Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-11-08
Nj | S C Il l. l. A NY.
SMITH O'BRIEN.


A Dublin letter of the 9TH ult., speaking of the
trial Of Smith O'Brien, says
Among the witnesses examined were several
members OF the Constabulary, and many of the
peasaniry and farmers residing near Banparrv
and killenaule. The officer commanding the troop
OF fiuZZars that was stopped by barricade in Xii
ienau'e, and Two pr!vaies were examined and an
inioTmer-such ali one Currau has s.damned TO
everlasting fame" in his scathing descriptions-
named Dobhyn. This wretch, it appears, was
cOnfederate-a Clubman-a member of the Rod
Hand Club-and as such had opportunities of see
ing and hearing Mr.. O'Bren, and of knowing wha,
was passing among the leaders. According TO his
own acknowledgment, he entered the confederation
IN order to betray, he expressed it, TO counter
Piot; lie gave particular account of a meeting
heid alter Mr. Duffy's arrest. to fix time for the
ii'e"ueu outbreak he gave the sentiments and, in
some instances, the language used by the speakers
some were for immediate rising, others for defer
ring 1t until the harvest was secured and arms and
ammunition provided In sufficient quantities Mr.
Brennan, of The Felon was opposed to all DELAY
and observed in reference to the motion for pDst
Ponemeni, ''that they would wait until rifles were
made In Heaven and they had angels to pull the
Triggers" AT this meeting there was an Execu.
1--WE Council OF five elected Meagher, Dillon. Do
heny, Devin Reilly and O'Gorman Smith O'Bri
en- was not on the Council, as it was thought he
could be more useiully employed stirring up and
organizing the country. Such was the substance of
his evidence, which he gave with the greatest har-
dlhood and eftrontery yet he could not look O'Br-
en- In the face. This Red Hand Club never heard
or before; 1t was not on the muster roll of clubs I;
It's members were not marshalled along with other
Clubmen; nor were its proceedings chronicled i'm
The .Ndfton or any other Confederate paper. lis
existence Tests on his crodibiliiy and on the evil
dence OF two Policemen, who swore that club
room having that name and the representation of a
hand stamped on the window blinds was establish
ed last July III Constitution Hill near the outskirts
OF Dublin. Dobbyn admitted, on cross examna-
ton, that 1t did not rank with the rest of the Clubs
thai lis members were not called over by Mr. o.
Brien when he reviewed the others, to ascertain
the numerical strength of the Dublin Clubs, Ga
most unlikely thing) and he accounted for it by
saying that 1t was only branch Club. Two OF
the witnesses refused 20 be sworn !: one farmer
named O'Donnell, who said he never would return
to his family an infOrmer that his brother wa:
mixed up with the business that they might take
him out and put twenty bullets through him. bu
they would never get anything out of him. Tn,
other was young peasant named Shea, apparentI,
IN great desiIutlon-hisc clothes in rags and his face
botokcnlng hunger When the book was handed
TO him he refused it, and exclaimed. he ''wouldn'
swear against such gentleman, he wouldn't b.
gor" The Court explained to them that they
subjected themselves to Imprisonment for contempt
but they persisted in their determination and were
! placed In custody.