The Evansville journal., 1868-04-21
EUROPE.
BY ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.
Trial of Fenian Prisoners.

j f6T6 EGLAND. THT =
LONDON, April 20.-The trial Of the
Fenian prisoners, Desmond, English,
O'Keefe. Barrett and Ann Justice,
accused Of causing the ClerkenWeIl
explosion, commenced to-day, before
Chief Justice -COckburn. aud Justice
Bromwell. The prosecution is con-
Quoted by the Attorney and Solicitor
Generals, and Alr. Clifford IS counsel
for the prisoner Arsleigh. Mr.
Straight for Desmond, Mr. Keough
for English Mr.. Green. for Barrett,
and Mr. Williams For L0iKeefe and
Ann Justice They will all be tried
together. A Jury has been sworn,
and the trial Is proceeding. The
court room and approaches are crowd
.edg Many polieemeuare present.
The trial of Burke and his fellow
prisoners will probably commence on
i trlday,TT sTfral evil s+fdW
The Attorney General opened the
case for the prosecution. He expect
ed to prove that the crime of murder
had been committed upon the person
Of a woman, one of the victims Of the
explosion at the ClerkenWell House
OF Detenti0n; that this explosion.
was directly brought about by the
prisoners az the bar, four of whom,
the testimony found, were members
of Feuian organization; that the
said explosion was part Of aplOt to
aid in the escape of Burke-of a-Ke--
nian leader detained In said House of
Detention;8 that In the con fusion pro-
dueed By the explosion Burke was to
make. his escape; s. that a fund Of
money was raised at a Fenian meet
ing In Holborn to provide for the exs
penses Of the conspiracy; that AL the
ipnisoners Ia the court were immedi-
ately concerned in the attempt, ex-
cept. perhaps, the woman Ann JUS
tice, but that the prisoners Barrett,
aud Murphy Joined at late date in
the conspiracy; that a man named
was known to have bought the pow
der for the use Of the conspirators.
The Attorney General continued
The execution of the plot was fixed
for the 18th Of December; Burke was
to be warned of the lighting of the
fuse. outside by a ball which was to
be thrown over the wall into the
prison yard, where it was expected he
would be taking exercise with the
other prisoners, but the attempt
. failed on that day. On the following
day the fuse was lighted by Barrett
himself, and the conspirators sue
ceeded in producing the unfortunate
explosion which caused the murder
fer which. they were now on trial a
short time before this event the
woman Ann Justice, was seen talking
with the Desmonds, and she was ar
rested after the explosion, while fly
ing from the scene IN their company.
The learned counsel concluded by an
nounclng that Vaughn and MullOney,
accomphces IN he crime, had become
Queen 5 evidence, and would givetheIr
testimony before the Court, but ne
warned the jury against accepting
their evidence as conclusive, unless
sustained by the other witnesses pro-
duceG 6y the Grown. The witnesses
Ior the prosecution were then called !;
formal testimony was taken as to the
nature of the wounds received by the
deceased.
Mulloney was then sworn. He tes-
tilted that all the male prisoners were
regular members Of the Fenian or
ganiZation; Barrett was q Fenian
Center; held frequent consultations
with Murphy. who was an active
age Mt IN the affair He testified that
all the prisoners at the bar were well
acquainted with the plot in its details,
and that Barrett had boasted of being
the man who fred the train.
In The course Of his testimony the
witness referred to an important let
far .r--sF-r,, -, - v-fsi bla ia L and al {
dressed to Murphy. -
Inspector Tho1mpsoh sw0re that
/ Murphy could not be found, but that
I the letter spoken Of was from Burke,
and contained a plot for his escape,
! The Court then adjourned until to-
morrow. The Court room was crowd
| ed with spectators until adjournment.
The most intense interest was taken
IN the trial by the people, especially
] the Inhabitants Of ClerkenWel.