THE FENIAN CONSPIRACY.

West Coast Times, Issue 572, 25 July 1867, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE FENIAN CONSPIRACY.

At the Cork Special Commission, during the trial for high treason, on 23rd May, of Captain M { Clure, John Edmund Kelly, David Joyce and Cullinane, or Boyle, the first named prisoner withdrew his plea of Not Guilty, Although warned that his pleading guilty could not alter his sentence, he deliberately admitted the crime with with which he was charged. The other prisoners were convicted, b.ut recommended to mercy. Chief Justice Monahan sentenced the four prisoners to be hanged on. the 19th of June, their heads to be afterwards cut off, and their bodies divided into quarters. Kelly expressed a hope that all pleas for mercy on his part would be disregarded as he was willing to die. The other prisoners did not speak. The court then proceeded with the trial of James O'Brien, otherwise " Colonel O'Brien, otherwise James Walsh," who is charged with, having committed at Middleton, in county Cork several overt acts of high 'treason. M'Carthy, an informer, was examined, and proved that the prisoner was one of the party. The prisoner was found guilty on all counts. The majority of the jury petitioned for a commutation of the sentence. The court ther. adjourned until to-day, 27th May, when sentence will be pronounced.

On the afternoon of 25th May, a very large deputation of members of Parliament of both parties waited upon the Premier at his private residence in St. James's square, to beg that mercy might be extended to the Fenian Burke, now lying under sentence of death. His lordship Avas addressed by Sir George Bower, Mr J. S. Mill, Mr Maguire, Mr T. B. Potter, Mr Neate, Mr Wyld, The O'Donoghue, Dr Brady, Mr Dobson (the chairman of Ways and Means), Mr Charles Forster, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, Mr Oliphant, Mr Otway, Mr M'Cullagh Torrens, Mr Rearden, and other members, and the Government was besought to spare the criminal on the ground that by executing him this country Avould be lowering itself to the civilisation of Russia ; that the criminal would be raised to the rank of a martyr ; that it Avould seem to show the continent that Aye spared the Fenians in Canada, where blood was actually shed, for fear of the Americans ; and on the ground that tbe execution would give offence to the Canadians, Avho would feel that less consideration was given to an invasion of their homes than to a wretched attempt at revolt like the late outbreak Lord Derby, in reply, said he Avas placed in a very difficult and trying position, for nothing could be more painful to him to have to discuss the question about the wretched man under sentence. He controverted an argument which had been advanced — namely, that an example might be taken from the late war in America. After that war no life had been sacrificed for political misdeeds, for, he said, there was no analogy betAveen the circumstances of that war and this wretched attempt at rebellion. He said the decision which had been arrived at in Burkes case had only been come to after the deepest consideration.by the Government, and after consultation with the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the judges, and others. He flfculd hold but no hope whatever that that decision would be reversed in Burkes case ; but the merabejrs present might petition the Government, and he Avould lay the petition