New-York tribune., 1866-12-05
TIE FENLAES.

THB PRISONERS IN oAEADA-THB GRAND JURY IN d.
LIBERATION ON THEIR cAsEs UNTIL ooLoOK-
THEY ARK EXPECTED TO BR ARRAIGSRD TO-DAY
EXCITING sCEERS IN FBgIAE PRISON LIPB-A
FIGHT AND ATTEMPT TO BUBE THE JAIL.
sr TELEGRAPH TO rnH TRIBUNE
SwEETsBURG, Dec. 4-Ihe Cont opened this morning
at 10 oclOck and has beon occupied all day with the trial
Of Emery Chamberlain, for murder committed ID the
township of Potion the ID of August last IL adjourned
at Al O'Clock without having finished this case, which viii
probably occupy the whole OF tomorrow.
Mr. Deylin Of Montreal counsel for tho Feninn prso-
nerS, arrived here this morning Gen. AVenll United
States Consul-General for British Amouea is expected
here tomorrow afternoon 10 watch the TRIALS on behalf Of
his Government. The Grand Jury had the indictments
against the Fcnian prisoners submitted TO them at II
O'Clock this forenoon and at work on them till
O'Clock They will probably make their presentment to-
VIA Sna @ tng s1 ounse m ready 20
proceed az once with the trials, which, 1t Is be-
lisved, will commence on Thursday afternoon, as
the murder case will then have been disposed Of
The whole Of Thursday WILL in all probability be
pied with legal Arguments It understood that the
cepton TO the jurisdiction Of the Court contends that pro-
vncal courts not competent TO try charges Of high
treason Counsel will object Also IL Is said to the act
under which they to be tried coneDdng that 1t Is not
within the power of parliament OF mere dependency Of
the Empire to enact laws defining what shall constitute
high treason And thirdly IL will be urged that the pfs
oners cannot be tried under post fdcfo law The
oonses committed in June, and the act In its pres
ent shape did not become law until the 18th OF August
the of June having been amended and superseded by
another subsequently introduced.
The prisoners had lively time this afternoon. Two OF
them, Crawford and Dan Cohurn, had fight in the
Fenian ward and Coburn, who is powerfully built man,
punished his antagonist badly They began the fight with
lists and finally COburn knocked the other down and
kicked him In the face, damaging his nose and nearly
knocking out Of his eyes with the toe Of his boot
The difficulty according to one story arose out OF dis
cusson between the two to which had rendered tho
greater service to the Fenan Craword version
Of 1t is that the subject of dispute whether the parties
who attempted to kdnap George Sanders were acquitted
or not
BE says also that the difficulty was aggravated by q
reference to old gambling transaction IN which Cobn
had lost some money 70 HIM CSoSfn % aPpeo % 20 MIN
Tho Jaior and hs assistants having entered the ward
secured Coburn and removed him 70 solitary cell, in
another part of the Jail where he will be fed On bread and
water, and deprived of his allowance Of tobacco.
Scarcely had this affair been disposed Of when 1t was
followed by new eXciiment About quarter OF an
hour aerward the Jaior entered the ward to lock up
the prsonefs for the night he found the door Of an inner
compartment Of the ward shut opening IT, he discev
cred Of the prisoners Thomas Madden in the very act
apparently Of attempting TO set fire 70 the jail He had
filled of the tin used coffee cups with burning
Goals from the stove and had II set the floor under the
ashpan The theory is that he wanted to set 6re to the
floor probably that no was to carry the Goals to his
cell and set fire 70 the bed clothes IN the hope that in the
confusion caused BY alarm of fire the prisoners might
succeed in efectIng escape Maddcns story that no
Orders have been given that 10 future two three
policemen shall in the ward with tho prisoners 70
preserve order aud prevent the repetition Of any attempt
AZ incendiarism.
All Is quiet IN the village There are very few strangers
from tho United States Pcrhapsthere will be when
the trials commence Meanwhile the capabilities OF this
and the neghbonng village Of Cowdcrsv1o 10 provide
board and sleeping for the crowd of officials military
officers policemen and others who have been attracted
here By Che TRIALS, are taxed to tho very utmost.
THR PBEIAEs IN BUFFALO DRrLbING--ARMs RETURNED.
BIT TkLEGRGPE
BUFFALO, Dec. 4.-Fenan military companies pa
-ading the streets with banners and music. Tho
which seized by the United States steamer Michigan
turing the raid last Summer it is announced TO be de
iyered 10 tho owners at O'Clock p Tho bonds re-
aim "a
morning FeniQns constantly drilling by companies IN
iiferent parts Of the city and ncighborhood.