The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-11-19

4 oTLcCHE> Of THE CONDEhNED.
The trial of the five Fenians who were er.
| gagged In the rescue OF Kelley and DeaseS al
Manchester. England, was concluded on the
30fh nit. They were arraigned on charge o.
numbering policeman Brett, who was killed
in the afiray. All were found guilty by the
jury. We make extracts from the corresno,
dence of the New York Times, relating to the
very striking and impassioned remarks oftbe
prisoners when asked the usual question, be-
fore receiving the death sentence. The cor
respondent says:
The speeches of the four Fenian prisoners
can give cerbdtin, so far as their words are
concerned; but no words can convey an idea
OF the courage, the heIoism, the devotion
with which these men met their fate. AL
lens looks deceived me- For boy of 19-
and he does not look older and one of ordi-
nary opportunities, he showed an extraordi-
nary spirit. There was not tremor in his
VOICE, which rang tull and clear through the
COURTROOM. | need not give all that was
saio, but in condensing the speeches I viii
give only the words ane phrases of the sneak
ers. 1856
l have only omitted portions relating to
testimony or otherwise unnecessary. Allen
said:
My Lords and Gentlemen: Your cues
tion IS one that can be easily asked, but other
and more eloquent men than am could not
answer 1t. Where are the men. Burke, EN-
NETT and others, who have stood in the dock
like me in defence OF their country? Noman
in this Court regrets the death OF Sergeant
Brett more than do, and positively say, in
the presence Of the Almighty and everything
God, that am iDnocent-aye, as innocent as
any man in this Court. / don't say this for
the sake OF mercy; / want no mercy-Pll
have no mercy. I'll die as many thousands
have died, for the sake of their beloved land.
and in defence of it. will die proudly and
triumphantly in defence of republican prln-
cples and the liberty of an oppressed and en-
slaved people. Is it possible we are asked
why sentence should not be passed upon us,
ON the evidence of prostitutes OF the streets
OF Manchester, fellows out of work, convict
ed felons-aye, an lrishman sentenced to be
hanged when an English dog would have got
off? say, positively and defantly, Justice
has not been done me since l was arrested
lfjustice had been done me, l would not nave
been handcuhed at the preliminary investga-
tion In Bridge street; and in the Court Justice
has not been done me in any shape or form.
As tor myself, feel the Righteousness Of ev-
cry act with regard to what have done In
defence of my country. l fear not. / am
fearless-fearless of the punishment that can
be inflicted on me; and with that my Lords,
l have done."
Gould, the finest looking, and, to appear
ance, the most intelligent man of the four
confessed Fenians, and one for whom an alibi
was sworn, said:
II shall commence by saying that every
witness who has sworn anything against me
has sworn to what Is false. have not thrown
stone to my recollection since was a boy.
had no pistol in my possession on the day
when this outrage was committed. You call
it an outrage don't. say further nv
name is Michael O'Brien. was born in the
county of Cork, and have the honor to be
fellow -parishioner of Peter O'Neil Crawley.
who was fighting against the British troops at
Mitchellstown last March, and who tell fight
ing against British tyranny in Ireland. am
citizen of the United States of America.
and II Charles Francis Adams had done his
duty towards me as he ought to do In this
country, would not be in this dock answer
ing your questions now Mr.. Adams did
not come, though I wrote to him. He did
not come to see if I could not ind
evidence to disprove the charge, which 1
positively could if he had taken the troub
OF sending or coming to see what could do.
hope the American people will notice that
part of the business. There is nothing in the
close of my political career which regret I
don't know OF one aat which could bring the
blush of shame to my face, or make me
afraid to meet my God or fellow man. L
would he most happy, and nothing would give
me greater pleasure than to die on the field
for my country in defence of her liberties.
As it is, cannot die on the field, but | can
die on the scaffold, hope, as a soldier, man
and a Christian