The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-08-13 00:00:00

THE RELEASE OF MR. DILLON.

Mr. Dillon was released from Kilmainham on Sun-
day evening. On the 2nd of May last Mr. Dillon was
arrested on the platform of the railway, station at
Portarlington, as a, suspect, under the Protection of
Person and Property Act, and lodged in the prison
from which he has just been set at liberty. The
release of the member for Tipperary was both by
himself and his friends entirely unexpected. At
about ha:f-past five o'clock on Sunday evening,
whilst Mr. Dillon was at tea, the Governor of
Kilmainham, Captain St. George Grey, entered his
apartment, and informed him that he had received an
order from the authorities to the effect that he was no
longer uvder restraint, and was at liberty to take his
departure as soon as might be convenient. At twenty
minutes past six o'clock Air. Dillon left the prison in a
cab, entirely unobserved and unaccompanied, and drove
straight, without stopping, passing on the way the office
of the Land League, in Upper Saokville-street, where
no one had the least idea of what was taking place, to
his residence, No. 2, North St. George's-street. He
arrived there at seven o'clock, and between that hour
and the time he retired to rest, absolutely saw no one
except the few members of his family, who happened
to be in the house at the time of his arrival.

The members of the Land League learned the news
of Mr. Dillon's release with much surprise. The step
on the part of ithe Government was wholly unex-
pected by them, and the organisation of a movement
for the enfranchisement of the suspects, and espe-
cially of Mr. Dillon, was in contemplation. There
has been as yet no opportunity of ascertaining Mr.
Dillon's intentions, but the's is no doubt that he will
be accorded a marked reception by the League, in all
probat ity at its next meeting.
Replying to inquiries addressed to him, Mr. Dillon
has stated that he has suffered less than might have
been expected from his incarceration. He acknow-
ledged the courtesy shown to him by Captain St.
George Grey, Governor of Kilrnainham prison, but
stated that that gentleman did not inform him of the
reason of his release by the Government. The ex-
pression of Mr. Dillon's opinion upon the Land Bill
is looked to with great interest.

In the House of Commons on Monday evening, Mr. Hop-
wood asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the
announcPment made in the morning papers thet Mr. John
Dillon had been released from Yilmainham Gaol was correct.

Mr. W. E. Forster said it was true. A letter was sent to
the governor of the prison in the following terms :
"I am directed by the Lord Lieutenant to inform you
that a representation having been made to his Excellency
that Mr. John Dillon's life would be endangered by further
confinement, his Excellency has been pleased to order his
release. Therefore, upon the receipt of this letter, discharge
Mr. Dillon, and give him a copy of this letter."
That letter was written for this reason: On Thursday last
he received a report from the medical officer of the prison
stating that he believed 11. Dillon's life would be en-
dangered by further confinement. He was surprised to
get that letter, because, although the health of Mr. Dillon
was not strong, the last information he received was from
the inspector of the prison, Mr. Barlow, who, on the Bth of
July, reported that be had seen Mr. Dillon, who told him
that he was well, and that he did not think his health had
suffered since he entered the prison. Mr. Barlow said that
Mr. Dillon seemed to him to be very delicate, but did not
appear to be more so than when he fir,t saw him in prison
three months ago. On receiving that report he telegraphed
at once to two independent medical gentlemen to go down
to Kilmainham and ask for a consultation with Dr. Carter,
and make a report. They saw Mr. Dillon, but he refused
to allow himself to be examined. Alter consulting with Dr.
Carter, and after seeing his report and obtaining all the in-
formation they could, they saw the report of Dr. Kenny,
Mr. Dillon's private medical officer, which entirely confirmed
Dr. Carter's statement that life would be endangered by
further continenient. That being the case, he thought, and
his colleagues agreed with him, that under the circum-
stances Mr. Dillon should be immediately discharged, and
that the discharge should not depend upon any condition.

"A committee is in course of formation in London
for the purpose of organizing a public banquet to Mr.
John Dillon, M.P.
"In consequence of the reports in circulation that
Mr. Dillon looked well on his release from prison,
'and expressed himself as being in perfectly good
health,' Dr. J. E. Kenny, his private medical adviser,
writes contradicting this statement, and says that, `as
a matter of fact, the state of Mr. Dillon's health for
the past three or four weeks has been the source of the
deepest anxiety,' both to himself and Dr. Tigerson,
who occasionally saw Mr. Dillon with Dr. Kenny.
Dr. Kenny further states that Mr. Dillon's release 'is
due solely to a report' of Dr. Carte, physician to the
prison, 'stating explicitly that further detention
would certainly endanger Mr. Dillion's life.' "
Wednesday's Times.