Star.
London, England, 1822-11-08 00:00:00

DUBLIN COMMISSION INFELLIGENCE.!••.
•

CURIOUS AND IMPORTANT TRIAL

Monday, Baron &sin% and Judge Boum: having
taken their seats at eleeeo o'clock, the following Gen-
tlemen were sworn on the Jury :

William Rigby,
Joseph Achelon,
Adam Boyd,
•murl Birret,
Benjamin Binns,
Edward Cusack,

Thomas Lack,
Joshua Kearney,
John Cdlwell„
Henry Bingham,
Jams Kennedy,
Robert Henry.

Michael Keenan was indicted for having admi-
nistered, on the 10th of August, an unlawful and
seditious oath.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated the ease, which,
he said, was an indictment under the 50th of the late
King, against administering, or causing to be admi-
nistered, unlawful oaths ; and the punishment for
which was transportation for life of the person admi-
nistering the oath, and transportation for seven years
to those taking it. It was, he said, unhappily noto-
rious that a society had for some time past existed in
this country for seditious purposes; it was, however,
some consolation that, amongst its members, no one
was found of a higher order than a coal porter. From
the evidence it would appear their plan of proceed.
ings was arranged with such system, method, and
ingenuity, as amongst such persons might appear
surprising, if it were not obvious that the machine
was formed from the plans and optlines of the trans-
actions in the unhappy periods of 1798 and 1805.—
He hoped the result of this prosecution would con-
vince the deluded victims that the associates of vice
cannot trust one another—that each views the image
of his own guilt in his companion, who is ever ready
to commit the treachery of disclosing their secrets;
and that confidence can belong only to virtue.
Michael Coffee, examined by Serjeant LEP ROY.—
Knows the prisoner Keenan since the month of Sep-
teMber, 1821 ; first saw him at a public-house on
Geisrge's-quay, kept by a man named Matthew Red
mond; prisoner is a coal porter; saw hint several
times from that to last June; was in prisoner's com-
pany in January last with three or four other persons;
went to Redmond's house in consequence of a pre-
vious appointment made with prisoner at Cares pub-
li‘-liouse the day before, at a meeting of Masters of
Lodges, and where no other persons were admitted ;
was a member of those Lodges; the first time witness
was at a meeting of Lodges, was introduced by pri-
soner Keenan, as a friend and member of the society;
was sworn a member of the society in August, 1820,
at his father's house, Carberry, county Kildare; the
nature of the oath was that he should never discover
or disclose the names of the members .iof the society,
or give information to any Magistrate or Justice ;
never to provoke a quarrel with a brother ; that he
should obey the commands of his superiors, and go
twenty-one miles at their request ; that he should not
withdraw himself from the society without the per-
mission of the society; he received at the time of
swearing a written pass-word, by which he was ad-
mitted to the meetings of the society ; for nine months
he was at meetings of the society almost every night;
before he left the country the form of the oath was
changed; it was put into it printed form
- - -

Mr.WALLAct here objected to the witness's giving
Any parole evidence of the oath, which was stated to
be in print, and at the administering of which the
prisoner was not present.
_ _

Serjeant Lam.," asked witness if he had any copy
of the oath? Witne,s replied not; and Se? jeant Le-
FROY submitted, that as there was no copy of the oath,
no better evidence could be given than parole evidence

Mr. HAMILTON contended they should have served
a proper process • on the witness not only to attend,
but to bring to Court the copy of the oath, or other
papers, of which he intended to give evidence.

Mr. FINLAY submitted to the Court, that the evi-
dence offered by the Crown was merely secondary
evidence, and that the difficulty of producing legal
evidence was no justification for their producing ille-
gal evidence, though the impossibility of producing
legal evidence might be some grounds for giving
parole evidence.
After - further observations by the Counsel on
each side,• the examination was permitted to proceed
in the line pursued by Serjeant LEYROY.
There was a change made in the first article of the
oath in the country, which was, to bear allegiance to
his present Majesty without fear or dread ; asked
prisoner the cause of the aiteration in the oath?
pri-
soner replied, because the first oath we, too danger-
ous, and it was in order to save persons harmless in
a Court of Law, and to disguise their real motives.—
He was considered as an Orangeman and a Pro-
testant in the country, and had received several
threatening . letters ; and his father's turf being
burned, he was intimidated and frightened into fear
for his life. One Morning after he had received an
anonymous letter, he was going out of his father's
house, and met a man crossing the field opposite the
house. The strange man asked him, " Was the road
straight ?" Witness replica, be believed it was as
straight as roads commonly were. The man replied,
he believed witness " was not straight himself ;"
to which the witness replied, perhaps.rirtt.iA,hit ac-
ceptation of the Word, and asked him what he meant ?
The man answered, that wittiest had better do as all
his neighbou'rs had done, and opened hi, Otizioess to