The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-21 00:00:00

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONERS.

At three o'clock yesterday morning four men,
who are supposed to be members of the Fenian Brother-
hood, were arrested, taken to Marlborough-mews police.
station, and formally charged with treason-felony. They
gave the names of John O'Keefe, 10, Smith's-court, Great
Windmill-street ; William Desmond, 10, Cross-street, Re-
gent-street; Nicholas English, 8, Hollanctetreet. Hanover-
square ; Patrick Mulvany, 20, Sherwood-street, Golden.
square. They were subsequently removed to Bow-street
police-station, whence they were taken before Sir Thomas
Henry in the afternoon. The prisoners were brought over
from the station under the charge of Superintendent Dur-
kin and Inspector Silverton. Although they had been in
custody for a considerable time the fact did not appear
to have been generally known, and very few spectators
were assembled outside the door of the police court, while
inside the court there were scarcely 20 persons.
The prisoners are, with the exception of Nicholas Eng-
lish, men apparently about 30 years of age. Desmond is •
stout, low-sized man, with light hair and a large brown
beard. He is • very rough and.determined, but rather in-
telligent looking now. O'Keefe is a thin, spare man,with
a sallow complexion sharp features, and dark hair, which
had been cut close like a prizefighter's. Mulvany is far the
most respectable in appearance. Unlike the others, who
did not seem to have washed fora week, he was clean
and neatly attired. He is rather taller than any of the
others, has dark hair and a short brown beard and mous-
tache. In the charge-sheet he is described as a tailor by
trade. English is a man of about 45 years of age,
with grizzled baud and uncombed hair. He was more
meanly clad than his fellow prisoners. During the pro-
gress of the evidence Desmond appeared quite un-
concerned, and looked quietly about the court. English
and O'Keefe were anxious and nervous, while Mulvany re-
mained perfectly composed as Sergeant Cole was being
examined, hut became excited and impatient during por-
tions of the evidence given by the man Vaughan, who
declared himself a member of the Fenian Brotherhood.
Vaughan is • man about 25 years of age, low in stature
and slight in figure, with clean shaven face, high fore-
head, very prominent features, and small eyes, his head
partially bald, and he wears a very slight moustache. Ho
gave his evidence with great coolness and determination,
in • low and distinct tone of voice, without the least Irish
accent. He did not at all avoid the eyes of the prisoners,
at whom he looked steadily as often as his attention was
drawn to them. Like Vaughan, the prisoner O'Keefe,
notwithstanding his Irish name, has a Cockney pronun-
ciation. The others have a strong Irish brogue.
Mr. Poland, barrister, was present to prosecute on behalf
of the crown.
Before the prisoners were brought into the court Sir
Thomas Henry said to Mr. Poland that there was a fifth
man in Luittody.
Mr. Poland said he was not instructed with respect to
him.
Sir Thomas said that the man charged was in the em-
ployment of a fur company, and would be examined after
the four above-named men had been dealt with.

Upon the prisoners being placed in the dock,
Mr. Poland rose, and said that he was instructed by the
Treasury to prosecute the four men at the bar for treason-
felony. John O'Keefe, he said, had been previously in ow-
tatty, on suspicion that be had been concerned in the
Clerkenwell outrage, but was discharged. Information,
however, was subsequently given, and the police had
therefore deemed it their duty to arrest him again. With
reference to the other men, he was instructed that all
four men at the bar were concerned in Fenianiam, and
they had thereupon been arrested. He (the learned
counsel) would not, however, offer more evidence at pre-
sent than would justify a remand. He then called
Sergeant Cole. who said that on the previous night he went
to the Lion and French Horn,in Poland-street, Regent-street,
about 10 o'clock. Witness bad known the house before,
and had previously seen all the prisoners at that house.
He had seen them many times. He believed they were all
known to each other ; indeed they were " particular
friends." The prisoner English kept, or used to keep,
a " leaving shop" in Dudley-street. Mnlvany lived
in Sherwood-street, St. James's. He was a tailor.
Witness found English and Mulvany in the French
Horn. When he tint went in he was with 14 or
15 others. Saw Mulvany sitting down in the bar, and
English standing up about two yards off. The other officer
took hold of English, and I said, " English, I hold a war
rant signed by Sir Thomas Henry for your apprehension,
for treason.felony." He got into a great rage. Witness said
he was a police-constable, and he had no excuse for saying
that he did not know who he (the constable) was. Witness
then told Mulvany that he had a warrant for his appre-
hension ; that he was a police-sergeant, and should
apprehend him for treason-felony. English midden!),
became very violent, and was obliged to be taken
from the house by force. Before getting him outside
the house he became even more violent. He was, in
consequence, thrown or knocked down. Bunce, an-
other officer, had hold of him at the time. When English
was on the ground he called out, " Now, my boys, for
your revolvers!" After some difficulty the prisoner was got
to the station.

