The Portland daily press., 1868-04-21
{ e U r. o e.
GREAT BRITAIN.

| LONDON, April 2O.-The trial of the Fenian
prisoners Dfsmonds, English, O'Kef, Barrett
and Ann Justice, who are accused OF having
| created the Cerkenwell explosion, came on
| Queens Bench, before Lord Chief Justice
| Cockburn and Judge BramweH. The prosecu-
| lion will be conducted by the Attorney and
| Solicitor General assisted by Mr.. Clifford. The
follow ng gentlemen will appear for the prison
ers: Leigh and Straight for Timothy Des-
monds, Keosh for English, Green for Barrett,
M. Williams for O'Kief and Ann Justice
All the prisoners will be tried together. The
jury has been sworn and the trial is now (uoon)
proceeding. The courtroom and approaches
hereto are densely crowded with people who
manifest great interest in the proceedings
Many policemen are present to preserve order,
| and the authorities have taken other extraor-
binary precautions. Burke and his fellow
| prisoners will be tried Immediately on conclu-
sion of the trial now proceeding; probably Fri
| day next. ~
LONDON, April 2o-Evening.-T Attorney
General opened the case for the prosecution.
He expected to prove that the crime of mur-
der had been committed on the person of a
woman, one of the victims of the explosion at
the ClerkenweH House of Detention; that
this explosion was directly broush t about by
the prisoners at the Bar, four of whom the tes-
tim0ny would show were members of Fenian
organization; tina; SAID explosion was part of
plot to facilitate the escape of Burke Fee
man leader confined in said house Of deten-
ton; that in the confusion produced by the
explosion Burke was to make his escape; that
fund of money was raised at Fenian meet
ing in Halborn to provide for the expenses of
the conspiracy; that all the prisoners in Court
were Immediately concerned in the atrocious
attempt, except, perhaps, the woman; that
the prisoners Barrett and Murphy Joined at
late date in the conspiracy; that mannamed
Fegan, who had not yet been arrested, was
known to have bought the powder for the use
of the conspiratoIs.
DhA l..
cuti0n of the plot was fixed for the 18th of De-
cember; Burke was to have been warned of
the lighting of the fuse outside by ball, which
was to be thrown over the wall into the prison
yard, where it was expected he would be exer-
cised with other prisoners. But the attempt
failed on that day. On the following day the
fuse was lighted by Barrett himself and the
cOnspirators succeeded in producing the uu.
fortunate explosion which caused the murder
tor which they are now on trial. A short time
before this event the woman, enn Justice, was
seen talking with the Desmonds, and she was
arrested after the explosion, while flying from
the scene in their company. The learned coun-
sci concluded by announcing that Vaughn
and Mullaney,. accompices in the crime, had
bee me Queens evidence, and would give their
testimony before the court, but he warned The
jury against accepting their evidence as con-
elusive unless sustained by other witnesses
produced by the Grown.
The witnesses for the prosecution were then
nature of the wounds received by deceased
Mu liney was then sworn.-He testified that
all the male prisoners were regular members
of the Fenian organization; that Barrett was
Fenian centre; that he held frequent consulta-
tons with Murphy who was an active agent
in the affair; that all The prisoners at the bar
were well acquainted with the plot in all its
details and that Barrett had boosted of being
| the man who fred the tram. sl7i-tla'i
In tire course of his testimony, witness refer
red to an Important letter written in invisible
| ink and addressed to Murphy. = q ss3a+ y
lnspector Thompson swore that the said
Murphy could not be found, but that the letter
spoken of was from Burke and contained de-
tails of plan to effect his release.
The court adjourned until tomorrow,
The courtroom was crowded up to the time
of adjournment, and q most intense interest
was taken in the trial by the people, especially
the inhabitants of Clerkenwe 80 .
The parliament re-assembled this evening
but after short sitting adjourned until to.
morrow. The proceedings in both houses WI. 8
unimportaut. EEEDGE IL
DUBLIN, April 20.-A grand review of the
forces IN and around this city took place to-
| day The troops were under command of his
| royal highness the Duke of Cambridge. The
Prince of Wales was present with a large and
| brilliant staff, and reviewed the troops, who
were all clad in new uniforms and made a fine
appearance. The display attracted a vast
crowd OF people, who covered the elevated
| grounds and buildings in the vicinity. M