The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-23 00:00:00

THE ESCAPE OF STEPHENS.

Mr. WHITESIDE then called the attention of the house
to the circumstances connected with the escape of Stephens,
the head centre of Fenianism, from Richmond Peniten-
tiary. The hon. and learned gentleman detailed the cir-
cumstances that had led to the apprehension of Stephens,
and those which conduced to his escape. He said that in
order to render the escape of the great head of the con-
spiracy possible, no military guard could have been placed
over the prison. The extra guard, if it had been
so placed, must have withdrawn, or else the officials of the
prison must have been greater traitors than the rebel. He
contended that the whole circumstances were a reflection
upon the authorities in Ireland, both military
and civil, because he believed, notwithstanding many
versions that had been given with respect to the
escape of Stephens, the true one was that the
flight of Stephens from Richmond prison was effected by
false keys provided for him by the officials of the goal,
who were the paid servants of the Crown ; and
the whole transaction was a disgrace to the
Executive in Ireland. He should like to know whether
any investigation had been made into the
escape of Stephens, and whether there would be
any objection to lay a copy of the proceedings on the table
of the house ?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND denied,
with some warmth, the insinuation that the general elec-
tion had anything to do with delaying the breaking up of
the Fenian conspiracy, and asserted that the Executive had
done all they could to insure the safe custody of Stephens.
Richmond Gaol, he said, was not under their control, and,
having offered the assistance of a military guard, they were
not responsible for its being declined. He created much
amusement by the ridiculous light in which he placed the
Phoenix prosecutions conducted by Mr Whiteside, and con-
tended that the Irish Government had done all in their
power to suppress the conspiracy.

Mr. GEORGE asserted that the Phoenix and the Fenian
conspiracy were identical in origin, and censured the Irish
Executive for its dilatoriness in making the arrests.
Sir R. PEEL protested against the assumption that this
dilatoriness had anything to do with the general election,
stigmatising it as " mean and paltry," and challenged the
fullest inquiry into the conduct of the Government. lie
denied that the Executive had omitted any precaution in
their power ; they had offered a military guard, and were
not aware that it had been declined, and it was by inter-
nal treason alone, against which it was impossible for any
Government to guard, that the escape of Stephens was
effected. He praised the conduct of the constabulary and
of the juries.
Lord NAAS and Mr. S. B. MILLER vindicated the con-
duct of the Irish Executive in Lord Derby's time in regard
to the Phoenix conspiracy, and censured the present Go-
vernment for allowing the conspiracy to run its course so
long, and for not taking greater precautions to secure
Stephens.
Mr. SULLIVAN defended the Government.
Sir G. GREY stated that Lord Wodehouse had acted
with the entire concurrence of the Cabinet.

Mr. H. BAILLIE pointed out that the publisher of the
Irish People had previously been convicted, and might have
been called up for judgment at any time.

THE NEW COURTS OF JUSTICE.

Mr. BENTINCK called attention to the plan adopted by
the commissioners for building the New Courts of Justice
for securing designs, and moved a resolution to the effect
that it is not expedient that the competition be confined to
six architects.

Mr. HOPE supported the motion, contending that, as
unlimited competition in the present state of public opinion
was hardly possible, means ought to be taken to obtain de-
signs from the best architects.
Mr. F. POWELL made some observations in support of
the motion.

Mr. COWPER pointed out that Parliament, by the Act
passed last session, had intrusted the discretion to the com-
missioners, and vindicated the course which they had
pursued, denying that any favouritism had been shown.
Sir G. Bowyer, Mr. Locke, and Mr. Tite argued in favour
of unlimited competition.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained the practical
reasons which had induced the commissioners to adopt the
system of limited competition.
The motion was supported by Mr. Henley, Mr. Hibbert,
and Mr. Sheridan, and was carried, on a division, by 101
to 70.
After a short explanation from the Marquis of HARTING-
TON, in reference to a question raised by Mr. DISRAELI at
the commencement of the evening, the house went into
Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates, and the fol-
lowing votes were agreed to:—
£212,600 for the administration of the Army.
£135,900 for Superannuation Allowances.

The Labouring Classes' Dwellings.)3ill passed through
Committee.
•

Other bills were forwarded a stage, and the house ad-
journed 'at 10 minutes past one o'clock.

LITERARY ANNOUNCEMENTS.—Messrs. Frederick
Warne and Co. have nearly ready for publication
the last work of " The Old Bushman," which will be issued
under the title of "Sporting Sketches," and will contain a
memoir of much interest ; a domestic tale entitled " The
Dayrells," by the Viscountess Enfield; a library edition in
3 vols. of the "Penny Readings," compiled and edited by
J. E. Carpenter ; a series of " Sunday Readings," by the
same editor ; and a " Popular Horse Book," by Professt,r
John Gamgee and Professor Gamgee, sen. By the same
enterprising firm the works of the elder and of tho younger
Disraeli are about to be issued in a cheaper and more
popular form than hitherto.
A NARROW ESCAPE.—What nearly amounted to
a shocking tragedy, reminding one not a little of
the famous old story of the bride and the chest, took place
at Oxford last Tuesday. At the handsome Randolph Hotel
in that city, two men and a boy employed on the premises,
from fun and curiosity, we believe, got into a very carefully
oonstructed fire-proof plate chest. Another servant, slso
in fun, little thinking what he was doing, closed the door.
It fastened with a spring lock, and the horrified victims
found themselves enclosed in an air-tight box about 3ft.
square by 6ft. high. It is difficult to understand how three
persons could have squeezed themselves into such a place,
for there was only just standing room, but such is the fact.
Their cries soon alarmed the establishment, and at last the
key was found; but, as might be expected in the confu-
sion, under the agonised efforts of the frightened man who
bad shut the door, it broke in the lock. There was now
nothing for it but to break in, but the extraordinary strength
of the door resisted every effort of sledge-hammers wielded
by powerful men working for the life of their fellow cron.
turns. The escape of the prisoners was only effected, after
having been immured for more than half an hour, by
breaking through the wall with proper mason's tools. The
boy had fainted, and one of the men was bleeding at the
nose and mouth ; the other had not yet begun to suffer
visibly, though much distressed. A very few minutes
more—it is said not more than five—and some, if not all;
must have perished. Considerable crowds collected round
the hotel both at the time and afterwards.—Churchman..