The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-16 00:00:00

THE TRIAL OF THE ALLEGED FENIA.NS.
Yesterday, at the Central Criminal Court, before the
Lord Chief Justice of England, Michael Davitt, a fine
looking young man, and John Wilson, weput on their
trial on several indictments, charging them with treason
felony, by various overt acts.
The Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, Mr. H.
Cole, Q.C., Mr. Archibald, and Mr. Poland were counsel
for the Crown; Mr. F. S. Griffiths, Mr. Collins, Mr.
Baker Greene, and Mr. Moody were counsel for Davitt,
and Mr. Collins and Mr. Hunt for Wilson.

The Attorney-General in a speech of rather more than
an hour's length, opened the case for the prosecution. He
commenced by giving a short history of the Fenian con-
spiracy, remarking that it was composed of disaffected
Irishmdn and some Americans. They had made many
attempts—and in some cases succeeded—in obtaining arms
and they all would be familiar with the raid on Chester.:
castle, the explosion at Clerkenwell, the risings in Ireland,
&c., coming to the case against the prisoners, the learned
gentleman said that in the early part of the present year
information was received by the police at Birmingham
that it was necessary to keep a strict watch on a manu-
factory of arms situated in Weamond-street. This fac-
tory was carried on by Wilson—one of the prisoners—and
by two Irishmen, named Meningham and Gill, and the
object of watching was to ascertain where the
arms that were manufactured went to. For a
long time the efforts of the police were baffled
but they at last obser% ed that frequent communications
took place between the manufactory and a cottage kept
by a man named Rafferty. On the 26th of February last
the police saw Meningham wheeling a truck containing a
large box, and he was going towards the cottage. The
box then appeared to be empty, and the police
waited half-au-hour, and then saw the box
brought out of the cottage, apparently filled. The persons
with the truck seemed to observe that they were watched,
and went as fast as they could to the Midland Station.
The police followed, and there saw the box, which was
addressed " George Wilson, Midland Goods Station,
Leeds." On being opened, it was found to contain nine-
teen rifles, nineteen bayonets, one breech-loader rifle, one
snider rifle, and a sword bayonet. The police subsequently
refastened the box, and it was sent to Leeds where
it was called for by the prisoner Wilson.
As Ito Davitt, it would be shewn that he
was formerly a journeyman near Blackburn, and that he
was a member of the Fenian Brotherhood in 1867. At
the time of the attempt on Chester Castle, Davitt was'
frequently at Liverpool, in company with some of the
leading Fenians, solar of whom had since been convicted.
He was present at many Fenian meetings, and he attended
four or five meetings where the projected plan of the
rising in Ireland was discussed and agreed on. Of course
this would have to be proved by an informer, as
none but Fenians were admitted to meetings of the
brotherhood. It would also be shewn that Davitt was in
the company of Menningham, Gill, and Wilson, and also,
that at Leeds he took a warehouse for the apparent pur-
pose of storing dry goods, and the prisoner Wilson and
another man, who had since gone away, carried a box
of arms, to this warehouse. At that place there
were several empty soda barrels, apparently
empty, but in a short time they came out
filled. These barrels were watched, and were seen being
conveyed to the station, and when there the police opened
them and found inside rifles, cartridges, &c. The name
of the apparent consignor was within on a card, and the
barrels purported to come from " John Henderson,
Leeds ;" but there was really no such firm. One was
addressed to "John Flannery, County Mayo,
Ireland ; " another, " Mr. Donnel, Tuam, Galway."
Two other barrels purporting to be from "N. and W
Rawlinson, general dealers, Leeds," to " Mr. John White
(of London), Athlone," and "Miss Margaret Delmere,
Castlereagh, County Rosconnon," were opened and found
to contain arms. The stocks of the rifles were
moveable so as to admit of their being
packed in barrels ; and it would be shewn that
the cases used were never employed by regular
manufacturers, and that it was unusual to have the stocks
of rifles made in the way those found were made, and it
will be proved that the alleged consignees were fictitious
ones. Finding that somethinc, was wrong, the Fenians
did not send any more boxes for some time, but subse-
quently barrels were sent to Glasgow, and he (the Attor-
ney-General) would prove that these came from Rafferty's
cottage. They next resorted toNewcastle-on-Tyne, and it was
discovered the boxes were sent to the Glassmaker's arms,
Bailiff Gate, which was a well-kown Fenian resort.
Under the address card which the police removed were
found other addresses—Mr. G. H. Williams, Globe Ex-
press Parcels-office, Pilgrim-street. The next place
tried was Manchester, and a barrel was addressed to
" Mr. Benjamin, the Globe Parcels Express Office." It
would be proven that Davitt, person ating Richards,applied
for this parcel; but was told it had not arrived. The
next day he sent another person for it, and the parcel was
given to him. After detailing other matters the Attorney-
General went on. to speak of the time when the prisoners
were arrested. Wilson was in a third-class
carriage; and Davitt was waiting to meet him
at Paddington-station. Wilson had a heavy box
with him, and was arrested and the box when searched
was found to contain revolvers. When questioned he said
he- had come to London to sell them ; but that he knew
nobody in town. It would, however be proved that the
address of Davitt—who was living under an assumed
name—was found in his pocket. Davitt when
arrested said he had only that day come from
Manchester, and then he said he had only been
a fortnight in London, and the fact, which would be
proved, was that when a Fenian, named Forrester, was
arrested in Liverpool a letter was found on him which
would be proved to be in Davitt's handwriting. Forrester
tore this letter up, but the police put, the fragments
together. (The letter was partly written in cypher, and
contained certain enigmatical expressions.) The learned
counsel concluded by asking the jury to pay strict atten-
tion to the case, and if, the charge was proved to do their
duty to their country. •
After the evidence of the manager of the goods depart-
ment at the Midland station at Leeds and others who
bore out Sir Robert Collier's opening,
John Bartlett, of the Irish constabulary, was called,
and spoke to being with Seale at the time the box was
being -taken to Rafferty's cottage. He afterwards saw
the box opened, and it contained arms. They were fit for
use, but not for sale. Witness also saw the casks opened,
and the stocks of the guns were cut to fit in the barrels.
That was a most unusual occurrence. The cask was ad-
dressed to Mr. Heugh, Portland, Ireland. In the barrel
there were ten rifles, four revolvers, five a word bayonets,
and three bayonets.
Thomas Kavanagh, a Dublin detective, on 31st March
waited the arrival- of the steamer Windsor from Liver-
pool. He particularly looked after three barrels. They
were addressed to different persons, from "J. Hender-
son, commission agent, Leeds." He opened one of the
casks, and found it to contain nine breech-loading
rifles.

