The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-30 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY ARREST TOR PENIANISM.

(From the Northern Whig.)
On Thursday last the greatest indignation, on
the pert of the inhabitants of a large section of the county
of Louth, was felt on its being known that a meet respect-
able and peaceable, as well as a very popular, landed pro-
prietor, Laurence Roche, Esq., of Mußschboe, near Ardee,
had been taken into custody in front of the stand-house at
the races at Culloville, on a chary of being a Fenian
leader. In his own immediate neighbourhood, where his
amiable qualities are so well known, considerable excite-
ment prevailed when it was announced that he had
been sent to Newtownhamilton Prison. The circum-
stances of the case are briefly these :—Mr. Roche
and a few friends drove to CullovWe Race-
Douroe on the second day of the sports, and spent a
length of time in the enclosure at the stand-house, on
leaving which a head-constable named Burns tapped him
on the shoulder, and told him he was his prisoner. Mr.
Roche and his friends remonstrated with the policeman,
and sought to get information ea to the cause of the
arrest, which the head-constable refused to disclose ; and,
on Mr. Roche's brother pressing the question rather
strongly, he was threatened with arrest also, and a prise
of police were called to the head-constable's aid. With
the assistance of three or four sub-constables, the bead-
constable marched his prisoner to the barrack, about
a mile distant. Several friends of Mr. Roche accom-
panied the escort; and, when they arrived at the
barrack, they made application to • magistrate
they found there, a Mr. Johnston, to take bail for the
appearance of the prisoner on a future day. Mr. John-
ston regretted that he could not interfere in the ease ;
and, for Ibis reason, that he knew nothing whatever of
the charge brought against him, nor would the head-con-
stable then enter upon it. From this barrack Mr. Roche
was then obliged to walk a distance of two miles to Cross-
maglen Court-house, where a short information was sworn
by Head-Constable Burns, on which the prisoner was com-
mitted to Newtownhamilton Bridewell, where he remained
during the night. Next day he was brought back to Cross-
maglen, and an investigation was opened before Mr.
°name, R.M., and Mr. Johnstone, J.P.
The informations of Head-Constable Burns were produced
and read. They were to the effect that, from information
which he (witness) had received, he felt it his duty to
arrest Mr. Roche on a charge of being connected with the
Fenian conspiracy.
Cross-examined by Mr. Philip Callan, barrister, who,
instructed by Mr. C. Dl'Mahon, solicitur, appeared on
behalf of the prisoner—Considers himself fully justified in
having arrested Mr. Roche. Never heard anything against
Mr. Roche before the present charge. Did not know Mr.
Roche, but he was pointed out to him. Considers he was
fully justifies( in arresting him. Believes the prisoner to
be • Fenian on the ,pee dint of his informant. Refuses to
give up the urine of his informant. Heard there was to be
• great Fenian demonstration on the race-course that day.
Saw no such demonstration. Another man named Geo-
ghegan, apparently respectable, was arrested on the race-
course MUDD day. He Is only a short time home from Ame-
rica. He it in custody.
Sub-Inspector Black exsmined—l was acting on the
race-course on the day in question as 'mum tenena for
Sub-Inspector Holmes. I did not know of the arrest until
after it was made. I did not feel myself at all responsible
for the act. I told some of Mr. Roche's friends, who were
remonstrating against the arrest, that they might consider
themselves very safe in nut being in a like position. I
admit I would have acted on the statement as Burls
and consider I was perfectly justified in so doing.
Head-Constable Burns now applied to the court to re-
mand the prisoner.
Mr. Callan, in the strongest terms, protested against a
remand. He said the conduct on the part of the police in
this particular case was monstrous, as there was not the
shadow of evidence against his client ; and the outrage
committed on his person was aggravated by the present
attempt to shield their misconduct and blundering.
Mr. M'Mabon, who begged to be permitted to address a
few words to the bench, observed that Mr. Roche'. social
position in the countyof Louth, where he was an extensive
landowner, ahvuld be the best guarantee to any rational
man that he would not join the ranks of those whose
avowed object was to upset or overturn all the social rela-
tions of the country. He contended that the head-con-
stable was precipitate in arresting a gentleman like Mr.
Roche on the bare whisper of a blood-sucker. He ought to
have sworn evidence from his informant, and after that
he should make particular inquiry as to the prisoner's
position in life, and his character ; but, no matter bow
Burns 's superiors may endeavour to shield his ignorant
blunder, he (Mr. Dl'Mahon) on an early day would give
the head-constable ample opportunity of legally justifying
hie conduct. He called for an acquittal of the prisoner.
The court, having consulted for a short time, ruled that
Mr. Roche should stand out on bail to appear when called
on.
A like rule was made in the case of Mr. Geoghegan.—
Northera Whig.
to

