PARNELLISM AND CRIME. INFORMERS ON THE STAND. Miserable Tools and Traitors. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) London, December 7.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 342, 13 February 1889, Page 3

PARNELLISM AND CRIME. INFORMERS ON THE STAND. Miserable Tools and Traitors. (FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) London, December 7.

Onk of the few exciting incidents which have disturbed tho deadly dull course of theParnellCommissionproccedingsoccuii'ed on Tuesday morning lasb, when an informe r named Thomas O'Connor, who, according to his owi. account, had been a ' moon lighter ' and a member of the alleged 'Inner Circle' of the Land League, volunteered some (to say the least of it) startling evidence. Thomas O'Connor, says the 4 Daily News ' summary, in reply to the Attorney-GeneiaPs questions described the nature of his work as a member of the 'Inner Circle' He took part in midnight expeditions, on one occasion with thirty ' 13oys,' who were armed with guns and'revolvers, and whose business it was to reinstate an evicted tenant. For this first spixice he had, he said, received six shillings from the secretary > of the Land League. At another time he formed one among a party of fifteen • Boys,' armed as above, and commissioned to warn a landlord's tenants against paying: rents above Giifnths's valuation. It these people, said the informer, did not open their doors at once, we burst them open ! This witness declared that ho had taken part in ten or twelve midnight expeditions of the kind — there were many such expeditions, he added, of which no notice e\er appeared in tho papers.

Mr T. Harrington Accused. The third part of the story touched on local olectioneeiing for local purposes, lie said how he had heard Mr T. Haninprton declare that he would sooner lose £200 than that Mr Richard Burke, a ' landloid'a ; strapper and lickplate,' shouM be returned in place of a League candidate at an election to a local Board of Guardians. Not only that, but, according to the informer's story, Mr Harrington personally ordered him ami his comrade Boys to canvass for the votes, but 'not to kill' anybody, 'not to hurt' anybody, but only 'to frighten ' voters, and ' not to diink — lesfc we should do something foolish.' And Mr Harrington, continued the witness, told us if the League candidates were elected we might name our own price. To cut a. very long story shore, the League candidate did get in, but when we reminded Mr Harrington of his piomise, 'he told us he had no money, and to go away, and that he was ashamed of us.' But, said the witness, a few clays after that, a man met us and gave us seven pounds, and cautioned us not to trouble Mr Harrington any more on the subject. The rest of Thomas O'Connor s startling story was laigely occupied with details about his visit to America.

The Boy Informer. Wednesdays proceedings weie of the usual dull type ab first ; but they became interesting, and even amusing, when all ab once the Attorney-General ' sprang upon ' his opponents the boy-in former. A sandyhaired youth, with small, restless eyes, he looked confused and frightened as he ascended reluctantly into the witness-box. But in a minute or two he \va3 fairly ab his ease ; and long before his examination came to an end he contemplated their lordships and the Q.C.s and the greatly diverted spectators with an air of indifference. James Walsh — that was the boy's name —narrated how committee - men of the Branch weie appointed to 'look after' boycotted people ; how he himself had written and posted up threatening notices issued by the League Committee ; and how not long ago the League warned people for not joining the l'Jan of Campaign. And so on and 50 on. No wonder that Master James Walsh was so ready with his details. For Master Walsh was. ' secretaiy ' of the Kiltimagh branch of the National League. He afterwards explained that he shaied with a 'joint' his load of official cares and responsibilities. Still even to be only a joint secretary of the great national organisation did seem a rare distinction for a youth of his years.

