The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-01 00:00:00

THE AGITATION IN IRELAND.

THE MITCHELSTOWN AFFRAY.

SENTENCES ON MR. O'BRIEN, M.P., AND

MR. MANDEVILI4E:

The prosecution of Mr. William O'Brien, M.P.
was resumed at Mitchelstown on Saturday afternoon,
before Mr. Eaton and Captain Stokes, resident magis-
trates, when the second charge was gone into—that
of having delivered a speech on August 11 inciting
tenants to resist bailiffs and sheriffs. The same
military and police arrangements were adopted as on
Friday, all approaches to the vicinity of the court
being barred against the influx of the people. There
were, however, only a few persons present when
proceedings commenced. Mr. O'Brien was re-
ceived with great cheers and shouting as he was
driven from the bridewell. Mr. Eaton observed
at the sitting of the Court that Mr. Harrington was
not present, and took occasion to remark that the
magistrates had only cautioned Mr. Harrington
against using such language as he did use, and that
thereupon he had thrown up his brief. They were
sorry Mr. O'Brien was deprived of his advocacy. Mr.
O'Brien said his friend had withdrawn from the
case, and, in justice to Mr. Harrington' he should say
he had pursued a course dictated by high principle
and sympathy. He complained that the observations
of the Crown counsel, uttered without reproof from
the Bench, were a distinct violation of the amenities
of social life. Mr. Harrington was prolld of it, and
he was not sorry he had asked the magistrates to
decide the first charge before proceeding with the
second. The magistrates assented, and Mr. O'Brien
addressed the Court in his defence. He summarised
the history of the Kingston tenants and their com-
bination, and his part in it. He declared that the
Crown had been guilty of suppression of evidence by
keep'ng back the head constable's notes' which
recorded his declaration that he would give fair play
to the Land Bill. He justified his defence of the
tenants of Lady Kingston on the ground that
evictions were commenced just on the eve of
the passing of the Land Bill, and thus an attempt
was made to defraud and deprive the poor and
wretched tenants of the benefits of the bill. He ad-
mitted that he did go round and advise these tenants
not to give up their rights without resistance, and he
declared before God and before man that they were
justified in defending their homes from this calamity,
and he would be proud to suffer in defence of these
rights.
Mr. Eaton, in passing sentence, said that the evi-
dence of the police, though not given in the same
order in which a newspaper reporter might have given
it, was conclusive, and Mr. O'Brien had advanced no
plea of justification. They judged the language as an
incitement within the terms of the Crimes Act, and as
calculated to act upon the minds of ignorant persons,
and to tend to a defiance of the law. They, therefore,
felt bound, as an example, to inflict the severe penalty
of three months' imprisonment.
Mr. O'Brien asked Mr. Eaton if he had read out
the judgment. The magistrate replied that he had
not. He assumed that the sentence they had pro-
nounced would cover both cases. Mr. Carson, who
appeared for the prosecution, observed that he had
nothing to do with that, and that he would proceed
with the second case in the ordinary way. Mr.
O'Brien said he presumed there would be right of
appeal, and Mr. Eaton replied, "Certainly," adding
that Mr. O'Brien would be admitted to bail. •

The second charge against Mr. O'Brien of deliver-
ing an inciting speech on Aug. 11, was afterwards
completed. Captain Stokes, in giving judgment of
the Court, said they had arrived at the conclusion
that the speech was an incitement to the people of
Michelstown to resist the officers of the law in carry-
ing out evictions. The sentence of the Court would
be three months' imprlsomment, to run concurrently
with the first term. Bail was accepted.
The charge against Mr. John Mandeville was after-
wards proceeded with. He was sentenced to two
months' imprisonment. Notice of appeal was given,
and defendant was liberated on bail.

Mr. O'Brien's release was hailed with loud cheers
by the people in the streets. He walked over to
Dean's House, followed by a score of Hussars, and as
the people stopped opposite that residence Captain
Plunkett ordered the police to disperse them. The
people, however, withdrew before the police reached
Them.

MR. O'BRIEN ADDRESSES ANOTHER PRO
CLAIMED MEETING/.
The troops and constabulary at Mitchelstown were
ordered out on Sunday suddenly to follow a local
leader of the National League, who had driven
towards Mr. Mandeville's residence, and was sus-
pected of an intention to hold a meeting. This was
a feint; for meanwhile, Mr. W. O'Brien, who had
eluded the watch upon his earlier movements, had
returned from Limerick Junction, and arrived at one
of the barricaded houses in the suburbs of Mitchel&
town. There, in a loft to which access was obtained by
a ladder, the regular meeting of the branch of the
League was held, the Rev. Dr. MiCarthy, the parish
priest, presiding over about 60 people. Mr. O'Brien
made a lengthy speech, and after the transaction of
the ordinary business the meeting separated. Two
other meetings of branches were held in the same
neighbourhood; and resolutions to continue the
meetings, notwithstanding the Proclamation, were
passed.