The Inman steamship City of Boston, from New
York on the 20th inst., arrived at Queenstown at
6.30 p.m. yesterday, with 330 passengers and
21,825 dole. in specie. She landed 77 passengers
and proceeded for Liverpool at 7 p.m.
(Per the City of Boston, via Roche's Point.)
NEW YORK, Ocr. 20, Mown:co.
Mr. Secretary Stanton is reported to have asked
to be relieved of his present post and to be ap-
pointed United States minister at Madrid. Mr.
Stanton, it is added, will be succeeded in the
Secretaryship of War by General Sherman.
The governor of Maryland has summoned the
police commissioners, on Monday next, to auswe
certain charges preferred against them. The
Northern Radicals are said to be organising to pre-
vent the governor from removing the commis-
sioners. Considerable political excitement pre-
vails, and an armed collision is apprehenci.l
between the contending parties.
The Texan House of Representatives have re-
jected the constitutional amendment.
I Mr. Wendell Phillips has made a speech urging
the impeachment of President Johnson, and his re-
REIC AT 13 ELECTION COMMISSION.—Yesterday Mr. moval from office pending his triaL
Thomas Allen, Serjeant O'Brien and Mr. H. J. Smith,
the commissioners, re-opened their inquiry into the Secretary M'Culloch's annual report will, it is
practice of bribery, kc., at recent parliamentary elections stated, show a surplus of revenue over expendi-
tor the borough of Reigate. A considerable number of
'urn 38,000,000 dnia
witnesses were examined, who testified to having received ••"`•
money during the last election for supposed services ran- Influential persons are pressing the administration
dered to the respective candidates ' • but the sums were of
trivial amount. Sonia averred that they had been promised to make a formal demand upon the British go-
small pay, but had not received any, and some declared that vernment for a settlement of the Alabama claims.
they had rendered services without having expected or re- It is reported that the Federal government is
ceived any remuneration. Mr. John M. Truman a brick-
maker and tavern keeper, deposed that be acted as the about to adopt a more active policy in Mexican
expense agent of Mr. loulton at the Reigate election affairs.
of 1838. He had been introduced to Mr. Doulton by A Fenian meeting has been held at Rochester,
Mr. Roupell, whose financial agent he bad been at the
Lambeth election in 1857. The entire sum submitted at which it was determined to adopt retaliatory
to the election auditor, as spent by Mr. Doulton at that
election, was under 1,0001. ; he believed that the real measures if the Fenians in Canada were punished.
expense was about 1,330/. Me (witness) did not receive
any pay, nor did he from Mr. Roupell. He had also been CANADA.
an agent for Alderman Lawrence, and was employed TORONTO, Ocr. 20.
for Mr. Doulton at the 1862 election. He could not re- '
The Fenian prisoners were arraigned here yes-
member many who received any money. Nearly all of the
men were paid 2s. Cal. a day, but some received 3s. Gd. ; terday. Their trial will take place next week.
that was the highest. The chief commissioner reminded
the witness that several men had sworn to having received ,
ss. and 7s. 6d. a day, one 11. 15e. a week, and another 14/. j MEXICO.
for seven weeks. Witness said he really could not answer Advice+ received here from Vera Cruz to the 13th
questions correctly about what happened eight years ago. instant state that General Caatelnau had arrived
They had only four public-houses for committee-rooms ;
no bill was paid for drink or refreshments supplied to there, and had set out to meet Marshal Bazaine.
voters. It was not with Mr. Doulton's knowledge or A deputation from the mercantile community
consent that any public-homes were opened ; if such
were done, it wee done by some " patriotic individuals." of Matamoros had waited upon the Emperor Maxi-
Mr. R. C. Barton, a solicitor, who was agent fur Mr. milian, and requested his Majesty to occupy Meta-
Doulton at the 1857 election, said that he never autho-
rised and never knew of any treating on on Mr. morns, declaring that the whole population would
Doulton's side. At this point the commission was ad- rise for the empire.

journed.
CHANCRRY iilJBlNZBB.—Yesterday the Chancery
offices mumed buena., on the termination of the vacs- A Carnet= BY DITIW. —M. de Lamartine,
tion. There are li4 appeals before the Lords Justices ; meeting M. Alexander Dumas soon after the publication
118 causes before the Master of the Sella ; 164 before Vice- of the " History of the Giroudins," inquired anxiously of
Chancellor Wood ; 104 before Vice-Caanoellor Stuart ; and the famous romance-writer if he had read it. "Oui ; c'est
66 before Vice-thiancellor Hindman. niparbe I C'est de l'histaire &Ws ala hauteur du roman."