New-York tribune., 1868-05-07
THE CLERKENwELL TRIALS.

OLD BAILEY LONDON, April 22 1868.
If the five prisoners now in the box and
taking their trial for wifu murder upon no
stronger evidence than thus far been adduced against
them il will be a disgrace TO the twelve Engllshmen who
compose the jury First Of all, we have the informer
Mullany who admits that he not only Fenian, but
Center thatjhs house the home OF Centers VISIT
ing London that himself subscribed ten shllings for
the express purpose buying the powder used to create
the explosion that the only reason he did not take an
active part in the conspiracy was because he had family
who required his support ana that ne mas now TURNED
apprOyer order escape from the halter himself ana
that he expects 70 be allowed to rcjOn his family as
consideration for having sworn away the lives OF his for
After Muilany comes James Vaughan, who swears TO
good character for himself He says he has several times
been lOdger in the ST. James wOTkhOuse that he has
twice been confined In madhouse with attacks OF de-
and took an oath to serve Her Majesty Queen Victoria
but deserted from the service that he aerwad became
Fenian and knew some of the prisoners and that the
day after the explosion In consequence of large reward
being offered for their apprehension he thouglt w0ndDe
good opportunity Tor HIM 70 obtain pardon ior Ms oese
the reward. For these reasons he now tells all he
he knew consisted OF the fact that he had been himself
sworn in Fenan by Timothy Desmond and that on tue
doV Of te explosion he saw and conversed with VIII
liam Desmond and Keefe, and that they told him what
had been done at Clerkenwel and asked MIN 10 give
ton Vaughan said that since he first gave Information
the police he had done work. but he had been IN
vaughan e IS the meanest specimen OF lis race
have seen; the jury ought not TO believe one word
that he has said against the prisoners think every un
preiudced in court 10 the conclusion that one
Of the chief witnesses for the Crown against these uno
tunate would be quite willing to swear away the le
! OF any feOW-creatuie for consideration winch would
relieve him from the necessity Of working honestly for
his bread. The remainder OF the evidence adduced yes
erday was Of trng character that the ChiefJustce
more than expressed his surprise that was Thought
necessary 10 record ~ IN one case the ianuiauR O =
beerhOuse in the neighborhOOd OF Clerkenweu Prison
swore that two men, very much resembling Desmond and
English had been IN her house for refreshments Two or
three times during the week OF the explosion 7!
Two three other women were sworn, who had, when
first shown the prisoners utterly len 70 recognLe any
Of them but, upon second or third ntfoalcuon s1ed
upon Of them men whom they had seen visit the
houses In Soho 10 which the powder from Curtis &
Havey's" was delivered Another woman felt almost
sure she had Barrett standing at corner OF the
street next the prisoner about three days before the ex
posiOn Apart from that Of the infOrmers, the most
a man named Allen who resides in the country, and
in London on business on the day the explosion
afternoon he saw barrel by the Prison wall three
with 10; two left, one Of whom resemDed Nlllam
Desmond Although he would not swear 70 him. the last
who left the barrel was to the best OF his knowledge
Michael Barrett He says further that Barrett wore his
nOw and this agrees with some other accounts
10 a change In that respect about the same
TO this time by any other evidence which ! thihk
honest men should credit will probably hang Michael
Barrett. Poor misguided mistaken Barrett he will have
the sympathy OK al VINO nave seen MN ia court or even
If he did delude himself that he was ngh IN engaging in
the foolish plot his cOuntenance bears the stamp of real
nobility especially If cOntrasted with the wTetcbes who
yesterday did their best 10 swear his life away.
The evidence against Timothy Desmond seems 70 con-
meet him closely with similar attempt the pre-
yious day. which failed II he is hanged, It will be Tor
having tried do that in which others unfortunately
succeeded Assuming that the jury Will give the evidence
fair consideration, / should say that William
Desmond. O'Keefe and Ann Justice viii be acquitted
The certainly must be unless she is 10 suffer for
having spoken 70 OF the outside the prison,
for having brought out letter from Burke which letter
it proved had TO be subjected TO chemical anay
before any words connected with this conspiracy APP
peared Then you have to take II for granted that let
Ter which Is not produced and which Is only sworn to by
an nfOrmer is the letter which she
brought from the prison. The young counsel
who appears for the prisoners are working hard
and doing their best but IL becomes and more
parent each day the trial proceeds that 1t great
misfortune these prisoners and for the cause OF i'm
partial Justice that does not furnish them with
the means obtain competent legal assistance During
the trial today Sir Pollock the exChiefBaron OF En-
gland occupied a seat on the bench next 10 the Lord
ChiefJustice. The trials will occupy the whole OF the
ureaeut week.