Mr. Poland—When English said "Now, my boys, for
your revolvers," what was done ?
Witness—There was a general rash, and English became
surrounded by about a dozen of his friends. Witness said
that they would have never got the prisoners to the station-
house if they had not used force. After getting them to
the station he went to Cross-street, Regent-street, where
Wm. Desmond lives. He is a boot-maker, and a volunteer
in the 46th Middlesex. Witness found him in the second
floor front room, and said to him, " Desmond, I hold a
warrant for your apprehension for treason-felony." He
replied, " Mr. Cole, nothing of the sort for me." I rrlied,
" Well, you will have to go with me." He replied, 'Very
well, I will go anywhere with be
; it is no reason if one
Desmond is bad that I should be bad too." Upon searching
the room witness found a rifle and a bayonet. He then took
Desmond to the station. About two o'clock this morning
witness went to 10, Smith's-court, Great Windmill-street.
Ha knocked at the door for some time, and bearing that
there was some one in the room who refused to open the
door, witness broke it open. He then found the prisoner
O'Keefe lying in bed. He pretended to be asleep. Banos
' said, " Get up, Jack." Prisoner said, "Well, Cole, what
do you want now ? This man (pointing to Sergeant Burl
took me on Saturday night. I got turned up for that, an
I shall soon be turned up for this." He meant that he
would be discharged. Witness told him O'Keefe went
quietly enough, but he insisted upon the charge being read
to him, and also the warrant. I searched him, and found
nothing. On Monday last a person of the name of James
Vaughan called upon me. He gave me some information.
The depositions having been read over,
Sir Thomas Henry said that the prisoners could ask the
witness any questions they liked.
Desmond said that the evidence of Sergeant Cole was
correct, with one exception. He had not said that, " Hone
Desmond were bad, that was no lemon why another should
be bad." The words he used were, " That if one Desmond
got into trouble, that was no reason why he should do so."
Cole said that he was perfectly certain about the word
" bad," which the prisoner and his wife repeated several
times.

English said he never had used the expression, " Now,
boys, get out your revolvers." On the contrary, Nance had
presented a revolver at his head.
Cole replied that such was not the cue ; Bunts had no
revolver.

In answer to the magistrate uto whether he wished to
ask any question',
Blulvany said he was a military tailor. He was very de-
licate, and should like to have an opportunity of writing
to his wife. He was employed in making a uniform for an
officer, was engaged all day in his work, and knew nothing
of what he was charged with.
. . .

James Horne—l Gs at 7, Farmer-Arad, Golden-square.
I have been working with and know Timothy Desmond,
now in custody. I have known him for some five years. He
is a tailor. I know the prisoner at the bar, William
Desmond. I have known i,him about eighteen months. I
know the prisoner English. I have known him for four
or five years. He is a tailor. I have also known O'Keefe
for two years.
O'Keefe—Please to look at me. I don't think you do
know me. _

Witness—Oh yen, Ido ; you are a shoemaker. I also
know Mulvany.
The prisoner—l have never spoken to the man before.
Examination continued—l am a member of the Fenian
Brotherhood. I became so in 1864. The oath was ad-
ministered to me by Timothy Desmond.
Mr. Poland—What was the form of the oath?
_ _ _

_ .
Witness—lt ran thus :—" I promise by the will of God
to do all in my power to obey the laws of the Society of
the F. 8., to free and regenerate Ireland from the yoke of
England."
Mr. Poland—Did you kiss the book!
Witness—l did.
Mr. Poland—Who need the words?
Witness—Timothy Desmond, sir.
Mr. Poland—Was the name of the society need as you
have given it, " F. 8."
Witness—lt was, sir.
Mr. Poland—And were you two the only persons pre-
sent!

