The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-26 00:00:00

IRELAND.

TIE STATE -TRIALS.
NINTII DAY-BY EXPRESS.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTERS.)
DUBLIN, WEDNESDA.T, JAN. 24.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
THE QUEEN 'V. DANIEL O'CONNELL AND OTHEBIL
The Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Crampton, and
Mr. Justice Perrin, took their seats upon the Beach at
ten o'clock precisely.
The traversers and jurors answered to their names.
The Clerk of the Crown—,Direct the Crier to call
Samuel Maunsell, of 42, Leeson-street...._ • -
The Crier called Mr. Maunsell three dine" consecu-
tively, but there was no reply.
Mr. Henn, Q.C., rose and said that he appeared ..ou
behalf of Mr. Maunsell, with whom he. had an interview
that morning, and who assured him that he had not been
apprised until ie late hour on the night preceding that the
Court had intimated any desire that he should be in at-
tendance. He promised, however, that he should be in
attendance punctually at the sitting of the Court, and
he (counsel) did aat know to what circumstance his ab-
sence was to be attributed. Mr. Maunsell requested him
to address their Lordships on his behalf, and to state that it
was,not his intention to attempt any justifisation for the
letter which he had yesterday written, but to assure the
Court that it was written at a thoughtless. moment, and
under feelings of great excitement. Herhad also ex-
pressed a wish that he might be permitted to make an
affidavit explanatory of the circumstances under which
the letter had been penned, and was anxious to know
whether, after the making of such an affidavit, the Court
would be satisfied with the expression of his regret for
what had occurred ; but he (the counsel) had told
him that it would be much better for him to attend the
Court in person, and thus ascertain their Lordships.' feel-
ings on the subject. He concurred in the propriety of
this suggestion, and after again expressing his regret for
what had occurred, had distinctly promised to attend at
ten o'clock.
Judge Crampton—lt is very possible Mr. Maunsell
may be here by and by. It is only ten o'clOck.
The Chief Justice—l trust he may be in attendance,
and I am very happy to find that he has had the good
sense to place himself under Mr. Henn's directions. I
trust that he now sees the impropriety of his conduct, and
understands the predicament in which he has placed him-
self by writing a very improper letter to the High
Sheriff in the execution of his duty, thereby offering an
affront to a public officer, and committing kt the same
time a very gross contempt of Court.
Mr. Henn—l do not intend to make any excuse for Mr.
bfaunsell's conduct, my Lords ; and a,ll I can say in ex-
tenuation, is what I have already stated, that he wrote
the letter under great excitement. Your Lordships are
aware that the letter had no connexion whatever with
the present trials.
Chief Justice—Oh, none whatever. !,
James Healy, a police-constable, examined by the At-
torney-General—Was at the meeting which took place
at Mullaghmast on the Ist October last. Came from
Cork there. Can calculate on the numbers that were
at the meeting, and thinks there were about 250,000 per-
sons there.
Chief Justice—How many?—About 950,000 ; was in
several parts of the field, and along the road. There were
several bands came before Mr. O'Connell arrived, in a
boisterous manner, and were screeching, driving all
before them. The bands which preceded Mr. O'Con-
nell were in the greatest order and regularity. The
bands came from Carlow and Kilkenny side, and from
every direction. The principal portion of the
people came through the long avenue. Can posi-
tively say there were about 30 bands there.. • Some
of them were dressed in military uniform. Some
of them had caps like Hussars, at least they resem-
bled them very much ; saw documents handed about
there amongst the people ; saw this (a document)
handed about. It was purchased by a constable. Pur-
chased one himself for a penny, though the price was
only a halfpenny.—(Laughter.)
Mr. O'Connell—That was very generous of you.
Witness—Saw thousands of such documents distributed
about the field, but the people were more attentive to
Mr. O'Connell's speech than they were to the papers at
the time. Tore up the paper which he bought. Saw
this one purchased by John Dennehy, a sub-inspector
of police. Thinks the papers he saw' distributed
were the same as this one ; he read it twice ; they were
distributed about from early on the morning till night-
fall. Saw Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Steele there. They
arrived about three o'clock. Saw a great many persons
with labels on their hats. They were" cards, with the
words " O'Connell's police."- They had pieces of tim-
ber five or six feet long in their hands. Those pieces
were not thick ; they were like wands, and quite small.
Saw flags and banners there. One of the banners had
the words. "No Saxon Threats" (the manner in which
the witness uttered the word Saxon elicited a shout of
laughter as he pronounced it Sock-son); another had the
words " NO Irish Slave—No Compromise but Repeal;" it
was a large flag ; I think it was the Castlecomerfik that
had it ; I was informed that the Castlecomer colliers
were there ; heard persons say so at least.
Mr. Macdonough—Don't mind what you heard. any

