New-York tribune., 1868-04-22
EUROPE.
GREAT BRITAIN.

GREAT BRITAIN.
THE CIERKESwELL EXPLoSloN-fH''i''' vi
THE TRIAL.
BTATdING RUMOR-A FENIAN Al .I,s ''AA-''-
BUCKINGHAM PALACL
-, ,~,,v-,o ~, .oHIPH THE TRBVh| .
49,, WEDNESDAY MoRNNG-2 o'clock
n alarming report has just been received al the
.rsDaner offices in this city. IL Is sald that TWO
- r,,,,nosol IN he Fenlans, were arrested at late
'. o. niobt near the servants door of Buckingham
palace They were carrying hamper which on
ha;D onened was found to contain gallon of liquid
nhosnborus or Greek Fire. The parties made a
esperate resistance, and were with difficulty secured
A third person, who was in company with those
hearing the basket fed as soon as the latter were
seized and escaped all pursuit
PARLIAMENT-DEBATE ON CAPITAL PUNISH
MENT.
In the House of Commons tonight bill requiring
al executions of criminals by hanging to be con-
Quoted in private was considered in Committee OF
the Whole. Mr.. Charles Gilpin, member for the
Borough of Northampton, moved an amendment
abolishing capital punishment. Mr.. Gregory and Mr.
Mill opposed the motion. Mr.. Mill, in the course OF
his speech against the amendment, SAID he was soiy
to place himself in opposition to those who desired 10
modify our criminal law. But, by their efforts the
application of the death penalty was now connheu
to cases of murder At this point he thought they
remain as the penalty for the commission OF the
highest crime known to the law. He deprecated the
change which was proposed from capital punishment
TO Imprisonment for life the latter punishment he
declared was torture of the most fearful character
The amendment moved by Mr.. Gilpin was lost, and
the original bill was agreed to by the Committee.
LONDON. April 21-EvENNG.-Tbe trial of the
Fenian prisoners charged with causing the
Clerkenwen explosion, was resumed at III
o'clock this morning. Mulaney, the lnfOfmer'
entered the witness box and was cross-examined by
the counsel for the defense. He testified that he had
acted as q Fenian Centerj boarded with Murphy,
and met at his house W. Desmond, one of the prison.
ers at the bar; meetings of the cOnsprators were
held at Murphys house on the I'd and 18th of Decem-
Der at which he was present; he was asked on both
occasions by English and the two DesmOnd's to 60
to the explosion. The Judge (interTuptinR), ques-
toned the witness as follows: Was the word expo-
sion used Witness reped-I don't know. Judge
You must answer, Yes or No. Witness-NO Witness
on further cross-examnaton stated that he had re-
solved to turn infoTmer, because he feared English
would offer himself Queens evidence, the latter
having threatened to do so. The crOss-eXamlnatlon
of this witness very long and protTacted.
Vaughn, the other lnformer was then called by the
counsel for the Crown, and was examined by the
Solicitor-General He testified that he joined the
order by I. Desmond. one of the prisoners on trial;
saw the same Desmond about noon on the day OF the
explosion, when Desmond informed him of the plot
for the release of Burke by blowing up the prison
wall. Witness swOre positively that the prisoners,
Barrett English, and the two DesmOnds were en-
gagged in the conspiracy. On cross-examination wit
ness said he was tailor by trade had been IN the
army; would not say whether he was desei yer !;
acknowledged that be was given TO drink, and might
have been out of his mind at times contradcted his
direct testimony by stating that he had never been
sworn into the Fenian order stated that his support
had been provided for by the police authorities since
his offer to give testimony and that he expected to
get the reward offered for revealing the conspiracy
A clerk and a carman in the employ of the Messrs.
Dealois powder dealers, were severally sworn, and
testified to the sale and delivery of the powder to one
of the consprators The Court then adjourned until
tomorrow morning.
THE CASE OF GEN. NAGLE.
The counsel for Gen. Nagle publishes card IN the
morning papers to-day, denying the published state
ment that Nagle had sailed for America He had not
even been released on the terms granted the other
prisoners Only two of the crew of the Jacmel
Packet were released on conditions of leaving the
country and they sailed for America from Queens
town on the 10th, as stated previously.