Witness—We were, sir.
Mr. Poland—Where was this?
Witness—ln Daek•lane, Edward-street, Soho.
Mr. Poland—ln what house?

Witness—ln no house. In the open air.
Mr. Poland—ls it the custom to administer the oath
with only two together! Witness—Yes, sir. One Fenian
can swear another. If one Fenian swears in • certain
number of men he is raised in office. I have been in the
habit of frequenting the French Horn in Poland-street,
Regent-street. I have met all the prisoners there on dif-
ferent occasions, and I believe them to be members of the
Fenian Brotherhood. I remember a meeting that took
place on a Sunday some few months back. Before that
meeting Timothy Desmond told me three days previously
that there was going to be a meeting held. He said that
the " watch raffles" had got too stale ,• that they were
going to try • meeting for the church, and they would see
how that would pay. Rio (meaning English) had got the
room, and asked me to get down early to try and fill the
room before the " strikers" came W. Those watch raffles
were held week after week for the purpose of buying
arms. I sometimes contributed.

Mr. Poland—Did Desmond tell you what the meeting
was for 1 Witness—Desmond said that arms were wanted.
" d—d bad." I did not see him again until the next
Saturday, which was the Saturday before the meeting. I
went into Kavanagh's parlour with him. He said that
people would be led to believe that it was for the church,
and we should all try and be there, as Father O'Connor
was going to give a good lecture. On the Saturday I
saw present three of the prisoners at the bar—English,
Mulvany, and O'Keefe. They were in the same room with
me. The conversation was whispered. I arranged
with Timothy Desmond to go down with him the next
night. He did not call, but I met him, and we went to
the French Horn. We there saw English, Mulvany, and
O'Keefe. English was very busy with a man they call
Father O'Connor. There was also another man with him.
Desmond asked English if they had not better go inside.
He said " Not yet ; that he had got the Temperance.
hall, and that it would not do to have a meeting like that
in a public-house with Father O'Connor,. for they might
have visitors they would not care to mauve." There is a
large room inside the French Horn. The Temperance-hall
is next door to the French Horn. There were about 150
of us went into the Temperance-hall. This was a meeting
for the building of a church in Ireland. There was nothing
in. print about the meeting. That is there were no bills
printed. I believe there were cards, but I did not see
them. I hare not seen Father O'Connor since that night.
There were on the platform at the Tempemnoa•hall
Father O'Connor, the prisoner Mulvany, the chairman—
Mr. Poland—Who was the chairman? Witness—l
don't know. I believe his name was Martin.

Examination continued—There was another person on
the platform whom I knew. The prisoners O'Keefe and
English were standing at the entrance till the hall was
nearly. full, and then O'Keefe came into the ball. English
came in several times at the top of the hall. I did not
see William Desmond at the meeting. The hall was full.
O'Keefe and English were at the entrance, for the purpose
of giving us the tip in the event of • constable or de-
tective coming. There was no money paid for entrance.
The meeting was first addressed by the chairman, and
after him another party spoke, but I can't mention the
name.

Mr. Poland—Do 'you remember what the chairman
said ? Witness—He said it was a meeting for a
charitable purpose and to hear a lecture on Ireland
which Father O'Connor would deliver. Another party
then spoke, and then followed O'Connor. lie said be was
not prepared to give a lecture but be would speak to
them a little on Ireland. He said they all knew, be sup-
posed, what they came there for. Of course I come here
to get contributions to build a high ;church. He laughed,
and the people clapped, which led me to believe that they
all knew what be came there for. He said it was a mis-
take for the people to think that the clergymen were
against the people. He did not say what clergy. They
were not. Timothy Desmond then called out, " How
about Maynooth?" Father O'Connor replied," I was not
for that." He then said, " I will tell you that
palTgoifiedgh the clergymen take an oath, they take it to he
loyal to their God and church, and then to their
country." He then proceeded further, and O'Keefe (tha
prisoner) said, " Bravo, you are not like Cullen nor
Moriarty. " At the end of his speech he said,
" You think Ireland is almost dead, but, believe me, she
has got a kick in her yet ; and, believe me, that kick will
go to the belly of John Bull." Father O'Connor spoke for
about lb minutes.