MR. GLADSTONE “SENTENCED” BY THE FENIANS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2656, 24 September 1881, Page 2

MR. GLADSTONE “SENTENCED” BY THE FENIANS.

We are indebted to the “ Evening News” for the following :—“ O’Donovan Rossa has replied as follows to some Dublin newspapers, who scouted the assertion that the Premier had been sentenced to death by the Fenians :—* Yes, the verdict of wilful murder has been recorded against Gladstone, the Governor of Ireland. How the penalty for that offence is to be borne we cannot say ; but wo can say that a friend of that murdered girl Byrne has left at our ollice a sum of SOOdols. as expenses to meat “ the hu’ Is of justice” in the case. The verdict of wilful murder holds good against G ladstane whilst Gladstone holds Ireland in a state of war. The “mythical ” men “ Coleman,” “ Mooney,” and “ O’Donncl,” with their friends, have command of this oOOdols., and they will try to do their work for liberty iu spite of the police ofiicials of Cheshire, and Fiutshire, and Hawarden Castle.’ The American paper “Sunday Mercury” gives the following particulars of how the sentence’ was arrived at —We met in Hew York ; the immediate locality is immaterial. The president handed the secretary a newspaper containing the cable despatch, which was read amid deep silence. “How,” said the president, " it seems to me we have a solemn

duty to perform. Let us then impress with the solemnity of our oaths and inspired by the sacredness of our cause, the freedom of our native land and the brushing from the face of the earth of individuals through whom our people are murdered in cold blood, proceed -to action. Let us remember that the murder which we sit here as a jury to consider is that of a defenceless and distracted young woman whoso only crime was a wild protest against the destruction of her home, and her father’s homo. We are men ; a woman’s blood—a sister’s blood —cries to us from the ground for vengeance. The president spoke in slow, deep tones. Then one of the directory—he holds an important position in a wholesale importing house in New York—rose slowly, and, lifting his right towards the ceiling, said, “ I move that the secretary record in red ink in the secret book a verdict of ‘ Wilful murder against William Ewart Gladstone,’ Prime Minister to her Britannic Majesty, Queen Victoria of England.” “ And,” said another, “ I will, with the the brother’s permission, add that the verdict of the Directory be communicated to the London Branch Council, and through it to our executive missionaries now on duty in England.”