CONFESSION OF O'FARRELL.

Southland Times, Issue 923, 27 March 1868, Page 3

CONFESSION OF O'FARRELL.

SYDNEY, March 19. The Treason Felony Bill has passed all its stages, and received the Royal" assent. b'Farrell has made the following statement since his cemmittaL . : He stated he intended to have shot at the Prince a second time as he lay on the ground, and then to have shot himself, but was prevented by the movement of Sir William Manning. Moreover, that he had a written instrument, received from the directors of the Fenian movement at home, directing the execution of the Prince, and that each of ten persons entered into a solemn engagement to shoot him, in the event of the lot falling to him. Lots were drawn hy a boy, in presence of the ten men. It fell to his (O'Farrell's) lot to execute the Prince. This took place about two months ago. He said he regretted that it had fallen to his lot to kill the Prince, but killing was not regarded in the light of assassination,' but in the same way as they regarded the execution of the three Irishmen at Manchester. O'Farrell added that the general design of the Fenian organisation was to 1 strike terror into the English people (or aristocracy), believing that to be the most effectual mode of bringing about the independence of Ireland. ' r ■ : The prisoner went on to state that he intended i to have shot the Prince, on the occasion -of the public landing, had a good opportunity of doing so presented itself. He had procured agunf^r that purpose, and hired a room which commanded a : view of the procession.' He v was deterred from-carrying out his intention on that ( occasion, as there was a probability of the Bhot taking effect on the Earl of Belmore, who was sitting beside His Eoyal Highness. He afterwards proposed to carry out his deadly purpose at the Citizens' BalL " One of the ten men previously referred ,to, wished to accompany him for the purpose of setting fire to the Pavilion by means of inflammable, substances which he had in his possession, but that he (O'Farrell) was unwilling to sacrifice so many li^es when his engagement required the death of .but one. Subsequently, he intended to have accomplished his design at the Fancy Dress, Ball, but for some cause was led to postpone it to a more favorable opportunity.