The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-11 00:00:00

IRELAND

DUBLIN, SATURDAY EVENING.
MORE YELVERTON REVELATIONS.
Byron said, or sung, that—
" Romances paint at full-length people's wooings,
But only give a bust of marriages,"

which is true in a general sense ; but the Yelverton
real life romance is certainly an exception, seeing
that it has painted portraits as large as life of the
honourable major's brace of wedlocks. It is not,
however, often that, in a romance, real or ficti-
tious, the hero and the villain are one and the
same self-sketched character. It was reserved for
Major Yelverton to become the voluntary suicide of
his own good name ; and it now appears that the
operation of moral self-destruction did not com-
mence in the Irish Court of Common Pleas. All
the reasons that he alleged, in reference to his
uncle, for concealing his marriage were founded on
falsehood. "In his letters," says the IriBl4 2i?nes,
" to Theresa Longworth, Major Yelverton alleged,
as the principal motive for a clandestine marriage,
his dependence upon his uncle. He affirmed that
he owed his uncle, the Hon. William Henry Yel-
verton, the sum of £1,000; that this uncle had
compelled him to give a bond for the amount ; and
farther, that the stipulation exacted was, that Major
Yelverton should not marry under penalty of exe-
cution on the bond. He ventured further, and ma-
ligned the character of an upright gentleman. He
stated that his uncle had ulterior objects to promote
and desired that the titla of Avonmore should de-
volve upon his sons. Major Yelverton added that
he had great expectations from his uncle, and that
to displease him would be his ruin. All this—the
bond, imprisonment, the loss of his commission,
the hostility of his uncle, and the sacrifice of his
prospects in life—was brought to bear upon Miss
Longworth, and at last she was induced to consent
to a secret marriage. We have (it continues) the
authority of the Hon. William Henry Yelverton,
brother of Lord Avonmore, to state that all these
representations are without a shadow of foundation.
There is not a particle of truth in the story from
beginning to end. Major Yelverton never owed a
single shilling to his uncle, and consequently never
could have given him a bond. Major Yelverton had
no expectations from his uncle, for, though prospe-
rous and affluent, he has children of his own to
settle in life; and they who have the pleasure of
his acquaintance know that he is the last man in
the world to conceive so base aproject or entertain
so cruel a purpose as his nephew attributed to
him."

In reference to the false report that the
Honourable William Yelverton was bearing the
expenses of Mrs. Yelverton's case, the Irish
Times says that, though the lady has that
gentleman's sympathy, as well as the sympathy
and commiseration of other members of the Avon-
more family, " The rumour is without foundation
that the Hon. William H. Yelverton contributed
any pecuniary assistance whatever throughout the
trial. Inclination must give way to higher consi-
derations, and we cannot always with propriety do
what we could wish. It is necessary to state this
clearly, lest it should be supposed that Mrs. Yel-
verton does not need all the assistance which a
feeling people can give, to oppose the most costly
and most worrying processes instituted by her ene-
mies." And it adds, "We are happy to state, for
the credit of this country, that the subscriptions
are flowing into the National Bank, On Monday
we will publish the names of the committee—a
committee embracing some of the most esteemed
gentlemen in Ireland. We know that to her who
has so bravely struggled for her rights, where so
many would have quailed, funds will be readily
and cheerfully given, amply sufficient to set at
defiance and endeavour to overthrow the verdiot of
an Irish jury."

MIXED MARRIAGE LAW.
The anomalous penalty for mixed marriages had
been the subject of serious attention here before the
Yelverton case brought it under general notice, the
Dublin Statistical Society having, through one of
its committees, under the presidency of Mr. Francis
Codd, furnished a report upon it, in which it was
recommended that the Penal Act should be re-
pealed, which would facilitate the public registra-
tion of marriages. Mr. James Moncrief Wilson.
the committee's honorary secretary, has republished
the report with the view of promoting the prosecu-
tion of its recommendation at the present juncture.
Great excitement was produced among the Pro.
testants in Armagh yesterday on account of alleged
jury-packing by the Crown in the trial of a number
of persons for taking part in an illegal procession
on the 12th of July. The Protestants complain
that in a Protestant county, and out of a jury list
in which Protestants are to Roman Catholics as ten
to one, the Crown managed to obtain a jury in
which the Roman Catholics are to the Protestants
as ten to two. A jury exclusively Protestant had
found one of the Orangemen guilty of manslaughter;
another jury with reference to which the Crown had
exercised the right of challenge had acquitted the
prisoner charged with a similar offence ; it was in
the swearing of the third jury that the packing is
alleged to have taken place. The long panel was
called over, and the first two jurors who answered
to their names being Protestants were set aside by
the Crown ; the third, being a Roman Catholic, was
sworn. The same process was carried on till a
jury consisting of ten Roman Catholics and two
Protestants was obtained, 19 Protestants having
been set aside:

