The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-05-10 00:00:00

TEE DYNAMITE PLOTS.

At the Birmingham Police-courts:es:Saturday, Jolla
Daky, eias Denman, James Francis Egan, and
Williau M'Donnell were brought up charged with
treason-felony. The stipendiary does not as a rule
sit on Saturdays, but owing to the gravity of the
charge it was considered expedient that he should
preside. There was a large attendence of magistrates
on the bench, while the space appropriated to the public
was crowded to excess. Mrs. Egan sat at the end of the
bench immediately above the attorney's seat, and
seemed much distressed. Egan was the first to appear,
and he seemed to have taken special pains with his
toilet, looking very fresh and tidy, though manifestly
anxious to a degree. He took off a high hat as he
entered the dock, and walked close up to the warder.
M'Donnell, looking very sullen, followed him, and
next came Daley. He was, of course, scanned with a
keen eye by all,but though he was aware of this close
scrutiny he appeared.not the least disturbed. He is
a tall, sharp-looking fellow, quite sft. 10in, high,
dressed in a light dust coat, black short jacket and
trousers, deep upright collar, and silk scarf.
Mr. Poland, who was accompanied by Mr. Pollard,
appeared again to prosecute for the Treasury; Mr.
O'Connor represented Egan; Mr. Corbett, M'Donnell;
while Daley was not represented.
Mr. Poland said that there hping now two other
prisoners, John Daley and William M'Donnell,
before the court it was necessary to say a few words
before calling evidence. With regard to John Daley,
he was arrested at Birkenhead, having in his posses-
sion bombs obviously intended for the destruction of
human life, and being on his way back from Birken-
head by way of Wolverhampton to Egan's house at
Birmingham. Having regard also to the fact that he
was living on intimate terms with Egan, and that the
documents that were found at the house showed that
he was taking an active part in the treasonable organi-
sation known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood,
he did not think it was necessary to say any more
with regard to Daley. With regard to M'Donnell,
on the last occasion he read a letter in court which
was found at Egan's house. It was dated June,
1874, referring to a meeting of the officers of
the brotherhood in the district at Mr. Patrick
Flynn's and signed, "yours truly, William
M'Donnell, D.C." That letter showed in the
most conclusive manner that it was written by
one of the officers of the organisation to another
officer, and that M'Donnell was an intimate friend
and companion of Egan in this treasonable conspi-
racy. M`Dennell lived at Wednesbury and kept a
public-house, working by day as a clerk. He was,
therefore, in a position to meet persons in his house
for the purpose of carrying on this conspiracy. Mr.
Poland then gave particulars of other correspondence
between M'Donnell and Egan, in which references
were made to the organisation, and in which
M'Donnell expressed a desire to see more done for the
cause in Wolverhampton. The letter of June, 1874,
was the only that had got into the papers, and when
questioned about that M'Donnell said that he wrote
it, but left the organisation a fortnight afterwards.
There were other letters which undoubtedly brought
his connection with the conspiracy down to 1875.
The magistrates' clerk asked Daley if any one de-
fended him.
Daley (who spoke with a strong Irish accent) : I
have a solicitor, but he had no notice that I was going
to be brought here. I think I ought to have some
explanation of the reasons why I was brought here.
I was finally committed to take ray trial at the
Chester Assizes on last Thursday, at Birkenhead. I
should like to ask you how was it that I was brought
here also on another charge.
Mr. Poland explained that Daley was charged at
Birkenhead under the Explosives Act and because of
the later disclosures he was now charged with treason-
felony.
Inspector Stroud, of the Birmingham Borough
Police, deposed to watching Egan and Daley con-
stantly for the last six months. Daley appeared to
be lodging with Egan. The witness then described
various journeys taken by Daley, and his visits to
various places with Egan. On Good Friday the wit-
ness took Egan into custody after receiving informa-
tion of Daley's arrest at Birkenhead. The house was
searched, and a large number of letters were found in
Egan's apartments.
Mr. Poland then put in several letters produced
by the witness, and remarked that he thought he
should be able to prove the handwriting beyond all
question. Daley addressed Egan in several letters as
"Dear Jim," and used other expressions which proved
beyond doubt their close intimacy. One of these
letters was dated "7th July, 1882, from Lake House,
Grafton-road, from James T. Egan to J. R. G-asquelt,
Burgess-hill, Sussex," and four letters read together
showed this—that Daley was writing to Egan as
"Dear Jim "and signing "Jack," and asking Egan to
give his brother Edmond a character in the name of
Hayes, because he, John Daley, was about to leave
the retreat in Burgess-hill, Sussex, and Edmund, in
the name of Hayes, was to take this situation. Mr.
Gasquelt wrote to Egan for a character, and here is
Egan's answer: "July 7th, 1882. Sir,—ln reply to
your favour to hand, I beg to say that for the few
years Mr. Hayes was in my employ I always found
him sober, trustworthy, and attentive to business. I
have every confidence in recommending Mr. Hayes.
