The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-16

in Ireland, redoubled his activity He and
Cokayne were Hospitality received by Mr..
MacNally, a barrister, who took a foremost
place in defending prisoners arraigned for
high treason. Through this gentleman, an
arrangement was effected for the introduction
Of Jackson to Archibald Hamilton Rowan.
The letters addressed by Stone TO Horne
Tooke and DR.. Crawford had never been
delivered, and they now served as
certificates of Jac1son's fidelity to "the
cause" A long and anxious deliberation en-
sued in Rowan's ''lodgings" in Newgate
Jackson used all means of persuasion to induce
Wolfe Tone to proceed as the envoy of the
Irish republicans to Paris. Tone hesitated.
and at last persstently refused He hinted
something about five hundred pounds, but
Jackson replied that the "French nation was as
generous as brave" This did not satisfy
Tone. Then DIR. Reynolds was appealed to,
also in vain; and at last Jackson penned those
two reports on public feeling in England and
Ireland, which condemned him.
But almost from the moment of his landing
in England, every movement made by Jackson
was known to the Government. Cokayne fur
nished Pitt with complete copies of Jackson's
correspondence. The more recent letters were
written as if in reference to a lawsuit in which
Jackson was engaged, but Cokayne possessed
the key and sold it. He assured Mr.. Pitt that
he was induced to bstray his friend through
motives of the purest patriotism, but he said
something more. Alleging that Jackson owed
him debt of six hundred pounds, which he
could not afford to lose, he reasoned that if
Jackson should be executed through his in
formation, the debt would never be recovered.
William Pitt understood the hint and the man.
He assured Cokayne he should be no loser by
his patriotism. From that hour Cokayne ac-
companied Jackson as his shadow. He never
left his side. Every letter, document, or word
of Jackson's was Immediately communicated to
Government. The moment the paper on the
state of Ireland was penned, and placed in
Cokayne's hands to be copied like the rest for
transmission through the post Office, Cokayns
conveyed it-wbile Jackson slept-to Mr..
Hamilton. Private Secretary to the Lord
Lieutenant. He took press copy of the
original, and then returned it to Cokayne,
directing him to post it in the usual way.
The letter was, by order, intercepted, and
then the authorities struck the meditated
blow.
The arrest was made, and Jackson was
lodged in the Jail at Newgate, on the 2Sth of
April, 1894. The indictments were not for
mally laid until the 23d of June. On the Both
of June Jackson pleaded "Not Guilty"
Then the trial was deferred until
the 7th of November. 1t was
again postponed to the 10th of January,
1885,, and once more to the 23d of April.
Nearly year had elapsed from the arrest of
Jackson, and so long delay was unusual in
those troubled times. 1t was expected pro-
baby, that in the interval some damnatory
evidence might be procured against Hamilton
Rowan and others suspected of completely
with Jackson's design. But Hamilton Rowan
escaped from Newgate in November 1894,
through the agency of government informer,
and then, at length, preparations were made
for Jackson's trial.
The court was formed of the Earl of Clon-
NELL Lord Chief Justice of the Queens Bench,
Mr.. Justice Downes, and Mr.. Justice Chamber
lain. Mr.. Justice Bond was absent. The
names of the leading counsel for the accused
are remarkable in Irish history. Amongst
them are found those of John Philpott Curran,
George Ponsonby, L. MacNally, and Thomas
Adds Emett. The case from the first was
clear against the prisoner. There were the
letters and reports, originals and copies. 1t
was proved, indeed, that Cokayne swore his
last deadly information before the privy
council under menace FROM the Lord Chief
Justice. "Remember, sir, you are in our
power as to committing you If you do not
swear The case against the prisoner
| hinged upon the evidence of CoEayne;
but the court decided that in Ireland
one witness was sufficient to condemn
a man of treason, though two were
required in England. At o'clock in the
morning of the 26th of April the jury found
Jackson guilty" They recommended him to
mercy; but the Lord Chief Justice exclaimed
that they had done so ''only" through com
passion! a plea not influential with such a
! Judge. Turning to the Tailor, who stood be-
side the condemned, he said, "Jailor, take that
man away, and let him be brought up here in
four days"
The four days slowly but surely passed hour
by hour away, and then, on the morning of the
Both of April, Jackson was conveyed to the
Court of Kings Bench to hear his doom pro-
nounced. He had made some illusions to
suicide, and therefore was guarded strictly.
His food was always cut in pieces for him, the
| TAILOR fearing to entrust him with knife and
fork. "The man who did not fear death, I" said
Jackson, "can never want the means Of dying.
So long as his head is within reach OF the
prison-walls, he can prevent his body being
suspended to scare the community" A par
tisan of the Government of the day saw Jack.
son as he passed on his way to the Court
This person remarked to one of JackHon'G
counsel, 81 always said Jackson was coward,
and | am not mistaken. His fears have made
him sick. observed him, as the coach drove
by, with his head out of the window, vomiting
violently" His friend hurried to the court
only to witness a most appalling scene
Jackson's frame quiVered, rather than trem
bled, but his mind was firm and collected still
With clammy and nerveless fingers he tried
to press the hands of his counsel and
sadly smiling, whispered the words Of Pierre
"We have deceived the Senate" The Chic
Justice perceiving the condition of the pri
soner, thought of remanding him, but the At
torney- General prayed for judgment. TheI
"the Reverend William Jackson was set for
ward" All eyes were directed towards him
His body teemed with profuse perspiratiOn, tn,
steam rose from his hair, the muscles of his fac,
| II,