PHŒNIX PARK MURDER TRIALS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1081, 10 March 1883, Page 3

PHŒNIX PARK MURDER TRIALS.

A. telegram dated Dublin, Feb. 3, received by the last mail, says:— James Carey, a member of the Corporation, Joseph Brady, a stone-cutter, Ewd. O'Brien, a shoemaker, Ewd. MnCafferty, van driver, Peter Carey, mason, Lawrence Hanlen, carpenter, Peter Doyle. coachbuilder, and Timothy Kelly, coachbuilder, the eight men recently arrested here, were charged to-day with the murder of Lord F. Cavendish and Mr Burke in Phoenix'Ps»rk. Wheu the prisoners were placed iu the dock, they

shook hands wiih each ether, joked among themselves mid nodded lo thrir friends. The wading of the charges was greeted by the prisoners with lond laughter. Brady, O'Brien and McCal' ferty were ihdentified at; pei-sous seen near the scene of tragedy ou the *lay of its occurrence. Fitzsimmons, who lodged in the house of Councillor Carey, testified that he found secreted the kuives which physicians swore could have made ttie rents in the clothing and the wounds in the bodies of Cavendish and Burke. He was severely crossexamined. His wife also identified O'Brien and Brady. George C. O'Dea, park ranger, identified Brady as one of the five men seen en the car on the evening of the murder, and driving furiously. Powell, son of a small farmer, identified Brady and McCafferty as lurking under the trees that even-

On the sth Michael Cavanagh, carman, was marched into the prisoners' dock between two policemen, lie has a low retreating forehead, a sinister appearance, and looks anxious and nervous. A little girl witness, Ellen Brophy, identified hira as the driver of n car containing men who intended t.) assassinate Field. Besides Cavanagii, Joseph Brady and Timothy Kelly were also arraigned in connection with the. attempt to murder Field. After hearing the evidence against the prisoners accused of the attempt to kill Field, the two Careys, the two Mullets, Whelan, Brady, Kelly and Cavanagh were-charged with the murder of Lord F. Cavendish and Mr Burke. The identification of Cavanagh by Ellen Brophy was particularly complete. She saw him when going on messages three times in half an hour. Immediately after her return the third time, she heard crifß of murder, and immediately ran to the door; By that time there were two men, besides the driver, on the car, and a third man was just mountingit. When Cavanagh was identified, he blushed and smiled uneasily. Brady, when he enteied the prisoners' dock, had a swaggering manner. Keliy was pale but defiant looking, James Mullet laughed when the charge concerning him in the Phcenix Park murder was read, but none of his companions joined him. Much time was occupied in proving the letting of a room in Peter street, to James Carey, ostensibly as a reading room, but really for the purpose of drilling men. He then left thi| room in October, 1879. William Walters was placed on the stand to prove the letting of the Temperance Hall to Whelan for drilling purposes, but failed to identify the prisoners. A witness named Clinton, who let a room on Peter street used for a drill room, identified Brady and James Carey. The seizure of arms at Whelan's house was formally proved, and evidence was given of the finding of ammunition, revolvers, and two daggerß in Joseph Mullet's room. The prisoners were then remanded until the following Saturday. The sensation of the day was the reading of extracts from books founi when the Fenian armory in Cross Kelvin street was seized. A diary of Patrick Whelan records his appointment as Treasurer to the Executive of the Republican Brotherhood ; purchases in London of a rifle and electric battery ; a meeting of the Executive to consider a resolution which was afterwards proposed 1 at the Rotunda meeting of the Land League by the Nationalists, and a meeting to consult on the advisability o.f sending James Maher to America to consult ' our chief,' James Stephens. This reference to Stephens particularly caused laughter among the prisoners and people. One entry reads ' Prior to the death of J. G. Mahoney, the S.R.B. had lost its former effectiveness and prestige. It was no longer dreaded as a revolutionary body ; it had become a mere tool in the hands of Parliamentary aspirants.' Another book contained a list of members of a Workman's Club. The Police Inspector admitted Whelan had formerly been arrested, but was not tried. A policeman testified to finding the murdered body of Bailey, the informer. Prisoners' counsel declared this matter was wholly irrelevant, to which the Crown counsel replied that he was prepared to prove prisoners were members of a conspiracy, to which he would trace all the murders in the city in the last few years, and he would prove that Baiiey was connected with the discovery of the Fenian armory. On the 10th Feb. Michael Cavanagh, the carman, turned informer against the prisoners charged with conspiracy to murder Government off cials. The court was again crowded this morning with privileged spectators, including many ladies. The following persons were also arraigned :—Lawrence Han-

leu, Joseph Mullet, Jaru< s Mullet, Edward U'Biien, Win, Maloney, Wm.

