Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-02
TIIE COYDEMNED FENIANs.


The Toronto Globe gives the following
sketches of the history Of the Fenian pris-
oners under sentence Of death in that city;
ROBERT B. LYNCH was born in Galway,
we understand, In 1918. He was at one time
chief clerk in the Department Of the Board
of Charitable Donations and Requests, Dub
lin Castle, and retained that post from 1887
! 10 1912, when he is said to have emigrated
TO the United States. He then engaged in
| business In ST. Louis for time, but left there
! in l849, and Travelled 10 many Of the lead
| ing cities in the South American Republics
and West Indies. he subsequently Joined
the American army, and was Quartermaster,
with the rank Of Major, in the Twenty
| fourth Wisconsin volunteers. During the
latter part Of the war he was chief clerk,
with the rank Of Major in the Discharge
Department Of Louisville. Subsequently,
he says, he came to Canada under the di-
rection Of Adiutant General MCDERMoT Of
the Fenian Brotherhood Of Louisville, Kyy
to report the Fenian campaign in Canada.
This is the prisoners account of himself but
we have heard other versions Of his career,
which assigned him a residence Of some
years in Western Canada.
Rev. JOHN MCMAHON was born in the
county of Monaghan, Ireland, about 1920,
and is consequently forty-six years old. he
studied for the ministry, according to his
statement in the University Of st. Mary's,
Chicago, and after serving as a priest in va
rious parts was lately appointed to Ander-
sonville, Madison county, Indiana. He
was priest of parish there until the time of
his arrest at Fort Erie, on the morning Of
the Sd Of June.
WHAT THE CATHOLIC PRIEST, REV. MR.
MMAHoN, SAID ON HIS CONVICTION IN
CANADA.
The following were the remarks made by
the Rev. Mr.. MCMAHON, on being asked
why sentence Of death. should not be pro-
nounced upon him
His Lordship-JoHM MCMAHON, have
you any thing TO say why the sentence Of
the court should not now be passed upon
you for the felony of which you have been
convicted?
The prisoner Whose vOice was first low
and broken, but afterward frmer and more
distinct) addressed the court as follows: Ac-
cording TO the testimony given against me,
il it was true, l would have nothing to say,
my Lord but do declare here that / am
unjustly charged and convicted. L am not
guilty. At the time that MILLIGAN and
SULLIVAN swear that / was at Fort Erie,
before you and God, and all present, was
in Buffalo. / was honestly going on my
journey to Montreal and l am not guilty.
| beg your Lordship's pardon if l say any
thing that is not pleasant and agreeable. If
l was guilty | would submit but if you
execute me, my blood will cry to Heaven
for vengeance upon those that is the cause
of my death innocently. / was going after
my brothers affairs TO Montreal. / left my
own house at half past seven o'clock on
Wednesday, the Both of May last, to go on
that journey. / took the railroad car at
eight o'clock, went to bed, came on my way
straight, and arrived at ten o'clock on Fri
day night, the 3lst of May in Buffalo. /
went 70 the Franklin House. stopped there,
had bed and breakfast, went to visit my
friends, MAURICE VAUGHN and his brother
DAN. VAUGHN. 1t was the moment &c nine
o'clock when l crossed over OF the ferry
boat on my way TO Montreal / was look
ing for the railroea office to get a ticket, but
what with enc excitement and-land here
his wori.s were inaudible)-so | am innO-
cent, my Lord. | cannot plead guilty. |
I'm innocent. (The prisoner, whose language
we have given as uttered, spoke with a
strong Irish "brogue," and showed himself
by his language to be an illiterate man.
LETTER FROM ROBERT BLOSs LYNCH, THE
CONDEMNED FENIAN-How HE CAME TO
BE IN CANADA.
On the trial Of Mr.. LYNCH, the following
letter was read by his counsel, Mr.. CARRIE
GAN:
MILITARY PRISON, ToRoNTo, July 4,
1S66.-My Dear Mr.. Kerr j received yours
Of the Goth ult., and l assure you | was
much pleased to hear from You, for / am not
unmindful of your many kind acts to me,
and the interest you took in my welfare.
Had taken your advice | would not be in
the predicament l am now placed in. But
! had not the slightest idea that / could be
interfered with, having gone into Canada as
n peaceable American citizen, without any
hostile intention whatever, never having
carried arms or done anything to offend a
man, woman or child in Canada; they are
our own race and people, and they never
done anything TO me. But being out of en-
ployment, | accepted the offer of Mr.. Nc
DERMoT to 60 as correspondent.
81 did not correspond any from the fact
that the Fenians were some eight or ten
miles in The country fighting, when was
arrested at Fort Erie l suppose you seen
an account Of the skirmish at place called
Ridgeway, or Iron Ridge. 1t was madness
for their leaders to have taken them there.
Some seven hundred and fifty or eight hun
bred men, to fight not alone the militia and
the regulars, at least 1900 strong, but the
Canadian people were up to a man in oppo-
sition 10 them If they counted on any aid
from the people of Canada, you must have
observed how much they were deceived.
Nothing | could say could convey to you the
indignation Of all classes of Canadians at
this Fenian raid into their country. But l
will more fully give you an account of it
when have the pleasure Of seeing You.
"Nour faithful friend,