The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-04-07 00:00:00

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THE SEIZURE OF EXPLOSIVES AT
LIVERPOOL,
Dennis Deasey, the young man arrested last week at
Liverpool just after landing from the Cork steamer
U, upa with a box of explosives; and Patrick Flanni-
gan, a Sa, Helen's brakesman, were on Saturday
takenlaefore Mr. Rafil-s, the Liverpool stipendiery
magistrate, and charged with knosvinely having in
their possession dangerous explosive substances with
intent to commit a felony. Colonel Ford, B. A.
a Government tnenector of Explosive, and Captain
Knott-Bower, the Head Constable, were on the Bench
with the magisti ate. As tfie fact that the prisoners
vete to be brought up that day bad been kept secret,
'sere was only a small attendance of the public. The
--ters, who are both short, thick-get men of about
years of age, manifested comparatively little
interest in the proceedings. They were not profes-
sionally represented.—We take- the following account
of the proceedings from Tilt Tinto of Monday :
Mr. Marks, who conducted the prosecution, said the two
prisoners were charged umier the 64th section of 24 and 25
Viol., cap. 97. Under the heading of "Making gunpowder
to commit offences and searching for the same," the section
was :—" Whosoever shall make or manufacture, or know-
ingly have in his possession, any gunpowder or other explo-
sive substance, or any dangerous or noxious thing, or any
machine, engine, instrument, or thing with intent thereby,
or by means thereof, to commit, or for the purpose of
enabling any other person to commit any of the felonies in
this Act mentioned, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and
being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of
the Court. to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two
years, with or without hard labour and with or without
solitary confinement, and if a male under the age of 16
years, with or without whipping" The felenies men-
tioned in the Act were such as blowing down buildings and
injuring property, endangering life, and similar effences.
He did not pr pose that slay, for reasons that would com-
mend themselves to his Worship's mind, to go into more
de all than was absolutely neoessary to justify a remand.
Inspector Marsh, with other merubers of the Liverpool
detective department, awaited the arrival of the Cork boat
on Wednesday night last. When the boat came in Deasey
was seen to leave it with a box. They followed him some
distance, and at length Inspector id.arsh stopped the man
and inquired what the box contained. Deasey replied that
It contained cattle .pica. Marsh said it was very heavy in
quality, and he had better look into the box. Besides
stating that it was cattle spice, Deasey said he
had had it given to him, and- that a man was
to meet him on the landing-stage. The box was found
to contain two tin cases of some substance. Dr. Camp-
bell Brown would state that the substanoes were of a
highly dangerous nature, and of a nature that could not, In
his opinion, possibly be used for any legal purpose. On
Deasey were found two small pieces of paper. One was a
letter of inttoduction to a person named Patrick Flannigan,
highly commending Dismay as a man who might be safely
entrusted in any post, and on the other piece of paper were
direetions which contradicted the statement that he was to
meet a man on the landing-stage ; he was to take certain
steps to go to certain places, and eventually to laud himself
at Sutton, the residence of the other prisoner. Acting on
further information, Detective Johnston went to Sutton and
epprehended Patrick Flannigan, a porter or brakesman in the
service of the London and North-Western Railway Company
there. On taking him to his lodgings, there was found a tin
box, which was locked. The key was peoduced by Flanni-
gan. In the box was found a black leather hand-bag, which
was claimed by Flannigan as his property. In the bag were
found packets containing explosive substances- of a nature
similar to those found on Deasey. In a cleaned box In his
bed-room was found a bottle containing a fluid similar to
one found on Deatey. There were also loaded revolvers,
cartridges, and other things.
Detective Inspector Marsh, the first witnees, said that
about seven o'clock on Wednesday night, he and Detectives
Canning and Curran, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and
several Liverpool detectives, met the Cork boat on its
arrival at the landing-stage, and saw Deasey disembark
ten minutes after the gangway was lowered. He spoke to
a badge porter, and they both went on board the steamer
together. They returned in two minutes, the badge porter
carrying a small wooden clothes hex and Deasey walking
with him. Witness continued : ibey left the stage and
went along the pierhead to the Waterloo Dock gate. We
followed. I stopped them close to the south gate of the
Waterloo Dock, I said to Deasey, "What have you got
In this box ? " He replied, "Cattle food." At that time
I had not lifted the box, but saw it was very heavy from
the manner in whioh the porter was carrying it. I said, "It
seems very heavy for cattle food: come this way and let
me see Is," and I took him to the police hut, which was
close to, and had the box brought in as welL The box
was locsiel, awl tied round with a cord, and I did not open
It in the hut. I sent furs cab. I teld Deasey I was going
to take him and the box to the detective office to have the
box examined. He said, "I was engaged by a man named
Murphy, who is a commercial traveller, to bring the box to
Liverpool. Murphy led me to believe it was cattle food
that was in the box, and that he was travelling in Wet
line." I then took him to the detective office At the office
the box was opened by Superintendent Williams in my
presence. I saw the contents, which were subsequently
submitted by me to Dr. Campbell Brown at the office for
analysis and general examination. I searched the prisoner
Deasey, and two doeumeuts were taken from him. (Mr.
Marks here put in two hallAtieets of note paper, on which
was some writing). A key was also found in his purse, and
It fits the look of the box. I forgot to say that the prisoner
said to me in the hut that he was to meet Murphy at the
landing stage; but from his demeanour it was plain he did
not expect any person. I charged both the prisoners this
morning, and they made we reply.
Deasey, in reply to the magistrate, said he had no ques-
tion to ask. He further said, "Murphy was to meet me at
the landing-stage, if not that night, the next day."
Detective Johnson said: On the night of Wednesday, I
went with Sergeant Canning to Sutton, near St. Helens.
We met the prisoner Fianuigan returning from work, and
took him to the place where he was ludeiug. In one of
his room's, the parlour, we found a box. Sergeant Canning
told Inannigan we were going to examine the box, and the
prisoner gave us a key. The box was unlocked, with that
key in the prisoner's presence. Inside the box we found
a black leather handbag, which was looked. I asked the
prisoner whether he had the key of the bag, and he
pointed one out on a bunch. I found in the bag a tin
cauister, a loaded six-chambered revolver, 41 cartridges,
and a false beard. I subsequently found a bottle among
his clothes in the box. A fluid was in the bottle. I
brought all the things I have mentioned to Liverpool.
On finding the canister I asked the prisoner what Wee stuff
In it, which was a white substance, was for.. He said it
was a tooth-powder. (Laughter, In which Flannizan
joined.) He also said that the fluid in the bottle was a
chemical he had been taking a few drops of in water for
the liver complaint. (Renewed laughter, Flannigan again
joining.) Ou arriving in Liverpool I handed the articlee to
Dr. Campbell Brown for analysis.

