The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

THE PHCEXIX CLUD PROBECVTIONM.

Up to the despatch of the post yesterday afternoon 14
additional witnesses were examined for the prosecution,
and even yet there is no synaptoui of the close of the case
for the Crown. A. scene similar to that which occurred
at the ameliorable trial of the State prisoners in 1848
happened on Thursday, when two of the witnesses
premptorily refused to give evidence, and, all threats
failing to induce them to change their resolutions they
were ultimately committed for contempt of Court. The
episode is thus reported in the. papers :
• •

Daniel Murphy, a respectable looking young man, was
then called up, and the book was handed to him, and the
words of the oath repeated by the Clerk of the Crown.
He hesitated before Iciasing the book, but kissed it on
being desired to du so by the Clerk of the Crown. He
then said-1 decline giving any evidence.
The Attorney-General.—Have you made an informa.
tion This is a matter that I have just heard something
about. Have you sworn an information?

Witness.-1' bare.
The Attorney-General—Did I hear you say raa
refu.Ae to give evidence?

The Wrtness.—You did.
Ih, you intend to refuse ?—I do.
The Attorney-Generat—Then I call on the Judge to
commit this man. At the trial of Smith O'Brien a man
appeared who was contumacious like this man, and
refused to give evidence. The present is gill a worse
case, for this loan has made a formal and full informa-
tion. and he now appears before this Court, and, being
aworn, tells your Irdshlli that he will refuse to answer
the questions put to him in a court of justice. That
Mill inSlUall O'Brien's came win committed tot twelve
ths for that contempt of Court, but there is a differ-
ence between that and the present, became that man
made no information, whereas this Ulan did, and he now
refuses to gave evidence.
His Lrirdship. --141 you put a question to him?
The Attorney-General—l 'eked hint would he give
evidence. and lac said no.

Mr. O'Hagan, Q.C.—That ts not a question.
The Attunieptioneral. —Very well. Dicl you make
an information in this ease. . . .

Mr. 011agan.—He hes answered already that he did.
The Attorney.Generel you ought to let him go on.
Mr. O'Hapn.—He has answered the question
already.
The Attorney-General.--I timid request that, in this
matter, order may be observed, and that I may be
allowed to go on.
Mr. O'Hagan.—My interposition is for the purpose of
having order ohaerved. and in order that legal evidence
only may he given. The wituese has already answered
that queation.
The .IttonierGeneral.—My Lord, the witness has
sworn that be would answer uie nothing.
liii Loril.hip.— Put a queatiun to him.
The Atturney•General.—bo you know Florence Sul.
, liven ?

The witness. —I will answer no questions.
Mr. I Ellagan.--- I again say—
The .tttorney•Gencral.— I object to Mr. O'Hagani in•
terfering. lie has no right to intorfers. This is a
direct insult to the Court.
Mr. ollagan. —lf that information is intended for
me—
The Attorney•flencral.—Oh, no, it is intended for the
witness.
Mr. O'Hagan.—l will only ask his Lordship to read
the information made by that wittier.
The Witneaa.—l did not inteud any insult to tbe
Court.
liii Lerdehip, haring read the information made by
the witness. said,—l never mart a more gross contempt
of Court. Let the sheriff take him into custody.
Mr. Clarke.—l would suggest to your Lordship, that
if this party declines to giro an answer to the questions,
the informer himself declined to answer questions,
and— _ .

II ii Lordship.-1 will not hear counsel on the question.
It is e contempt of Court, and counsel have no right
to interfere. .

......
The Witnais then left the table in the custody of the
sheriff.
Joseph Murphy, another young man, was then called
up. When the book was tendered to him he said
—I do not want to give evidence.
Me Clerk of the Crown.—Take the book, Sir.
The witness took the book, and the oath having been
repeated to him he hesitated 1101110 time before kissing it.
And then did so, on being directed to du so by the Clerk
of the Crown. . . .

The Attoruey-Genera.—Are you a brother of the lest
witness,

The Witnese--I am.
The Attorthey•General.--Do you know Florence Sul.
livan

..----..
The Witnels.—l decline answering that question.
Un lairdship.—Well, let him be committed.
This young man was also removed in custody.
The refusal of the witnesses to give evidence, and
their committal, occasioned considerable excitement in
the court, and in the vicinity of the court-house large
crowds soon assembled. among whom it was a topic for
discussion and sympathy during the evening. The
they 1,1 the witneases having come to the lodging
house where they had been stopping to inquire respect-
ing them, was informed of the event and at first
exhibited moue natural emotion, but immediately
recovering went down upon her knees in the pretence of
io.veral persons, and thanked bled and the Virgin Marl
that her sons had acted ao and had not brought disgrace
upon their name.
The vast lilacs of evidence which has been given dur-
ing the four days of the week just domed adds but little to
the facts already made known by the preliminary Myer-
! tigations before the magistrates, but some documentary
proofs have been put in by the Crown which certainly
tend to strengthen the belief that the conspiracy leo
re deep rooted than the general public could hare
supposed at the first discovery of the plot. Indeed, it
would now be too great a stretch of credulity teenier
lain the notion that the only actors in the afiair were
beardless boys, who could be best cured of their llok by
a round whipping or • month's drill at tie treadmilL
One of the reports says that there are but two or
three witnesses more to be exam ra
examined for the petor
tion. hut it is not within the range of.
probability that
the trial can conclude this week.
Yesterday a true bill was found by the grand Pal of
the county of Kilkenny against Martin Rime, one of
, the l'lurnix ('huh lien. arrested in that quarter. The
Crown, howevrr, were not in a position to try the care
at the present &mixes, and an application was elide to
admit the prisoner to bail, but flaron Richards. having
1 beard the arguments pro and ewe. said he would make
no order either way, but lot the case stand for sect
. assizes.

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Printed and publi.hed for the Proprietors by JonS
BARTLETT ATKIN/L Fordinton Hill, Dorchester,
Printer, at the Moe of The wise Cuero', Iriffe..,a,
church Street, Dcaehestetr.—Theeeiay, Mani 1018.
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