The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-21 00:00:00

THE FENIAN PROSECUTIONS.

The two prisoners, Blake and Williamson, who
stand remanded on the charge of treason-felony,
were again brought before Mr. Vaughan, at Bow-
street Police-court, this afternoon.
Mr. Poland, instructed by the solicitors to the
Treasury, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Mer-
riman defended the prisoners.
I.r. Michael Clear, one of the held c mstabl.s of
Irish constabulary, stationed in the county Galway,
deposed that on the 20th Nov., 186 G, he was sta-
tioned at Liverpool, when a vessel called the City of
Paris arrived from America. lie saw Cooke land
from the vessel. There was with him a tam whose
name he had once heard was Waydock. Witness
saw Cooke sup3rintending the examination of a box,
being part of his luggage at the Custom-hours. I
have seen the wooden box now produced, which is,
in every respect similar, and which I have no doubt
is the same. I afterwards saw the box placed
upon a car with several others, going
the same night. Cooke went away in
the direction of Matthews' Hotel. He bad
nothing in the car ; it was a dray car for luggage
only. I afterwards saw the prisoner in Liverpool.
The box was examined by the Custom-house officers
in the usual way. An American trunk belonging
to Waydock was put on the same cart with the box.
Afterwards on a Saturday, about the 24th, I saw
Cooke and Waydock go on board the Brien Boru
steamer for Drogheda. They were accompanied by
two l orters carrying the American trunk.
In consequence of an objection raised by Mr.
Merrinian, the witness was asked how he knew the
other man's name to be Waydock ? He replied
that he knew it from private information. Mr.
Vaughan held that was not sufficient, and that the
witness should confine himself to the statement
that he saw some other man with Cooke.
The witness went on to say that he did not see
the wooden box again till it was shown to him in
court. (It was a plain but well-made teak box,
brass bound, and of about four feet in length and
two feet in width.) The American trunk was of
wood, covered with leather, studded with brass
nails, and fitted with leather straps. That was
the usual description of what was called " Ameri-
can trunks." It was "in or about" the
same size as this one. Cooke and the
other man were in conversation when landing from
the vessel (the City of Paris), and also while passing
the goods through the Custom-house. Witness
saw them in town the next day with two other
men. It was on the night of Saturday, 24th Nov.,
or morning of Sunday, 25th, between 12 and 1
o'clock, that they left Drogheda. No seamen's boxes
were like the one produced.
Thomas Matthews, 64 and 66, Porter-street,
Liverpool, keeper of a temperance hotel, deposed
that he kept the same hotel in November, 1866. I

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think the large gentleman came to my hotel, to the
best of my knowledge, about that time. We never
take down names in the book. He stayed about
three nights, more or less ; it might be four. There
was another man with him. I did not know either
of them by name while they were in my hotel, but
people used to ask for Cooke and Waydock. Their
luggage consisted of a box like that produced, a
bed, and some rugs. The box was afterwards sent
away ; I don't know by whose orders. When they
went away I understood that they were going to
Dublin, but I afterwards found out that they
went to Drogheda. They were generally in when
anybody called.
Cross-examined—The thing occurred so long
ago that I don't recollect much about it. I reqol-
lected the names because I had seen them in the
Liverpool newspapers. Otherwise I don't think I
should have remembered them. I don't think I
ever saw Blake in my house, but he might have
been there. I don't recollect any endeavour on
Cooke's part to conceal himself when any one:called.
I think the box was similar to th•tt produced, but I
could not identify it. I have about vlOO people a
week coming to my house and probably. as many
boxes.

By Mr. Vaughan—A good many boxes like that
come to our house from America, but rot often
from Ireland. People going to or coming from
Ireland often stop at our house. No one has men-
tioned the names Cooke and Waydock to me since I
have been in London. A good many people from
America come to our house, and also people going
to or coming from Ireland.

Martin Meagher, head constable, Irish Consta-
bulary—ln November, 1866, I was at Liverpool. On
the 27th November I went, in consequence of in-
formation I had received, to 99, Christiau-street,
with Inspector Horne and another constable. A
man named M‘Dermott lived there. On the first
floor I found a box. It was locked. I got a lock-
smith to open it. I then examined it. It is the
same now produced in Court. I brought it over
from Dublin. I had taken it to Dublin at the time
(in November, 1866) and lodged it at the Castle,
and I have brought it back from Dublin for the
purpose of this inquiry. I made at the time a
list of its contents, which I have destroyed, but
I have a copy of it, which I made at
the time. [The witness read the list, which in-
cluded a green tunic, hemmed, and braided with
black, and with a star on the collar, a vest of
watered silk, with harp on buttons ; a pair of green
cloth trousers; three revolvers, a bowie knife, a
quantity of ammunition, a copper-headed hammer,
and two books relating to Fenianism. The ham-
mer, the clothes, the arms—except the revolvers—
one of the books and some fragments of the other,
were produced in court.]
Cross-examined—Did not find any money in the
box. Did not find £lOO in it. Was not quite sure
that he had destroyed the original list. In fact, it
must be still in his possession. Did not send it to
his superior officers, but Constable M'Hale made a

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copy, which was forwarded to the Inspector-Gene-
ral. Did not know that similar hammers were used
by wheelwrights.
Mr. William Horne, Inspector of Detective Police
at Liverpool, who accompanied the last witness to
Christian-street, and was present at the seizure of
the box, corroborated.
Cross-examined—Did not know Blake.
Inspector Clarke recalled—Amongst the papers
which I found at Cooke's lodgings is one which I
now produce. I found it tucked in behind the
chimney-piece in the back parlour. It is dated
London, May 28, 1868. (The letter exhorted the
" brethren to unity and action, and to confidence
in General Kelly, in preference to less trustworthy
leaders.") The letter was not signed, and Mr.

Poland Observed that it was not imputed that it
was written by Cooke.
Cross-examined—lt was not put behind the letter
in the usual way. It was packed out of sight be-
hind the picture. I had to move the picture before
I could see it.

Mr. Merriman here called for the production of
the remaining papers, and upon their being pro-
duced, asked the witness if he bad read them care-
fully. He replied that he had, and also that they
had been examined in the Treasury solicitor's office.
In respect to these, and especially the portion found
on Blake, Mr. Merriman asked whether there were
any which, in the judgment of witness or of the
Treasury orders related to this charge. This was
objected to on the ground that the witness could not
know what was in other people's judgment.
Mr. Vaughan, however, observed that it might
reasonably be inferred that the papers did not re-
late to the charge ; upon which Mr. Merriman
applied that they might be given up to the prisoner.
This was assented to. Mr. Merriman then applied
for the watch and money found on Cooke and
Blake. This was also assented to, with the
exception of an American draft for £l2 odd,
found upon the prisoner Blake, and drawn
in favour of Mr. Williamson. Mr. Vaughan re-
fused to make any order with regard to this docu-
ment, though Mr. Merriman argued the point very
strongly on the ground that the money was wasted
for the defence ; adding, " I state publicly that I
have had no money yet, and I want that draft to
get it changed and put the money in my own
pocket."
Mr. Poland having stated that there was no fur-
ther evidence against Blake, Mr. Vaughan ex-
pressed an opinion that there was not a sufficient
case to justify a committal. Blake was, therefore,
discharged.

Mr. Poland applied for a remand in the case of
Cooke.

Mr. Vaughan said he had some difficulty, from the
absence of any independent testimony, to show any
overt act. Ho would, however, remand the pri-
soner till Thursday, leaving it to Mr. Poland to
consider that difficulty in the meantime.
Ile prima ins socordingly rsmandvd.