Sir Charles and the 'Times' 'Boy. 1 Then came the revelations. Air Walsh informed the lenowned Q C. that he was 'appointed secretary in December, 1887,' and that he ' gave up ' the office the month after. It was not the office that retired from Mr Walsh, but Mr Walsh who letired from the office. Why? Mr Walsh's answer was somewhat to the effect that the thing wa&n't worth his while. ' Very well,' oxclaimei Sir Charles, soothingly, ' very well.' The great Q.C. paused. He looked up. ' Did the League ever make any charge against you ?' — (It was now the ex-secre-tary's turn to pause ) 'I don't remember,' said he thoughtfully. — 'No charge about pilfeiing funds?' — 'I believe tlure was.' — ' How much was it?' — ' Ten shillings.' — 'Is it true that you took it ?' — * It is true, sir.' — 'Did you take some money belonging to an athetic club ?' — ' Yes.' Were you agent to a plate-glass insurance company ? — Yes. Did you insure your mother's windows ? — Ye?. Did you make out that your mother's windows were broken, and that they were made of plate-glass ? — Yes. And did you make a claim upon the company ? — I did, eir. Was your claim found to be fraudulent, and were you dismissed from your agency ? —Yes. And was your claim fraudulent? — It was. Were you afterwards appointed agent for a life assurance company ?- 1 was. What company ? The Gresham. Did you represent that a Mr D. Smythe, the editor of the ' Western People,' wanted to get his life insured for £500? -I did. If that were true you would have been entitled to get a commission upon the premium ? — Ye=. Was it' true ?— lt was not true. Mr Smythe knew nothing about the matter at all ? — He did not. 'Very well,' Sir Charles Russell exclaimed, accenting the ' very,' as he resumed liia seat. The cat was out of the bag. But another cat remained behind ; and it was let out by Mr Michael Davitt in tho following manner : Was any threat made to you to prosecute > you if you did not give evidence ?— Yes. | Who by?— The District Inspector. He said he did not know what would happen about the Insurance Company. You took that as a threat ? — Yes.

Lord Mountmorres's Murder. 'Mike Burke!'. And Mike Burke, answering to his name, shambled, with his head cast down, into the witness box, and proceeded to unfold his startling, and, if I true, damning and diabolical tale. Nob, however, before a dozen questions or so were pub to Mike Burke did it dawn upon hia audience that he was one of the race of approver?. In these preliminary questions he stated that he had collected money for his branch of the League ; that twelve or fifteen years ago in Jarrow, near - Shields, he joined a secret society,; .that he returned seven or eight years since to Mayo, where he became a member of the Land League,

collecting money for it, attending its meetings, and getting into its secrets.

•Do Away With Him? 1 ■ • You remember Lord Mountmorres's murder ?' asked Sir Richard Webster, after a long pause, dropping his voice. And then you might hear a pin fall. He remembered it. And before the deed was done the League held a meeting — whereat the victim's name was mentioned. He was there himself —at the house of Pat. Carney. And he remembered the Leaguers who were present — naming them. What did thoy say and do ? Oh, it was ' drawndown ' that ho should be done away with. ' Drawn down ' meant talked over. It must have been amurderous company according to Informer Mike, for it was also ' drawn down ' that two othor landlords should bo * done away with.' Informer Mike, as he stood there in his box', spoke of sending his fellowcreatures to the other world with the nonchalance of parcelpost. 'Yes,' Mike went on, with a reflective nod of the head, and leaning his elbow on the ledge 'of his box,' Lord Mountmorres was to be ' done away with,' but as to the other it was i disagreed on.'

Talk by the Wayside. On the side of the highroad where Led Mountmorres was murdered, and some hours before the murder, Mike was working on a stone wall. As he worked away, Pub Sweeney came up to him. Help us 'to do away with Lord Mounbmorres?' asked Pat-. ' I will not/ replied Mike ; 'I have a wife and children to look after.' • I might do it but for that,' Mike now explained in answer to the attorney. As he said this Mike gazed fixedly at the coiling, and tapped the desk reflectively with the tips \ of his fingers. Mike really soemed to be lost in thought — totally oblivious of the presence of my Lords Commissioners and the tiiple row of gentlemen in wigs. 'See anyone else V Sir Richard Webster asked, in his quiet slow way, bringing Mike back from the cloud?. Oh, yes; Pat Mulrow, another Leaguer, came up to Mike while Mike worked at his stone wall. Pat Sweeney remarked to his friend Mike that he expected Lord Mountmorres would be done away with that evening. A little while after the doomed man himself passed that way. Mike saw him — and minded his own business, thinking all the more peihaps. His day's 'job' finished, Mike trudged off to the public-house, and there he found, besides Carney, the keeper of the public-house, his fellow Leaguers Bairett, Mulrow, Murphy, Handbury, Hcnnelly, and William Bourke, and Fallow and Pat Sweeney. Again Sweeney and Carney tried to induce him to ' lend a hand ' in ' doing away with ' Lord Mountmorres. ' What did you ?ay ?' asked Sir Richard. 'I told Carney that I might go.' They went on with their talk, and doubtless with hheir drink, and in about an hour's time ' I missed some of them,' said Mike. He could hardly have expressed it better had ho been a literary artist. In another hour they came back, and on Mulrow's hand he noticed something. Then said Mike, we went home together and they told me they had done away with Lord Mountmorres.

