CONNELL’S GREATEST TRIUMPH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2170, 20 February 1880, Page 3

CONNELL’S GREATEST TRIUMPH.

Probably the greatest feat ever accomplished by the distinguished Irish barrister was his intervention on behalf of the so-called “ Donerailc Conspirators” in 1829. At the Cork Summer Assizes of 1828 the grand jury found true Bills against twenty-one men for conspiring together to shoot or otherwise kill certain gentlemen of property and position in the neighborhood of Donerailc, a thriving town of county Cork; a first instalment of four out of this number were placed on their trial before Baron Pennefather and Judge Torrens at Cork on Oct. 21 of the same year; and chiefly through the exertions of Doherty, the Solicitor-General, a highly gifted man, with a most striking personal appearance, all of them were on the evening of Fridajq the 23rd, found guilty, and sentenced to be executed. In their agony of terror it was felt by the relatives of the men still awaiting their trial, that only one chance was left them—that was to secure the advocacy of the greatest criminal lawyer of the Munster Circuit, or of Ireland, Daniel O’Connell; but O’Connell was away atDerryane, ninety miles off, and railways and telegraphs were not. But the Court, on the proposition of the Solicitor-General, decided not to take the next batch of prisoners till the Monday. Under these circumstances a young farmer named Burke, a brother of one of the prisoners, resolved to ride to Derrynano, and request O’Connell to come off, at once to Cork, so as to act for the defence on the ensuing Monday. He undertook to be at Derryuane early on the next morning, and at five o’clock on that Saturday afternoon, mounted on a strong horse of powerful action and singular endurance, he started on his errand of life or death On he sped heedless of the coming night, the lonely road, the bleak winds, the pelting rain. Burke was as good as his word: reached Derrynane early on the Sunday, saw “ the councillor,” told him of his ninety miles’ ride, and that if he did not \mdcrtake the defence of the prisoners “ Doherty would hang them all,” hut that if he came they would be safe. The compliment and the trust expressed in him touched O’Connell deeply. He at once accepted the retainer, and wrote to the prisoners’ attorney “ that ho would attend to defend the remaining prisoners as fast as horses JJwould draw him.” After a few hours for needful rest and refreshment Burke set out on his return journey. Eager looks were cask on the road to Kerry, from au early hour on that Monday morning. When Burke was descried the question, “What news, William?” came from many a tongue. The response, “ O’Connell will he here in an hour,” elicited a shout that rang through the morning air. It was taken up in Blackpool, and reverberated through Gcorgcstreet, and echoed from Patrick-strect, the Grand Parade, and the South Mall. The joyous news pierced the barred dungeons, and awoke hope in the oppressed hearts of the prisoners awaiting their trial. The father, son, and brothers—wives, mothers, and sisters, fell on their knees and thanked God that their dear ones would yet again breathe the free air of their native fields. Shortly after the Solicitor-General had commenced opening his case on the Monday O’Connell appeared on the scene, travel-stained, but fed copiously on milk and sandwiches. His arrival changed the fate of the trial. Pour more prisoners had been placed at the bar; but by the end of the second day the jury were only able to decide as to one of them, whom they acquitted . They were locked up again and again ; but in tbeendhad to be discharged without a verdict. And the conclusion of the whole matter was that the whole of the still untried prisoners were allowed to go out on bail, and ibat the capital sentence passed on the four before O’Connell’s services were retained, was never executed, but commuted into transportation for life.