pri*on
25

Flannigan: Did you bring all that material with you when
you left Sutton? Witness: All but the bottle. And where
did you leave the bottle 7—lnside your box. And when did
you flied it again I—l went the following day. Did you find
any letters or correspondence there 1— Iliere were several
letters there. What did all the letters contain I—l cannot
say what they all contained.
James Camphll Drown, D.Sc., public analyst, said: At
a quarter-past eight on Wednesday night I was called to
the detective office, where I was shown a large wooden
box contaieing several things. I found two tin cases care-
fully stitched in canvas. One of the cases was tilled with a
highly explosive substance. I also found other substances
of an explosive character and some instruments. I re-
moved such samples as I thought necessary, and directed
the removal of the rest to a place of safety. I was subse-
quently shown the tin canister and bottle of fluid referred
to by Johnston, who brought them the next day. Gene-
rally speaking, they were precisely similar in their nature
to the matter found in the box.
Mr. Marks: If they were taken internally would they
explode? (Laughter.) Witness: They would.
Mr. Rates : g[a might clean his teeth with one without
it exploding.—Witnesa : It could not be used for tooth-
powder.
Mr. Marks: Are you able to Bay whether these explosives
even could have been used, or were likely to have been used,
for any lr gal or manufacturing purpose, or might have been
used as an explosive for any legal purposel—Witness : No,
not all taken in connection with each other. In your
opinion the explosives as you found them could not be used
for a legal purpose ?—.Everything taken together they could
not, certainly.
Flannigan: And what is the name of the substance which
you say was in the tin canisters?—Witness : I do not know
that I should answer that at present.
Mr. Rallies : I do not know what he wants to know.
Mr. Marks: He refers to the things found in Deasey's
box.
Flannigan: / mean my own box. What is the name of
the material which was found in my box?
Dr. Brown: On of them is sugar.
Flannigan: anger! And what is the fluid.—Witness:
The fluid in the bottle was the oil of vi'riol.
Flanigan ; And do you mean to say that that is an explo-
sive ?—Witness: I mean to say that when they are mixed
together they explode. No doubt you know.
Flanigan: I know nothing of the kind.
Colonel Ford, It. A., said: I have not as yet had an
making
gare an examination myself of these
of the result of Dr. Campbell
opportunity
articles,
b u
toil
am w
Brown's analysis.
Mr. Marks : I sun Pose you would for certain purposes
class explosives as authorized and unauthorized I—Witness
An explosive of that kind could not be licensed for manu-
facture until it has been examined and passed by the
chemist.—Has there been any licence for the explosive de-
scribed by Dr. Brown I—No, it is unauthorized explosive. It
could not be legally used, and could not even be kept for
private use.
Mammy: I should like to know the name of the explo-
sive.