Blank Oblivion. Though the informer gave his answers after many reflective pauses, he yet pave them clearly and decishely enough. He was veiy circumstantial ; still retained a minute recollection of the events preceding the muider ; and ran off the names of his Leagues confederates with sufficient readiness. But when Sir Charles Russell took him in hand Informer Mike became wonderfully changed. He seemed to have completely torgottcn the most familiar events of his life. His answers — given out with slow deliberation — alternated between doubt and blank ignorance. He forgot the year in which he leturned from "Noroh England to Ireland. ' Don't know what ye mane,' he growled. ' What year is this ?' asked Sir Charles Russell. Bub Mike wouldn't swear to it It might be '87, '88, '89. 'Can't swear to it,' lepoated Mike, taking slow hold of himself by his coat collar, and slowly nodding, with the air of a cautious man who did not like to commit himself. He could not tell how long he had been in Jarrow, nor whether he had worked years or only months for the same master. ' Might be months, might be years,' he uttered, thoughtfully ga/.ing once more at the ceiling. Nor could he tell the veal name ot the secret society of which he was a member ; nor did he remember his oath, if there was one ; nor whether he used to know, and be known by, his fellow members by means of signs and passwords. ' Were you sworn on a book ?' ' I was sworn in a backyard,' was the reply. Mike was growing more and more unmanageable. He would repeat Sir Chaile&'s questions ; or l'eply with' an ' Eh,' or with a nasal snarl of an ' mm. In his fits of silent contemplation he would thrust out his bushy chin, stare at the ceiling, shrug his shoulders, tap with his forefingers. To the Attorney - General the informer said that Carney was secretary of the League. All he could now say was that Carney was secretary of ' something. ' He was not even sure that all those men whose names he had given were Leaguers. They might, or might not Mike seemed to be falling to pieces — so to speak. When pressed on these last questions he turnei a little pale. Then he began to button his coat— taking a long time over it ' When you've done buttoning your coat, you will perhaps attend to me,' exclaimed Sir Charles. ' Attend to me !' he repeated sharply. Mike looked down, stuck his elbow on the ledge; his shoulders rose about his ears ; and the obliquish eyes flashed viciously. ' Who saw you about your evidence?' he was asked. 'I don't understand,' said Mike, after a long pause. No answer would Mike give save ' Eh ' — 'eh ' — 'mm, as he thrust out his chin, took hold of himself by his coat collar, and became lost in thought. ' Can't you answer? 1 the President interposed sharply. ' •I don't understand what the man manes,' j retorted Mike, pointing to Sir Charles ' Russell. Sir Charles's questions were jj meant to elicit from him whether lie had | been nursed and primed, so to speak, for I the day!s work -by. policemen and others. I Bub Mike would only say that he ' expected ' his evidence was read over to him ; he could 'nob tell whether he rehearsed his evidence yesterday or the day before. ' Was it rood over to you this morning ?' — to which question there were three successive answers. 'It might,' ' I think it was,' 'Ibwas.' Bub bhen a cloud of black, impenetrable forgetfulness instantly passed over Mike's mind, for he could nob bell whether the reading took place in his lodgings.

To remove varnish without; injuring painb, brush on spirits of ammonia or hartshorn, which softens the oil, allowing of its being rubbed oil" easily.,. It is easy for the poor man to tell how every dollar of the rich man's money should be expended. Tho total amount of gold coinage and bullion issued from Sydney Mint to the end of 1888 was £61,128,817. The new silver coinage amounted to £338,000,' and bronze to £31,000. - The construction of the north-eastern wing of the Victorian Parliament House is to be proceeded with at once. Probable cost, between £80,000 and £100,000.