THE DUBLIN CONSPIRACY TO MURDER TRIALS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1084, 17 March 1883, Page 3

THE DUBLIN CONSPIRACY TO MURDER TRIALS.

The Dublin Express, a Government organ, of Monday 22nd January, reporting the opening of the trials, says : Twenty prisoners were placed in the dock of the Northern Divisional police court on Saturday, charged that, ‘ being concerned with other evil disposed persons they did conspire, confederate, and agree to murder certain public officials of the Government and others.’ They are named and described ns follows :

James Carey, T.C., 19a Denzille street, builder, aged 40. Daniel Curley, 2 Love lane, off Lower Mount street, carpenter, 37, ex-suspect. Joseph Hanlon, 29 Camden street, carpenter, 21. Laurence Hanlon, 29 Lower Camden street, carpenter, 22. John Dwyer, 6 Chatham street, tailor. 21.

Peter Doyle, 14 Wexford street, coachbuilder, 35.

Peter Carey, 7 Soutli Gloucester street, mason, 32,

Daniel Delaney, 49 Lower Clanbrassil street, house carpenter, 37.

Timothy Kelly, 12 Redmond’s Hill, coachbuilder, 20. William Moroney, 19 Bride street, shoemaker, 44. Edward M’Caffrey, 21 Peter street, conductor mineral water van, 38.

Henry Rowles, 11 Fisliarnble street, tailor, 45.

James Mullett, 12 Lower Bridge street, publican, 30. George Smith, 40 Brien’s Cottages, Haddington road, bricklayer, 2 Joseph Brady. 22 North Anne-street, stone-cutter, 22 ; suspicious character, Thomas Martin, St John’s terrace, Fontenoy street, compositor, 24 ; suspicious character.

Joseph Mullett, G Temple Cottages, clerk, 23 ; suspicious character. Patrick Whelan, No 8 St. James’ terrace, clerk, 28 ; ex-suspect. Edward O’Brien, 14 Old Kilmainham, shoemaker, 31,

Michael Fagan, 36 Artisan’s Dwellings, B"ckingham street, blacksmith, 22. An analysis of the repute of the prisoners shows that, while two are designated ‘ex suspects’ and three ‘ suspicious characters’ the remaining fifteen were 4 unknown to the police’ previous to theii arrest on this charge. .All are described on the charge sheet as of indifferent education, It is stated that there are four other informers.

Mr James Murphy, Q.C., and Peter O’Brien, Q.C. (instructed by Mr Samuel Lee Anderson, S.C.S., and Mr George Bolton, S.C.S), appeared for the Crown" Mr James B. Kiilen (instructed by Mr M’Cnne) appeared for Daniel Delaney, Joseph Brady, and George Smith. Mr Gerald Byrne appeared for James Carey, T.C. ; Joseph Mnliett, Daniel • Curley, Patrick Casey, Thomas Marlin, Henry Bowles, Joseph Hanlon, Laurence Hanlen, Peter Hoyle, John Dwyer, and Michael Fagan.. , Mr ! J. ,-j. Walsh appeared for Timothy Kelly and Edward M’Caffrey. Mr Murphy, Q.C, said : May it please you worships, I attend here w’ith Mr O’Brien to conduct the proceedings before you in reference to the charge brought forward against the prisoners now in the dock. Ido not think it advisable to go a 4 all into any detailed statement of the evidence that we intend to produce before you. I think it sufficient to state that we expect to produce before you clear legal evidence establishing the existence for some time past in this cityof an organisation from which proceeded those terrible crimes l which have been committed recently in and about the city of Dublin, and to show also that the prisoners were active members of that organisation, and to ask at the close of the evidence—when ever we shall be able to close it—that they be returned for trial on the charges that shall appear to you prima facie to be made against the prisoners, or any of them, arising out of the evidence that will be adduced before you, At the close of Mr Murphy’s opening statement the Crown produced Robert Farrell, who had turned approver. . Now a word about Farrell. In height he looks about five feet six inches, rather slight, with foxy, short hair, which stood straight up, and appeared not to have been tutored for some time with comb or brush. In age he seems like eight and twenty, and under sharp piercing blue eyes he has a rather utrousse nose. He wears no beard, but his moustache was well trimmed, and its stroking, now with one hand and then with the other, was apparently the only personal concern bis appearance gave him for the two hours and more ho was under examination. He was well dressed, and his general appearance suggested rather a well-to-do, sober, and industrious mechanic than the van driver he was to Mr Doyle, in Kevin street. He was singularly composed and self possessed, and can boast a very fair shave of inteligence for a man of his class. He had not gone very far when his evidence went to connect the accused with an illegal association, and Mr Murphy’s question of ‘Do you know,’ etc, etc., and when answered in the affirmative, his asking if the person so known had been at any of the meetings alluded to, grew monotonous before the list was exhausted. After fully explaining the grades and other regulations of the alleged secret society, Farrell’s testimony regarding the plot to murder Mr Forster, the ex-Chief Secretary, caused somewhat of a sensation in Court, but this palled when the details of the Westland-row plot to murder Mr Barrett, the foreman of the Francis Hynes jury, and the attack on Mr Field were being recorded in the depositions, and, again, these did not cause the sensation that ensued when counsel asked, ‘ Do you recollect the day of the assassinations in the Phoenix Park V Farrell failed to throw much light on that fearful crime, but his evidence went quite far enough to cause many a breath to quicken in nervous expectation for the true history of those foul murders. The witness stood well the cross-examinations to which he was subjected. He was under examination from a few minutes past one o’clock until half past four. Twice was he told he was a liar—once by Joe Brady aid once by George Smith. The first time he mentioned the ‘ Assassination Committee’ the prisoners almost to a man burst into laughter, and at one time four or five of them turned their backs toThe Bench, and as it were, temporarily ceased to give the evidence even a careless hearing, entering into a chat amongst themselve". None but those actually engaged in the case for the Crown failed to be well nigh astonished at the statements made by a man who as a witness both on the direct and cross-examination never lost his self-pos-session. The following report of Farrell’s evi, dence is compiled from the daily papers of Monday : -

