The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-30 00:00:00

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK.

THE CLERKENWELL OUTR,AGE.

EXAMINATION OF THE ACCUSED FENIANS.

- - -
BOW-STREET.--(THIS DAT)

William Desmond, Timothy Desmond, Jeremiah
Allen, Nicholas English, and Anne Justice were this
morning placed at the bar on a charge of the wilful
murder of four persons who met their deaths by the
explosion at the House of Detention on the 13th
inst.

Mr. Giffard, Q.C., and Mr. Poland appeared for
the Crown to prosecute.
The first witness examined this morning was

John Butler, who said--I am a surveyor to the
police. I have prepared a plan showing the House
of Detention and the neighbourhood surrounding it.
I produce the accurate plans.
Police-constable George Ranger said—l was on
duty at the House of Detention on the 13th. I
went on at 12 o'clock, and I recollect seeing Allen
abou,t ten minutes past 12 o'clock at the
prison gate. He asked Mr. Worth, the warder
of the prison, if any person had been to see
Casey. About ten minutes after that Ann
Justice came to the prison and asked to see Casey.
She was admitted, when Mr. Worth asked her
whether she was any relation to Casey, when she
replied that she was his aunt. About half-past 1
she left the prison, and then joined Allen, who was
about four or five yards from the gate. 1 observed
nothing particular about her, as she left, but
something was told me, and I then directed
Knowles, another constable, 200 G, to com-
municate with Sutton, and watch her. A visitor
after that came to the prisoner Casey, and left the
place about 1.40. I and Knowles followed him as
lie left, but I lost Knowles in Fleet-street. I then
returned to the House of Detention, and got there
about 10 to 3. I there saw Ann Justice in Short's-
buildings, looking up Bridewell-walk ; Allen was
then standing at the prison gate, where I bad pre-
viously left him. I went into the prison and had
a communication with Moore, the chief warder.
I then went back to the wicket-gate and looked
through the opening, wherel saw Allen and Justice
talking at the corner of St. James's-walk, opposite
the prison gates. I recollect Inspector Thompson
arriving abort 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I made
a communication to him, and then he left in a cab
After he had left, about a quarter past 3 o'clock, I
saw Allen go up Stratton's-ground, and whilst he
was gone I saw Timothy Desmond join Justice; and
enter into conversation with her, at the corner of St
James's-walk. About half-past 3 I saw Allen com e
out of Stratton's-ground in company with another
man. Allen then joined Justice at the corner of St.
James's-walk, and Timothy Desmond walked down
Short's-buildings with the man not in custody. The
same man that I had previously seen came out of
Stratton's-ground. I then made a communication
to Constable Goldsmith, 264 G. About ten minutes
to four I heard a great noise, like an explosion. I
ran out of the prison as soon as I could and met
Sutton in Short's-buildings. He made a communi-
cation to me, and then ran into St. James's-walk,
where I saw Allen and Justice running. As
Allen and Justice were running along side each other
I knocked Allen down, about 20 yards from the
prison wall. I told Allen I should take him into
custody for being concerned in blowing up the
prison wall. He said, " I've been sent here by
Inspector Brennan." At that moment I saw
Timothy Desmond, and I said to Sutton, " Look
out, here comes the other one that you've followed."
Sutton then took Desmond into custody, and con-
veyed him inside the prison. When I first saw
Desmond he was turning out of Short's-buildings
into St. James's-walk, near the Prince of Wales
beer-shop. Allen had a white apron and a black
hat on when he was taken into custody, and
Timothy Desmond also wore a black hat. I mean
a hat of the ordinary description.
Thomas Knowles—l am a police-constable 200
G division. On Friday, 13th of December, I was
on duty at the House of Detention, Clerkenwell, in
plain clothes. At 12 o'clock I was inside the prison,
and whilst I was there Allen came to the gate and
asked if any person was allowed to visit Casey. I
did not hear the reply Mr. Worth made to him. I
then waited for about ten minutes, when the prisoner
Ann Justice came forward to where I had seen
Allen standing about outside the prison gate.
When she came she wanted to visis Casey, as she
was his aunt. She passed into the prison, and re-
mained there some time. I then went outside, and
saw' Allen standing at the corner of St. James's-
walk and Short's-buildings. I then spoke to
Sutton, and I again watched the prisoner Allen. I
saw Justice leave the prison about 20 minutes to 1.
On doing which she walked straight across to Allen
and entered into conversation with him. I remained
watching until twenty minutes to two, when I left,
leaving them still engaged in conversation. The
reason I left was to follow another person. About
twenty minutes to two a person had been to visit
Burke in prison, and when he left I and Ranger fol-
lowed him in a cab. Near Fleet-street I lost sight of
Ranger, but I followed the person I had been watch-
ing, and before I returned to the prison the explo-
sion bad taken place. It was about -a quarter to
four when 1 arrived at the prison. Before the Friday
on which the explosion took place I had been watch-
ing the place since the 25th of November, sometimes
inside the prison, sometimes out. Before the day
of the explosion I had never seen Justice.
By Mr. Lewis—You cannot say whether Justice
had anything in her hand.

Witness—No I cannot.
By. Mr.• Harper—l did not see Timothy Desmond
there at all.

Mathew Crowley—l am a sub-warder in Clerken-
well prison. About a quarter past 3 on the 13th
or December I went to the Octagon near which
the explosion took place. I was stationed
at the top of the building by direction of the
governor. I had a carbine and 20 rounds of ammu-
nition. From the position in which I was I could
see the houses in Corporation-lane and the back of
the houses in Woodbridge-street. Before the ex-
plosion took place I noticed a mau come on the roof
of one of the house in Woodbridge-street. The
house is about eight feet from the prison wall and
four feet high. He had a white apron on, dark
coat, and a tall silk hat. I recognise the prisoner
Allen as that person to the best of my belief. I took
particular notice of the man I saw on the top of the
house.

Sir T. Henry—Let the prisoner Allen put on his
hat.

This having been done the

Witness said—Yes ; I believe Allen to be the
man I saw. At ten minutes to four the explosion
took place. I was blown from the window and
knew nothing more of what took place.
Thomas Goldsmith, 264 G.—Oa Friday the 13th
I was on special duty outside the House of Deten-
tion. I saw Mien, Timothy Desmond, and Justice
standing at the corner of St. James's-walk. As
they were strangers to me, I watched them
for about five minutes, when Allen left Desmond
and Justice, and walked up Stratton's-yard. He
was away about eight or ten minutes. Ile then re-