The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-12-03 00:00:00

THE STRANDED SEA SERPENT.

The sea serpent business is practically ruined. A
genuine specimen of the tribe has, the Boston C'turier
says, been washed ashore at Cape May, and the
mystery is for ever dispelled. Who will be greatly
excited by a glimpse of a creature which will now be
set down in the tables of the naturalists, and ticked
with a long and learned name? When there were
grave doubts whether the sea serpent really exieed,
then indeed there was a certain amount of pleasure
and excitement in running across a monster declared
by half the world to be fabulous: but now the whole
business is reduced to the level of the common-
places. Now that the serpent is in the hands of
scientists, moreover, they have measured him, and it
is painful to see how far short he falls of his supposed
length. What are a paltry dozen feet besides the 40
or 50 with which tradition had endowed him? Who
can ever again really respect a beast that has fallen so
absurdly short of its reputation 9 Even its big mouth
and thick hair can do very little toward making up
for this fatal deficiency of extent, and unless a bigger
specimen can be forwarded from beneath the sea-
water immediately the fame of the race is irretriev-
ably injured. Proprietors of seaside resorts which
depend for success upon the reported presence of the
sea arpent off their shores should send a communica-
tion 4. once to the king of the clan to lay the case
before him, and to see if a bigger specimen cannot bet
induced to sacrifice himself for the good of his kind
by coming to be measured. With a little diplomacy
much may yet be done to save the fading fame of the
sea serpent, but it must be done quickly, before the
specimen ashore at Cape May shall have been gene-
rally received as typical.

THE long-headed lover writes all his amatory epistle
on a type-writer now. Not only does he save time
and avoid difficulties which manuscript involves, but,
by a judicious use of carbon papers and blanks where
proper names occur, he can make four or five girls
happy by a single struggle with the machine.
I WISH, mamma, said little Johbny Fizzletop, that
I lived in South Africa.—Why, my son, do you wish
30u lived in South Africa ? —Why, the mammas down
there don't wear any slippers, you know.—Yee, my
son, but you must also remember that little boys in
South Africa don't wear any pants either.—That's so,
said Johnny; it's queer I never thought anything
about that.

Pt: it is remarkable what a large number of
doc.ors claim that diseases are transferred by kissing.
—Miss Ethel: What kind of doctors, pa ?—Pa: Why,
the allopathic doctors.—Miss Ethel: Bat, pa, you
know that we are homceonaths.
I At devoted to George, of course, said a girl te
her mother, but I am afraid that he hasn't get-up-
and-get-enough about him to make any great success
in this world.—Why? asked her mother.—Because he
always kisses me on the forehead.
A BENEVOLENT man, who proves his wish to Save
time by throwing it away on foolish calculation, has
discovered that in 40 years a snuff-taker devotes 24
months to blowing his nose!
No, indeed, said Mrs. Parvenu, no; I don't think
she's a fine-looking woman at all. She may havc
nice eyes; but, mercy me, she's got no physic!"
HAVE you, asked the judge of a recently convicted
man, anything to offer the court before sentence is
passed ?—No, your honour, replied the prisoner, my
lLyr:-er toot my last farthing."

1"."K t 8

THE DYNAMITE CONSPIRACY.

PRISONERS AGAIN AT BOW-STREET.

On Monday, at the Bow-street Police-court, before
Sir James Ingham, Thomas Callan, alias Scott, aged
46, giving addresses at Lowell, Mass., U.S., and at
24, Baxter-road, Essex-road, Islington, and describing
himself as a "stocking borer ;" and Michael Harkins,
of 9, Alfred-street, Colebrook-row, Islington, and
1939, North Second-street, Philadelphia, were brought
up on remand "for unlawfully and feloniously con-
spiring together to cause, by means of an explosive
substance, an explosion in the United Kingdom of a
nature likely to endanger life, and to cause serious
injury to property."
Mr. Poland and Mr. R. S. Wright prosecnted on
behalf of the Treasury. The prisoners, who were
placed in the dock at hatl!-past twelve, and separated
by seated constables, were undefended.