Robert jFarrelji was then sworn and examined Dy Mr Murphy, Q.C. He deposed, 1 am a laboring man, and I was born and reared in the city of Dublin. At a period of about seven year’s ago were you sworn in as a member of any body ? I vvas sworn in as a member of the Fenian Brotherhood. What form of oath was administered to you 1 Ido not positively remember what the words were, but it was implicitly to obey the lawful orders of my superior officers in the true spirit of a soldier.

What was the name of the person that swore you in '? Joseph Fiood. Did you afterwards attend any meeting room of the brotherhood ? 1 did.

Where was it you first attended ? in a laneway off Cooke-street. Where was the next place ? In 49 Yorke street—Rogues house.

And where was the next place 1 10 Peter street.

In the different places #f meeting did you hear of any arrangements made for the purchase of arms 'I Money was collected for the purchase of arms. Do you know one of the prisoners in the dock—James Carey ? I do. Have you seen him attending the meeting in Peter street 1 I have Has drilling been carried on there in Peter street ? Repeatedly. Have you seen him at meetings where drilling was caried on ? Yes. Do you know the prisoner Joseph Brady ? I do. Has he been at many of the meetings with you ? Yes. Do you know the prisoner Peter Carey? Ido.

Have you seen him at any of the meetings you have mentioned ? I never did. The witness then testified that he knew Daniel Gurley, Daniel Delaney, Peter Doyle, Michael Fagan, Joseph HanloDi Laurence Hanlon, Timothy Kelly, Thomas Martin, Edward M’Oaffrey, William Moroney, James Mullett, Joseph Mullett, Edward O’Brien, Henry Rowles, George Smith, and Patrick Whelan. Ha and he had repeatedly seen them at these meetings.

Was there any subscriptions to be paid by members at those places? Yes ; a penny per week for civil money, and all men in employment are supposed to pay three pence a week to arm themselves. How used arms to be given to any man - when the subscription amounted to any sum ? Sometimes when the arms would be paid for, and sometimes before they would be naid for.

What kind of arms used to bo supplied? Breechloading Sniders. Used any revolvers be supplied ? Yes.

To whom used the money be subscribed ? As a rule to the C’s of each division, and he handed it to the B’s. What did the letter C indicate ? A man in the position ot an office.

And who came next to the C’s 1 The B.

How many of the B rank had you in the places you used to frequent 1 The circle, as thoroughly represented, would have eight or nine—the circle that Daniel Curley represented.

At 10 Peter-street who was the centre ? Daniel Curley. Did anyone act as his secretary ? Yes ; first, there was Bartle Kelliher ; secondly, a man named Lynch, Who succeeded Lynch 1 Joseph Brady succeeded him. He is present secretary. You were drilled in Peter-street ? Yes. Who drilled you? (After hesitation). First Edward Rourke, then a man named George Whitsit. About how long did you remain at Peter-stret ? About two years. Where did you go to from Peter-street ? To Cuffe lane, How many circles had you in Cuffe lane ? Two. Who were the heads over each of these? Daniel Curley one and Andrew Cullen the other. (To be continued.)