The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-16 00:00:00

711 E CHARGE 01, FENIANISAII.

Th• following appeared in our Latest Edition of yesterday
James Williamson, otherwise Cooke, of Claren-
don-street, Somers Town, and James Blake, Vere-
street, Itlington, clerk, were placed at the bar
on remand, before Mr. Vaughan, at Bow-street
Police Court, charged by Mr. Williamson, chief
inspector of the detective force, with treason-
felony,

Mr. Poland appeared on the part of the Trea-
sury to prosecute, and Mr. Merriman defended the
prisoners.

Mr. Poland said the most convenient c3urse to
pursue was to go as far as he could with the evi-
dence.

Mr. Vaughan—What do you propose to show ?

Mr. Poland—.l shall calla witness who has known
the prisoner Blake for two years, and then you will
say, sir, what weight you attach to the evidence.
Corydon, the informer, was then called, and in
continuation of his former evidence, said—Before
Weydock and Cooke went to Drogheda, I had a
conversation with Cooke about a box. Weydock,
Burke, and several other persons were present.
The box contained copper mallets for breaking
through powder magazines in Ireland. This occurred
at Mather's Hotel. Cooke said he got the things
in America for the purpose I have already stated.
Mr. Vaughan—Did he particularly mention any
magazine ?

Witness—Yes,
the one in Phcenix-park. In fact
all the magazines in Ireland were to be forced. It
would of course be dangerous to usa iron mallets.
There was a conversation about the prospects of
things in America. Weydock was present. After
the prisoners had left Drogheda I gave in-
formation to the head constable at Liver-
pool with respect to Cooke and Weydock.
They left Ireland on the 2lth of November, 1866,
on a Saturday
night. I saw the box containing
the mallets taken from blather's Hotel to Christian-
street, Liverpool, where it was found by the polica.
M'Dermott was the name of one of the men en-
gaged in moving the box. He had since been
arrested in Liverpool. The box was removed
before Cooke and Weydock left. I saw M‘Dermott
in custody at Liverpool. 111‘Dermott lived in the
house in which the box was found. I did not see
the prisoners after they left Drogheda until last
Saturday, when they were in custody of the police.
I know Cooke brought over £lOO from Ireland,
which hesaid he brought from Col. Kelly to deliver to
Duffy for Fenian purposes. I know Roberts, who
was the president of the Fenian Brotherhood, that
is of one portion. There had been a split amongst
them, and O'Mahony was the president of the other.
The latter was the Stephens' section. In Ireland
there had been a discussion about a matter. Kelly
belonged to a different section to Roberts.

Mr. Merriman—l decline to cross-examine the
witness at present. There is not yeta tittle of evi-
dence against Blake.
Robert Gardner said— I am now sub-inspector of
the Irish constabulary stationed at Drogheda. On
the 25th of Nov., 1866, I received some informa-
tion from Dublin Castle, and also description of
two men. In consequence of that I went with a party of
police to the quay at Drogheda, and there waited
the arrival of the steamer from Ireland. When the
vessel arrived
corresponded I
watc
hdthe
passengers leave, and
two with the description so
of
them
nearly that I arrested them. I.found the prisoner
Cooke and his companion secreted in the engine-
room, and took them into custody. Cooke gave
the name of M'Cook, the other that of Wey-
dock. 1 handcuffed them, and took them to
fDroghedaund on
g a ol
Cooke.. A number of greenbacks were

Mr. Poland—Did yon not fini some keys?

Mr. Poland•—That may turn out to be of import-
ance, as one of them may or may not open a box.
Witness—The prisoners were very much cheered
as they went to the gaol.

Patrick Mullany, another informer, said—l was
formerly a member of the Fenian Brotherhood. I
was a centre in London. I know the prisoner
Cooke well. I first saw him in May, 1867, in
Kavanagh's public-house, Pollen-street, Regent-
street. He was introduced to me by a Fenian
leader named Flood. Flood told the prisoner
Cooke I was a London centre, and that I could
render him essential service. He told me Cooke
was an agent for Roberts, that he had come over
here to re-organize, and that he was head centre of
Dublin. Donoghue was in company ,with

. •

Cooke. We had a conversation together. Cooke
said he was appointed to re-organize, in order that
the next rising might not prove a failure. The
American officers were the wrong meu, and that
he (Cooke) came directly from Roberts to do so.
Cooke wanted to know where Kelly was, in order
that he might inform him of .his appointment.
Cooke said he had sufficient money for the
purpose of reorganisation, and that he had
got it from Roberts. He asked me to
give the men of my circle over to the Roberts'
party, but I refused. I said Kelly was the only
honest mart amongst the lot, which he was. I knew
that there was a split in the organisation. I be-
longed to the Kelly party, and the prisoner to the
Roberts' division. The dispute went to such a
length that after leaving the public-house Cooke
knocked me down in the street because I would
not give my men over to him. I got up very angry,
and was about to give him into custody, when
Donoghue said in the presence of the prisoner,
" Doll% give Cooke into custody, as it will be dan-
gerous to the organisation."