David Hurley, and Samuel Delaney. Great excitement ensued when Cavanagh was placed in the witness seat. He apparently labored under great excitemeut. He deposed that on May 6th last he was at the Royal Oak publichouse, Park Gate street, and was engaged by four men—Brady, Kelly, and two strangers. Brady uttered a loud mutter like ' three,' but no distinct words was heard. There was no laughter to-day among the prisoners when Cavanagh identified them. Cavanagh then pointed to Patrick Delaney as another of the men present. He drove four men by the Island-bridge gate to the Phoenix Monument and along the main road. After prisoners had said there was no sign of Fitzharris, witness saw his cab coming from the opposite directiou, and saw four men alight from a cab. The cab stood a long way up the road, with the horses' heads turned towards Dublin. He saw Lord F. Cavendish and Mr Burke approaching, and some one among those he drove said the tall man was to be assassinated. Cavanagh said he subsequently drove by the Chapel road and round town to Palmerston Park. Kelly alighted at the terminus. Brady paid him £l. After he had driven to the park he had alighted and put a nose-bag on his horse. While waiting he said a persou spoke to James O'Brien. Delaney afterwards instructed him (Cavanagh) to look sharp and be ready to start. Upon this he stood nearer to the waiting group, which included several persons he did not know. The two gentlemen (Lord Cavendish and Mr Burke) were approaching arm in arm. James Carey and Delaney, who had come back on the car from the place were it was waiting, jumped down joined the group. Witness heard some one say, 'lt is the tall man,' Cavanagh was then ordered to go futher away by one of the conspirators. As he did so, witness heard some one, he could not say who, repeat 'lt is the tall man.' As the gentlemen came along, either Carey or Delaney seized a white handkerchief, On driving from the scene of the murder they took a turn to the left, then crossed a bridge to the right. Delaney directed hiin where to drive. He drove rapidly until he reached Rountown, three miles from the Park. Here Tim Kelly alighted. He then drove round to Lee's, stopping at a public-house, near Lee Bridge. Brady then paid and dismissed him. On Sunday morning he met Brady again at Rountown street, and received £2» Brady afterwards bought him harness. He allowed his car to remain as it was for some time. Afterwards he had it painted. On the night Field was attacked, it was on the Cottage street stand, and Joe Brady again engaged him. They drove out of Fleet street. Delaney then got off, and they drove to Harwich street, where they alighted. They told him to wait* While waiting Kelly and Lawrence Hanlen came up.

As the examination progressed, prisoners appeared to be in sheer desperation. Not one of them looked towards the Court except Hanlen. On Cavanagh's identifying Delaney and James Carey, the latter of whom lie said h e knew well, there was such a commotion in Court that the Magistrate threatened to clear it. Brady aiterwards somewhat recovered his composure, and endeavored to smile. Cavanagh said he was so near the scene of the assassinations that he heard one of the victims cry ' oh.' The tall one (Mr Burke) was lying on the road after this exclamation ; the other was standing on the road with an umbrella in his hand. Cavanagh afterwards saw him lying on the road. As before stated, Cavanagh's evidence will be final. Little can be added to it, as the Crown will not accept the evidence of the actual participators. The prisoners evidently feel the game is up, and all of them now exhibit a defiant demeanor except James Carey, who sat motbnles quietly at the bench. Ihey moved about and held a whispered conierence, and for some time laughed at any incident. Cavanagh lurther deposed thai Fitzharris on one occasion told him they were after Judge Lawson. Cavanagh said he became an informer on Thursday last. He had been sworn in the Society by Kelly, Tto task assigned him was to drive the boys, An in • dependent witness corroborated him, having seen Cavanagh drive the prisoners to Phoenix Park and in company of the murderers at a publichouse. Cavanagh, in his testimony, said Doyle told him that James Mullet and a lot of big people were attached to the Sooiety. Upou Cavanagh entering into

details as to the various times he drove the assassins after the Phoenix Park murders, Fitzharris called him a liar. The Clerk called the names of thirteen prisoners, including, in addition to thoso already mentioned, Ryan and Thomas Doyle, The thirteen were all charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Burke and Lord Cavendish and to attack Field. During the reading of his deposition, Cavanagh leaned back iu his seat, resting his head, with a dogged expression of countenence, George Molloy, a hatter, of Cape) street, Dublin, deposed that he saw Cavanagh on May 6th, at Wren's public house, which. Cavanagh mentioned in his depositions.