Mr. Marks • There is no objection to saying broadly what
the explosive is.
Colonel Ford : It is an explosive called lignine dynamite.
Flannigan: Is that the sort of stuff that shook the Houses
of Parliament. (Laughter.)
Mr. Raffles: I do not know why you should ask that ques-
tion.

The depositions were then read over and signed by
the witnesses, the prisoners appearing to be highly
amused at their nature.
Mr. Raffles: You will be remanded for seven days,
and the cate will not be further gone into till then.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.

It was probably at this time of year that gaily the
troubadour touched his catarrh.
- - - -

A Western wit inquires : "Can bard cider be called
the voice of the preen? It can—but that doesn't in&ke
It so.
- - -

-- ---
Important to parents of unmarried daughters. Somebody has invented a labour-eaving machine to
play the piano.
What the scarecrow would be apt to say if it was
gifted with the power of speech—Gt off my corns,
A bald headed man who has heard that the hairs of
a man's head are numbered, wants to know if there is
not some place where he can obtain the back num-
bers.

A conntry girl who was being treate3 t) ice-cream
for the first time, was asked by her "young men"
how she liked it. "It tastes pretty good," was the
reply, "but I always prefer my pudding hut ! "
A five-year•old, who went to sehool for the first
time, came home at noun, and Paid to his mother :
" Mamma, I don't think that teacher knows much,"
"Why not, my dear?" "Why, she kept asking
questions all the time. She asked where the Ilistie-
sippi River was,"
The following cruel story is told by an American
paper :—" A young man in lowa was so impatient to
see his girl that he paid 40 dols, for a locomotive to
run him thitty.five miles. When he got there she
was sparking his rival, and a big dog had possession
of the front doorsteps."
They were talking over music and the drama, at the
table of their host, who, as they were already aware,
owed his fortune to his own unaided exertions. "You
are fond of Rossini?" asked ono of his guests. "Pan.
sionatelv." replied the host. "How do you like his
Barber ?" " Don't know' sir—never patroni.:ed the
Man ; have Bbaved myself for the last forty years,"

THE PARCEL 3 POST.--Mr. John Philip3nn'sdriii
for ps,rceis po,t vans, carts, and han.ibarrn..vs have, it
is stated, antr sereral interviews with the authorities
at the General Post Office, been approved by the
Postmaster•Geberal ; and Messrs, Atkinson and
Philipson, coach manufacturers, Newcastle-upon.
Tyne. are making a set of vehicles suitable for the
parcels post service,

—" That the law of the land prohibiting marriage
with a wife's sister, being consonant with the law of
God and in harmony with the religiou4 convictions of
the country, ought to he maintained to its entirety."
Archdeacon Randall, of Buckingham, seconded the
motion, which was carried.

Archdeacon Holbech, of Coventry, moved l—
" That, inasmuch as the existing marriage law rests
on the clear principle of the equality of relationship
by blood and relationship by marriage while the
promoters of change propose no intelligible principles
as a basis for family life, this meeting pledges itself to
resist, in the interest of domestic purity and peace,
any relaxation in the existing law."
Mr. R. A. Cartwright seconded the motion, which
was carried.