The two men charged evidently belone to the lower
station of life, and are very distinct in their personal
appearance. Callan, whose-age is given as 45, looks
more like 55 years old. When taken into custody he
was clean shaven, but is now growing a moustache and
beard. He has keen, intelligent eyes, and the wrinkles
and "crow's feet" in his face and under his eyes seem
to tell a story of a life full of privations and troubles.
Harkins is a much younger man, well set up, and of a
good height, and he presents a betier physical appear-
ance than his fellow prisoner, who is of short, stout
build; but his face is far from being so quick and in-
telligent. Both men listened carefully to the evidence
brought forward as they sat in the dock during the
day guarded by two constables, one of whom took his
place between them, while the second occupied the
outside seat. The conveyance of the prisoners from
the court in the prison van was the subject of special
precautions, mounted officers escorting the vehicle, on
which were also seated constables and detectives.
MR. POLAND'S SPEECH.

Mr. Poland said he had the honour of appearing,
instructed by the Treasury. It would be necessary
for him to make a short statement, so tiaat the
Court could understand the evidence, and for the
prisoners to comprehend the nature of the charges
they would have to meet. Some time in June there
came over to this country the two prisoners. Callan
went by the name ot Scott, and first lodged at 93,
Falmouth-road, New Kent-road, where be resided
from June to August, and then went to live at 24,
Baxter-road, Lower-road, Islington, where he was
living when he was taken into custody on Saturday,
November 19. The other prisoner, when he
came to London, went to live at 9, Albert.
street., Colebrookarow, Islington, and passed
as Harry Scott. There was a third man, named
Joseph Cohen, who came to this country, and who
went to live at 42, Lambeth-road, Surrey. A fourth
man was Joseph Melville, whose real name was John
J. Moroney., and who remained in London until the
end of September, when he writ to Paris. A fifth
man was known as General Millen, who was in Paris
for some time, from June to October. He was sup-
posed to have been one of the persons who took part
in what they now charged as a conspiracy, by the use
of dynamite to cause an explosion, contrary to the
Explosives Act of 1883. Harkins paid 4s. a week for
his lodging, and an September 11 he had a heavy
portmanteau!,in his possession, which the police
believed to---ntain dynamite. Cohen, who lived in
Lambeth, eWtalcen ill, and died on October 19, and
both prism:We were with him on the day of his death.
After his death the police found between
£3O and £4O in the lodging of the deceased.
Upon Harkins, as upon Callan, and in the property
left by oohen, were found revolvers, all bearing
the same name—an American firm, "Smith and
Weisson "—and with each revolver there was found
exactly the same number of cartridges, 15. Some
dynamite was found about a closet of the house
where Callan lived, and a small portion was thrown
over the garden wall, a fragment of which was picked
up and afterwards caused an explosion by being placed
in an oven. After the death of Cohen, several of the
conspirators
.having gone to Paris, the ideas of the
prisoners seemed to have undergone a change.
Harkins at that time, being unable to read or write,
got the daughter of the landlady to send a letter for
him to Philadelphia, in which he requested that
money should be sent to him, because he was watched
night and day by two detectives, and this was signed
Henry Scott. A few days after this, no answer
having come, he got one of the detectives who was
watching him to write another letter to one P. J.
Brady, at 146, Broadway, Lowell Massachusetts,
begging him to send over money at once. After-
wards it became necessary to trace some bank notes,
and the numbers were given to the Bank of England.
Callan went to the Bank, presented the notes bearing
the numbers which were wanted, and got cash for
£2O. He was allowed to leave the bank, and was at
once apprehended. Upon searching him a letter was
found dated Nov. 17, 1887, addressed to someone in
America, which was intended to have been posted
that day, if he had not been apprehended. The letter
read as follows, and was written to Melville :—" Dear
friend, Joe,—l received your kind present last night.
You bet I was glad, since all I bad was 7s. I had
to do away with all the tea last week, as two of my
dear friends came to see me before I was out of
bed, and they have taken very good care of me for
the last two weeks. They will see I don't get lost.
I have not seen Harry (Harkins) for a month. He
promised to meet me the day after Joe died; and
I went there three nights, and did not see
him. I did not get any of the money Joe bad.
[Mr. Poland: That is perfectly true, because the
police took it.] I thought if I could get sofa, I should
have gone away at once. So you cannot blame me
for getting away with the tea, as I was alone. I did
not know where to write to. It was better to do away
with the tea than keep it. Now they have you fine.
They've got your picture in most of the papers; one
where you are in an hotel with a woman, and another
where you and Joe first met, and at other places
where you were in London. Now I intend to leave
for home in a few days, as I am sick of the whole
business. I will start from this hole soon. Poor, poor,
Joe! he was one of the best of men that ever walked."
Callan, when he went to his lodgings, was in posses-
sion of a very heavy tin box, which, the prosecution
held, contained dynamite. When afterwards found
it was empty, but there were traces of its having con-
tained dynamite. One letter was afterwards received
at his lodgings, signed, "A Friend," which was
as follows: "Nov. 19, Dear Sir—l was very disap-
pointed not to meet you, but of course there is every
excuse on account of the wretched weather. I will
irneet you at 6.30, and will wait until 7.o.—Yours
sincerely, A Friend.—Mr. Thomas Scott." On Nov.
?,1, after the prisoners' arrest, another letter was re-
teived. This was dated Lowell, Massachusetts, Nov.
Bth, and was as follows: "Dear brother"—and was
signed "James Scott"—" I have received your letter
to-day, and was sorry to hear you were not in good
health. I hope before you get this you will be in
better health. Your sisters and brothers are all well.
Enclosed is a draft for 50 dollars, which I hope will
be of some assistance to you. I hope to hear from you
or to see you very soon." The drafted was signed Charles
H. O. Donnell, and drawn on a Dublin bank. The other
conspirator, named Melville, went to Paris, and re-
turned to the United States, but before doing so he
went with Callan down to the House of Commons,
being under close police supervision at the time,
where the two men asked for Mr. Joseph Nolan, a
member, and were by him shown over the House.
They went again on a second occasion, when they
were taken into the smoking-room of the House of
Commons. After submitting the evidence he should
ask that the prisoners be submitted to the Central
Criminal Court for trial.; on the charge that they
were concerned with other persons in a conspiracy for
the purpose of causing in London, by means of dyies-
mite, an explosion, to damage property and injure
persons; and they would be further charged with
being in possession of dynamite without lawful excuse.
EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION.