I believe he will give you every satisfaction.—Yours
respectfully, JAMES F. EGAN."
The stipendiary: Who is Mr. Gasquelt ?
Mr. Poland: He is the manager of the retreat in
Sussex. So that we get from May, 1881, to June and
July, 1882. The learned counsel next produced a
number of letters written by the prisoner M'Donnell.
In these M'Donnell referred to certain "conferences,"
and in one document remarked," We have now twenty-
four members on the books and a sum of £1 ss. in
the hands of the treasurer." In another M'Donnell
said, "I hope that all the district will work well " ;
and in another, "Will you send me your returns for
March, as I have to send them at once to London."
Mr. Poland said these " returns " were the re-
ports referred to in the rules of the 1.R.8., and
it, seemed that the prisoner wanted to send them to
London. Other letters were signed by" J. Desmond,"
and in one of these appeared the following receipt :
"Received from Mr. J. F. Egan the sum of £6." In
another: " I am instructed to inform you that
Mr. W. H. is attached to those who voted with the
minority last December against the " C. 0.," therefore
not under the control of those we recognise at the
present time. At the present time they are outside
the pale of the —. Hoping your visit to Birming-
ham will prove successful, I beg to remain, yours, J.
Desmosn. I enclose a note from Kidder." Egan was
connected with Desmond by a letter addressed from
Kidderminster on the 11th of September, 1877, and
signed "John Morgan." This letter stated: "We
have got much stronger this last few weeks with men
from different parts—some from Ireland, some from
Lancashire, and they have all been surprised at my
sending the money, or any more than id. a week, and
there were some of them that subscribed on condition
that we keep in with the town, for they said that
where some of them came from there were only six of
them in a village, end they held their own coin. I
shouldesot have taken any notice of them, but the-e
was a centre here from Bury, a very energetic fellow,
who has commanded me not to send any more
than the penny levy, and he would take the conse-
quences for it. • . I enclose is. 6d. in stamps,
that will represent eighteen boys. I could get them
together in time. Suppose you let me have six or
eight days' notice.—l am, yours respectfully, J.
Mortals." This letter, Mr. Poland proceeded, referred
to a visit from a centre with regard to the returns of
money. That letter was forwarded by Moran to Egan,
and Egan himself forwarded it to London with a com-
plaint against the " centre" for his interference. One
of the rules of the 1.R.8. was to the effect that no
person must be in communication with any other
person unless he is by the rules duly accredited.
Several letters were now produced and read, forwarded
to Egan by James Barrett, London, and found with
i
the others n his house. In these the writer expressed
an earnest desire to be supplied with "a balance-sheet
and full explanation," and adding "with God's blessing
and our own exertions we will be able to see some tan-
gible proof ef the work for the good cause we have at
heart. A second letter from Barrett to Egan was dated
January 20, 1874, and said: "You are requested to
have the men of your division in readiness on next
Sunday, as there will be a friend to come to you
there. He will leave here on Saturday evening, and
will have to go throueh all of your districts; and if
possible on Sunday, it you cannot get all the men,
have a committee of at least each district. He will
start at Birmingham first, and I hope that nothing
will retard the good work, and that the new year,
well commenced, will terminate with the most happy
results." There was a P.S. to this letter, also asking
Egan if he had written to Barrett since Christmas,
as none had been received. This letter was addressed
from "12, Little Windmill- street, New-cut,
Lambeth." Another letter from Barrett to Egan,
dated the sth of January, 1875, mentioned M`Don-
nell. It first informed Egan that "the L.D.
(Lambeth district) are not in a position to pay the
expenses of a delegate to your (Egan's) district at the
present time on account of the heavy loss sustained
by the firm this last six months, which, on the whole,
amounted to £7O, including M. T. expenses, to which
you contributed £5. By the by, you never made any
allusion in your last communication about Mr. M‘Don-
nell's intentions as regards that £1 toward the M. T.
expenses, and as this firm had to make good all the
loss without any assistance from your distriet, it
cannot therefore incur any more expense until the
funds of the firm are recruited." Barrett then goes
on to ask for a balance-sheet, and enjoins Egan to
animate the friends, signing himself "Yours respect-
fully, J. Barrett."
Witness continuing, said he found at Egan's house
a number of circulars from the various gunmakers in
Birmingham, and also an illustrated trade book with
prices relating to firearms and ammunition. There
were pencil marks upon it aainst various drawings
of different arms and some manuscript writing
g
relating to arms and ammunition, including the words
" Eley Bros., cartridges." He also found in the
house a card with specimen fuses attached to it, and
the words "Bickford, Smith, and Co." printed on it,
and prices attached.
Superintendent Black, who assisted in the search of
Egan's house on the occasion of his arrest, deposed
that in a bed-room which he had reason to believe was
occupied by Daley he found a pair of trouser
belonging to Daley, in one of the pockets of whicl
there was the following: 'Record of arms in th