The counsel for the defence stated that this was
the result of a conspiracy to obtain an exclusively
Roman Catholic jury. Certain gentlemen, he
asserted, including some of those placed on the
jury, had formed an association, and published a
document, and
collected subscriptions for the pur-
pose of defeating justice, and to set aside the jurors
who were Conservatives, and get Roman Catholics
exclusively put on
the list for this trial. One of
the Roman Catholic jurors indignantly denied the
charge, and thought it very hard that it should be
made. The judge agreed that he had reason to com-
plain, and said that it was a charge of conspiracy
that should be tried. The Attorney-General insisted
that it should be thoroughly investigated, and Mr.
M'Mechan, the counsel for the prisoners, assented,
but withdrew his challenge when he learnt that
the triers—the first two jurors sworn—would be
Roman Catholics. In consequence of an observa-
tion of the judge he subsequently agreed to prove
the charge, but his lordship would not permit him
tg do so at that stage of the proceedings. It should
be observed that the 24 gentlemen who had served
on the two previous juries were objected to by the
Attorney-General, and the judge admitted that
they ought to stand aside. It was on this ground
that some of the Protestants were objected to. All
publicans, though Roman Catholics, whose names
appeared on the list were set aside by the Crown.
The judge, Baron Fitzgerald, brother of the Bishop
of Cork, fully concurred in the course adopted by
the Attorney-General. There was someting like a
" scene " between his lordship and the prisoner's
counsel.

" Attorney-General—l am quite willing, under
those circumstances, that the gentleman should
stand aside,

" His Lordship—Very well; let him stand by.
" Mr. M'Afechan—l object to it, my lord. I say
there is no reason for your lordship putting this
gentleman off the jury, and that it is contrary to
law.

"His Lordship—Mr. M'Mechan, with reference
to the statement you have now made, I think you
must be conscious, on consideration, of the impro-
priety of it.
" Mr. MeMechan—My lord—
" His Lordship—l wish to hear nothing more on
the subject.
"Mr. M.Mecb an—l founded my observation on
cases decided in this court.

" His Lordship—Mr. M'Mechan, you are in this
position—that you can make what statements you
please in reference to me, and I can make none in
the position in which I am in reference to you.
Into any discussion with you I will not enter. I
am endeavouring to discharge my duty to the best
of my power, and I must ask that when I have
ruled a point no observations shall be made.
"Mr. M‘Meehan—My lord, I—
" His Lordship—l wish, Mr. M‘Mechan, that the
business of the court shall be proceeded with."

A report having been circulated that Sir John
Arnett, M.P., was about to abandon Kinsale, and
offer himself as a candidate for Cork, on the retire-

ment of Dr. Lyons, he has given the report a posi-
tive contradiction, adding, "My Kinsale consti-
tuents, unsolicited, did me the honour of electing
me for their ancient borough, and I have no idea of
deserting them while they continue satisfied with
me." It is announced that Mr. John Nicholas
Murphy will offer himself for the representation of
the city when Dr. Lyons retires.
The National Board of Education has got its new
charter, rendered necessary by the increase of the
number of its members from 15 to 20. On this

subject the Dublin Erening Post of today has the
following remarks :
"Considering the present fair and impartial con-
stitution of the Board on which Protestants and

Catholics are equally represented—some of the most
faithworthy Catholics in Ireland being among the
latter—we look with strong hope to the seutary
effects of a system of administration in which the
legitimate claims of Catholics are now for the first
time recognised, whilo ample care is takes to protect
the rights and interests of all denominations,"