Carey, who was among the number arrested, volunteered to turn approver, and the Government decided to accept him in that character, his position as director of the Invincibles rendering his evidence the more valuable. The revelations which he made in the Kilmainhain court, house caused an excitement in Dublin little less than that experienced throughout Ireland when the news of the assassination in Phcenix Park became known. He was universally execrated by every class, and by none more than the Fenians and assassins whom he had betrayed. His death was decreed by the Invincibles, and such was the feeling among these conspirators, that the Government did not deem it safe to liberate him from gaol even after the conclusion of the trial of the Phcenix Park murderers. In May last a report got abroad that he had been allowed to leave Kilmainham Gaol, and had returned to his residence in Dublin. Large crowds quickly collected round the house, and a number of policemen had to be stationed at it to guard it against any 1 possible attack by the mob. At this ■ time the following’paragraph appeared in the English papers : —“ Since Carey I turned informer his tenants in several 1 tenement houses have refused to pay rent. Mrs Carey says that her husband will eject them as soon as he is at liberty. She is emphatic in asserting that he is as great a Fenian as ever, and loves his country, but that he turned informer solely to save his own life. While she is anxious to leave Ireland, her husband has expressed an intention to remain, but she does not know’ what course he will take until he is released.” It was reported a short time ago that Carey would be sent to the Colonies and the report caused considerable indignation in Australia, and telegrams were sent to Lord Derby, requesting him to preserve the colonies from such an infliction. It was subsequently announced that the informer had been recognised in the streets of Loudon. At the time of his turning informer, he was a member of the Dublin City Council, but that body unanimously declared his seat vacant. This action was of course illegal, and it was said that Carey had expressed his determination of attending the meetings of the Council when released from gaol. He had also, it was stated, declared his intention of remaining in Ireland. But he evidently thought better of the matter on mature reflection, and submitted to the exile which his own infamy had rendered unavoidable. It would appear from our cablegram announcing his murder that his destination was South Africa. His assassin was a fellow passenger and an Irishman. From the moment he turned informer Carey was a marked man, and hisfate is only what every one expected would overtake him sooner or later.