Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-13
From the San francisco Herald.
[ohn Mitchell. the Irish Patriot.

John Mitchell, the Irish Patriot.
The Irish exies of 1913 have never, as is well
known, admitted the validity Of their pretended
trials and convictions before juries packed by the
English government. They hold themselves cap
tyes in the hands of pirates, and haven scruples
in escaping out of the power OF their enemies,
whenever they can do so without violating their
parole of honor. an obligation which must be OBJ
served even with pirates. The last prisoner who
has escaped their clutches, and fled for refuge I'M
der the American flag, is John Mitchell, who ar
rived last evening, as we have stated, accompan-
led by his wife and children, they having about
two years ago followed him 10 his place OF bond
age The circumstances of his escape are briefly
these:
Mr.. p. J. Smyth. Of New York, himself rebel
of lSiSD went TO Van Diemen's Land with the ex-
press mission 10 rescue some one or more OF the
Irish State prisoners. Nothing could have been
easier than TO escape, il they could have thought
Of doing so clandestnely, and without regard 10
their promise; but in order TO discharge Them
selves Of that obligation they felt il necessary for
mally TO withdraw their parole before The proper
authority and present themselves TO be taken into
custody. The parole is to the effect that they
would not escape from the colony so long as they
held ssticket Of leave" which gave them spe-
cies of liberty within certain designated police
district but this ticket Of leave" is thing which
may al any time be taken away by The convict au-
thorities or resigned'by the prisoners.
Now, while Mr.. Smyth was in Van Dlemans
Land, and before any movement whatever was
made by any of the prisoners, the local govern
ment, by means of some Of their caves dropping
detectives, had learned his real views, and Mr..
Smyth was actually arrested, held in custody for
three days, and most ANONYMOUSLY abused, under
warrant directed against John Mitchell, Mr..
Smyth, in short, was taken for Mr. Mitchell, under
the false and insolent assumption that MrMitchel
was absconding, whilst he was all the time living
quietly at his cottage in Boutwell,, and was under
II
outrage on Mr.. Smyth, and an outrage hardly less
gross on Mr.. Mitchell. He now at length resolved
TO avail himself oil Mr. Smyth's offers of assist
ance, and leave the island not clandestinely, but
openly. Accordingly he wrote and despatched
the following note TO the Lieut.. Governor, Sir
Vim. Denison.
boutwell,. JMRs s, 1853
SIR: hereby resign the comparative liberty"
called itcket Of leave" and revoke my parole of
honor. | shall forwiih present myself before the
police magistrate of Boutwell, at his police Office,
show him this letter. and offer myselfto be taken
into custody. am, sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN mitchell.
The next day, the 9th June, Mr.. Mitchell and
Mr. Smyth rode ntogether TO the township of Both
well, went to the police-ofice door, dsmounted,
and walked in. They found the magistrate in his
room. The police clerk was with him; consta-
BILE was in the adjoining room, and another consta-
BILE was, as usual, on guard at the door, The police
barracL and watchhouse stand opposite. Arrived
in the magistrates room, Mr.. Mitchell handed him
an open copy of the above note, and requested
him 10 read il. The magistrate cast his eye over
il a moment, and then looked up TO Mr.. Mitchell,
who deliberately desired him 10 observe the pur-
port Of that note, and took the trouble of twice
explaining to him that the parole was at an end,
and that he had come 10 be taken into custody.
As the official seemed still either bewildered or
frightened, the two gentlemen put on their hats;
Mr.. Mitchell wished the magistrate good morn
ing, and they left the Office. Immediately when
they turned their backs the magistrate made
loud uproar, and he and some of the constabes
rushed out, calling on them TO stop, and command
ing every one to stop them. The constable on
guard, however, had his hands occupied in hold
ing TWO horses the other inhabitants OF the town
looked on laughing, and well pleased; and, in
short, the two fugitves mounted their horses and
rode of They found no necessity to use, or even
to exhibit arms, though both were well armed. AT
ter they left Boutwell, however, the true difficulty
commenced. Mr.. Smyth changed horses and
coats with Mr.. Mitchell, and then they parted, and
rode different ways through the forest. Boutwell,
is the central police district Of the island, and be-
tween il and the sea extend several lines ofpolice
stations to all Of which intelligence was instantly
conveyed by mounted express constables. Mr..
Mitchell remained six weeks after that day in the
island without beng able 10 get on board ship,
though one was Immediately placed at his service
by patriotic ship-owner of Sydney. After many
hundred miles riding, and in several DISCUSSES, he
at length got of, under an assumed name, in
British vessel, which at Tahiti was fortunately
overtaken by the American barque Julia Ann,
bearing his wife and family, under Mr.. Smyth's
escort, TO San Francisco. At Tahiti Mr.. Mitchell
was transhipped, and now stands free on Amer
lean soil.
Arrival of the Steamer America:-Later
from the Chfncha IsLands-The steamer America
arrived at New York on Friday morning, from As
pinwall, with $50 passengers, among them Capt.
w. C. Faulkner, bearer Of dispatches from Mr.
Clay, United States minister at Lima, TO the Sec
rotary of State concerning the Chncha Islands
difficulty.
The ship Defiance had sailed from Callao for
New York, under the command of Capt. McCer-
ran, who was slowly recovering from his wounds.
The Peruvian government had paid damages for
her detention, but the rest Of the matter remained
iIns afflad Il