Mr. Merri►nau—l obj •ct to that going on the
deposition. Ic is merely hearsay.
Mr. Vaughan-4 think it material ; so it must
be taken.

Witness continued-4 saw Cooke the next day
at Kavanagh's public-house and made it up with
him. After that I was in thel habit of seeing Cooke
from time to time. He told me his mission here.
He said he was appointed by Roberts to effect a
reorganisation. I never knew Cooke by any other
name. I knew the other prisoner well—his name
is John Blake. I first saw him two or three years
ago. I knew him as a clerk.
Mr. Poland—Did you know the prisoner as a
Fenian ?
WitueSs—l have known him to be a Fenian, but
never mixed up in any of the arrangements. I
always looked upon him as a respectable young
man. lie did not Live by it as the other prisoner
did.

Mr. Merriman protested against such questions.

Witness continued—l have seen Cooke in the
company of Colonel Richard Burke, who was con-
victed at the Old Bailey. Cooke and Burke began
to talk about- money matters. Burke accused
Cooke of stealing £lOO, with which he (Cooke)
was intrusted to pay the wen in Dublin. Cooke
said they were all in it for themselves, and he might
as well have the money as anybody else. Blake and
Cooke were there during this conversation. I did
not know where Blake lived, but I have frequently
met him at Kavanagh's. Whenever I have met him
there we generally discussed the prospects of Fenian
organisation. I knew Blake belonged to the
Roberts' party. I first met Cooke, in May, 1867,
at Kavanagh's. Col. Dunn was present on that oc-
casion. Kavanagh's house was the head-quarters
of Fenianism. Have seen Blake there; never had any
particular conversation with Blake, but I knew he
was a centre belonging to the Roberts' party. I
was attached to the Kelly party, so we were much
in opposition. The last time I saw Blake was in
August, 1867. It was at a meeting in Seven Dials
in 1865 ; Blake was there. I heard at that meeting
a talk about collecting arms and ammunition, and
those who did so were to go to Irelanl.
Mr. Vaughan—How many were present at that
meeting?
Witness—l should think about ten persons.
Witness continued—A man named English was
there ; he was a centre, and be invited me. There
never was any occasion for the meeting to be held
with closed doors. Any one could come into the
room whilst we were arranging our affaire—
they would not know what was going on -
that was the beauty of the organization. I
think Blake said to me .Mrs. Justice had oarried his
things (arms and ammunition).
Mr. Merriman said he would reserve the cross-
examination of the witness, as far as regarded
Cooke, but he would ask some questions with
respect to Blake. •
In answer to questions from the learned gentle-
man,
Mullany said the meeting at Seven Dials was a
very trivial matter. I was there by invitation, and
John Blake, the prisoner, was also present. I have
seen Blake, at Kavanagh's, and the reason, I believe,
that led him there was that he was courting one of
Kavanagh's daughters_ (Laughter.) We used to
have music at our meetings in Kavanagh's. I never
knew Blake to be a Fenian. He had not the pluck
to be one. (Laughter.)
Mr Merriman—l shall not ask you another ques-
tion, Mr. Mullany.
Mr. Vaughan—You have said that Blake was a
centre?

Mallany—Yes ; he had told me so, but I also
knew he was one, but he never took any active part
in the Fenian cause like Cooke ; he was a leading
man.

Elizabeth Valiance, of 47, Clarendon-street,
Somers town, said —1 know Cooke. He resided in
my house. lie has been with me two or three
months. I knew him by the name of Johnson.
The police have searched his rooms. I have sem
the other prisoner, Blake, who called upon Mr.
Johnson (Cooke). I don't know what Johnson
used to do for a living. 'When he first came to us
he said he was a traveller.
\y Vallance—l believe the shorter prisoner
of the two is the person whom Johnson gave as his
reference. I know the direction given was 42,
Noel-street, Islington. Blake gave Johnson (Cooke)
a very excellent character..
Mathilda Deck, a lodger in the house of Mr.
Valiance, identified Blake as a visitor to Mr and
Mrs Johnson.

Inspector Clarke—Since the last examination, I
have sorted and counted the ammunition found at
Cooke's lodgings. I found that it consists of 160
rifle ball cartridges, Lancaster pattern, two ball
cartridges for a breech-loader, 120 pistol bullets,
ten blank cartridges, and two bullet moulds.
Both prisoners were again remanded, bail being
refused for Blake.