Sergeant Downs, of the City Police, gave evidence
as to the arrest of Callan on the the 16th November,
and the different documents then found on him.
Maria Bright, 24, Baxter-road, Islington, said : In
the second week in August, the prisoner Callan
engaged a furnished room in my house. He said his
name was Scott, and that he was a commercial tra-
veller in tea. He engaged the room on a Wednesday,
and came in the following day, bringing with him a
leather portmanteau. He was very regular in his
habits, going out every morning about 8.30. One
night in October ha came home very late, and said
he had been sittirg up with a sick friend. One
night in October very late I saw my lodger Scott
leaving the house with another man. The other
man I believe to have been Harkins. 1 recognised
him by his shoulders at the police-station. One day,
Sunday, the 11th, in consequence of what my
daughter told me, I went into the prisoner's room,
and there for the first timo saw the tin box already
produced. It was locked. I tried to push the box
further under the bed, but it was so heavy that I and
my daughter could not move it. On Thursday, Oct'.
27, the water-closet was choked. I inquired of the
lodgers as to who had done it, and while I was doing
so Scott came down and said he was very sorry—it
was he who had done P. He said, "I had some
samples, and I threw thfina down the closet; I could
not sell them." I asked him how he came to be so
foolish, and said I should have to send for somebody
to look after it. He said that whatever I paid for
doing it he would pay half. As I could not get a
man at once I set to work and pulled a quantity of
stuff out. It was like lime and cement, caked to-
gether. I had to take a chisel to break it in pieces.
Afterwards I bad to send for a man to finish
the business. What I had drawn out I threw
into the dustbin, where I saw a quantity of similar
stuff, only dry. I should think, roughly freaking,
there was half a bushel of it. I could trace it from
the dustbin right up the garden to the wall adjoining
No. 26. I did not see Scott again till the next day, when
he said he was very ill, and that he should go to bed
again and lie down. He was in bed all that day,
which was a Friday, and the next, Saturday. On
Monday he went out for a short time, and on the fol-
lowing days he went out as usual. On the 47th
November, a man came and asked for Mr. Scott, who
was in bed. When I told Scott a gentleman wished
to see him he said he was in bed, and could see nobody.
I told the visitor this, but he asked me to tell Scott
that he bad urgent business with him. I told Scott
this, and he said, "Show him in." I did so, aml
waited in the room while he lighted the candle. The
man was in the room about 10 minutes, and then I
heard him go out. On the 18th November a letter
careefor Scott, and he fold to me "I am very pleased