Michael Ronan, detective sergeant, Dublin, on the Ist
April went on board the steamer Stanley, from Holyhead.
He saw two barrels landed mid took possession. They
contained arms.

Mr. Flannery, one of the persons to whom a cask was
addressed, said he never ordered any goods from Leeds,
and never any arms. He knew of nobody else of his name
in the same place.
By Mr. Griffiths : Had a rifle in his possession. Most
persons had during the present disturbed state of the
country. _ _

Alfred Andell proved making three boxes on the order
of the prisoner Wilson. He paid for them. They were
20 inches long, 40 inches wide, and 7 inches deep ; and
some others 24 inches long, and 16 inches wide ; whilst a
third lot were 30 inches long.
William Sinclair, manger of the goods department,
Glasgow, remembered Serle coming to Glasgow. He
directed witness's attention to a cask addressed to Matthew
Ward, Ruther Glen. Saw the cask after it was opened,
and it contained cartridges and ammunition.
John Lockhart received the cask from the last witness,
and duly delivered it. He went to the address, but found
that a man named Grant kept it. He asked for Mr.
Ward, but found that no Mr. Ward was there. A woman
received the cask from him.

Aubery Thompson, a Glasgow detective, said on the
31st of March he went to a house in Gilbey-court to the
house of Mr. Mc`Namara. He saw a cask there. ' The
woman the witness saw did not claim the cask, And wit-
ness took it to the police-station. It was found to contain
revolvers and ammunition. McNamara was an Irishman
and dealt in old clothes.

Joseph Dixon, detective superintendent of police at
Newcastle-on-Tyne, said on the 16th of April he received
a communication from the witness Seale. Went with
him to the Central Railway Station. Thornburn was
with him.. He saw three boxes taken from the train and
taken to the parcel office. There were addresses
on them. Two "J. M. Kershaw, Glassmakers'
Arms Inn, Bailiff Gate, Newcastle on - Tyne."
Over that address another card was nailed, with
the name. " Hinson and Co," The ether case was ad-
dressed, " C. H. Williams, Globe Express Office, Pilgrim-
street Newcastle-on-Tyne." Witness watched the cases
the whole day, but nobody came for them. He caused
the one addressed to Kershaw to be opened. It contained
twenty-five revolvers. Subsequently the other was
opened and found to contain the like. They were all breech
loaders and six chambers. They had never been called for.
On the 19th of April he was again at the station, and found
a box in the goods box of the train. That was also ad-
dressed to " C. H. Williams," and was taken to the
police-station. It contained 24 breech-loading revolvers
and a needle gun.

By Mr. Griffiths : Made inquiries from the 11th 'of
April till the 23d for Mr. Williams, but could not find.
him. Did not inquire at the Post Office. -
By Mr. Cole, Q.C. : Inquired at the Globe Parcel
Office, but' without success.
• Mark Thornburn said he was a detective at Newcastle-
on-Tyne. The evidence of the previous witness
was correct, Witness enquired at the Glassmakers' Arms
Inn for Kershaw. Witness knew the house well. It
was kept by George Mullins, an Irishman. The house
was mostly frequented by Irish labourers. Nobody of
the name of Kershaw was known there.
By Mr. Griffiths : Mullens was not at the court. Did
not know if he was subpcenaed.
Jon Hodson, of Manchester, was a packer at the Globe
Express parcels office. Remembered a box addressed to
Mr. Benjamin Richards being sent there.' • Davitt came
for the box ; but witness told him it had not come, but
that they were advised of one which would be there the
next morning. On that day two men came for it with a
cart. The police followed the men. '
By Mr. Griffiths : Had never. seon Davitt before.
Thomas Bainbridge gun-barrel rifler and sighter, Bir-
mingham, worked for the firm of which Wilson was a
partner. Never saw Meningham since Wilson was arrested.
Had be'en shewn a number.of arms, and could identify 19
rifles and 75 pistols as made by himself. The revolvers
found on Wilson when arrested he could identify.
Mrs. Robson proved that Davitt lodged with her in the
name of Matthews in Guildford-street..

At This stage of the proceedings the Court adjourned,