one say.
The witness, in continuation to the Attorney-General,
said—There was another flag on which was written, "The
men of the border ceunties greet O'Connell with a Coati
Mille Failtha ; saw several flags with the word Repeal on
them; one had—"We tread the land that bore us ; does
not remember anything else on that flag ; saw another with
"The Queen, O'Connell, and Repeal" on it. There was
another flag on which was "Ireland dragged at the tail of
another nation."—(Laughter.)
Attorney-General—What, witness ?—"lreland dragged
at the tail of another nation."—(Loud laughter.)
A Juror—Say that again, Sir ?—(Laughter.) Witness
—"lreland dragged at the tail of another nation."
Attorney-General (looking very sharply at the wit-
ness)—Are you sure that was it ?—Yes, Sir, " Ireland
dragged at the tail of another nation." Observed one
flag attached to a private carriage, with the
words " Repeal, and no separation." There was
another motto—" Mullaghmast and its martyrs--a
voice from the grave"--(Laughter)—there was another
representing a dog with a harp, and something I cannot
well describe before him, like a tree without branches,
and lions or dogs looking up, and underneath it was
written—
" No Saxon butchery shall give blood gout for a repast ;
The dog is roused and treachery expelled from Mul-
laghmast."
There were some other mottoes in the pavilion, but did
not think it necessary to take them, as they were of no
consequence. "The words God save the Queen ;" or "the
Queen God bless her," were there also. Mr. O'Con-
nell arrived about three o'clock. The platform was
occupied for about two hours. The people slid
not all go away after the meeting broke up. Some of
them stayed there until near morning. Heard no obser-
vations among the people except shouting for Repeal and
Old Ireland, or words to that effect.
Cross-examined by Mr. M.Donough—You heard no
expressions among the people, except those you stated?
—No.
You mixed among the crowd very much that day in
the discharge of your duty?—Very much.
And very minutely and attentively observed what was
going on?—Very much so.
You listened attentively to what was said?—l did.
You mingled with the groups of people:, and attended
to what they were saying ?—Anything I could see or
hear I noticed it.
And all you did see or hear them say or do was to
shout for Repeal and Old Ireland ?—That's all.
Although you were there from eight o'clock in the
morning until next morning ?—Yes, I was there the
evening before, and all that day, and up to eleven o'clock
at night. ,
And you were sent specially to. Cork for that pur-
pose. I presume it was because ,you were a stranger
that you were,selected ?—That may have been the rea-
son, but I can't say.
Now, as we have what you heard, I want what you
saw. Was not this a very peaceable assembly ?—ln-
deed, it was very much so, as far as I saw.
No riot or breach of the peace?—All was very quiet
in that respect. There was nothing wrong that I could
either see or ascertain.
When you told the Attorney-General that parties re-
mained there at night, did you mean to convey that they
remained for the banquet?—Persons remained in tents
and places enjoying themselves.
In peace and quiet ?—Yes, in peace and quiet, as far
as I could see.
You stated that you saw bands coming from the direc-
tion of Carlow and Kilkenny. Do you know if they
were temperance bands ?—I think they were.
Now, as you aro from the south of 'lreland, you must
have seen several of Father Mathew's processions f—l
did, a great many of them.
There were temperance bands at the processions ?
There were,.
How many bands have you seen at one of' them ?
More than there were at. Mullaghmast ; a good many
more.
How many ?—I counted forty-five bands at one time
at the great temperance procession, in Cork, on Easter
Monday.
And about how many persons do you suppose were
there?—l suppose about 300,000.
Were the temperance bands who were with that meet-
ing of 300,000 persons in uniform ?—Yes, some of them.
Had they flags or banners?—A very few, and they
were small ones.
I presume they bore inscriptions?—They did, but they
were all connected with the temperance movement.
Those processions are, I believe, common in the south
of Ireland?—Very common.
Have you been long in the constabulary?—Nearly
twelve years.
Have the people improved in their habits in conse•
quence of the temperance movement? should say
they have.
Very much so?—(After a pause.) In point of drunk-
enness, there's a great improvement among the pile
—(Loud laughter.)
Were you at the great procession at Nevagh.2--4
not.
When the bands were coming to the grotind*tromthe
e;
direction of Carlow and KilkennlhOr.,ag. t ii•
—They appeared to be very wild 44 fotsect: . 'before
-
them.
that sed h
Were you one of the people be. 'ore —.'
ore