bcoiL"—.L

this has come, as 1 am getting very short; I have
only sufficient to last me about a fortnight longer."
He also told me about the tin box, saying he had one
upstairs, and that if I liked to buy it he would sell it
to me, and that as I was in the habit of going into
the country it would be very useful to me. I asked
him what he wanted for the box, and he said three
shillings. I said, "Very well, Mr. Scott. I'll have
it, then." He said," You had better take it out of
the room as soon as you can," but I allowed it to
remain. Before he went out he gave me the key of
the box. He never returned to my house, and the
next time I saw him was when he was in custody.
He was then close shaver,. The same day
the police came to ray house, and I learned
from them that Scott was in custody. I gave
the officers the key of the box I had bought from the
prisoner, and also showed them the portmanteau.
One of them (Macintyre) remained at the house all
night, and the following morning he took a shovel and
examined the dustbin. That day a letter came for
Scott and another on Monday, the 31st. Macintyre
took possession of both letters. Scott told me that he
travelled in tea for an American firm, but gave no
other account of himself. He never mentioned the
name of the firm and I never saw any samples in his
room. He•was a man of very few words.
By the prisoner Callan: What time was it that
you saw this man (pointing with his thumb to
Harkins) leaving the house ?—About six or seven
o'clock.

You did not see his face 2—No; but I knew him by
his shoulders.

Harkins declined to ask any questions..

Annie Maria Bright, the da.uititer of the last wit-
ness, said that when Callan came to lodge at her
mother's house under the name of Scott, he only had
a portmanteau with him. On the 10th September,
when he went out in the evening with a strange man,
she noticed after they had gone the tin box which had
been produced. She could not move it, it was so heavy.
She mentioned the matter to her mother. On the
27th October she noticed a lot of white liquid in the
w.c., and a quantity of white powder leading from
there to the dust bin. There was a box of matches
on the seat. The w.c. was also choked up. On the
4th November the witness again noticed the box, and
found that it was empty._

Neither prisoner had any questions to ask. the
witness.

Mrs. Mary Ann Johns, the landlady of 26, Baxter-
road, deposed that on the 4th or sth November she
found a lot of powder in her garden which looked like
mortar. She shovelled this into the dustbin. Her
son put some of it into the oven when it exploded,
breaking open the door, and makingsuch a noise that
it was heard all over the house. It made a smell of
sulphur or brimstone. Witness did not think the oc-
currence very serious, and said nothing about it to the
police. ' - •
Charles Johns, the son of the last witness, said that
in consequence of what his mother told him early in
November, he went to the dust bin and took out a
quantity of stuff, which he took to be old mortar. It
was wet. He took out about a pint, which be pro-
posed to dry for his pigeons and for that purpose put
it in the oven, when it exploded. Little grains flew
all over the room, and the explosion made a very un-
pleasant smell.
The prisoners asked no questions.
The Court adjourned for a week.