The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-10

The Bright Reformers and Fenians-Case of
the Convict Barrett and the Alibi Memorial.
LONDON, May Q, 1868.
The memorial forwarded to the Home ONCE by Mr.
John Bright, M. p. and other reformers and human
tarans, claiming and ;ng that an aliof clearly
made out in favor of the Fenian Barrett, convicted
OF the murder Of Mary Ann Hodgkinson by the
Clerkenwell explosion, received due attention from
the government.
Further inquiries by the Home Secretary disprove
the claim Of the petitioners, however, and the last
penalty OF the law by hanging, will be duly carried
out on the prisoner.
Barrett was sentenced to death by the Lords JUS
tices Of the Queens Bench at the Central Criminal
Court in this city, tie 9th Of April after having
made the defence that he employed at his trade
as shoemaker in Glasgow, Scotland, on the day Of
the explosion at Cerkenwell prison. One Of his
witnesses that Barrett read the account Of the
event to him and other persons in Barretts shop in
Scotland next morning
The prisoner addressed the court before receiving
sentence In the OF his speech he said at s
useless for me to enter into protesatons OF inno-
cence, being fully aware that no declaration OF mine
will have the slightest tendency to prevent your Lord
ship from following the course you have determined
upon. But this and Will most solemnly de-
clare-there is who more deeply commise-
earnestly deplores the fatal consequences. No; am
not to rejoice misery find pleasure in the
suferings of my fellow creatures, the statement Of
Mulany even to the contrary. Even him
/ can forgive, though his sufferings may
not be so great as he deserves l would wish
to correct an inference that has been made here
that was in London at the time OF the explosion.
There never was greater mistake than to give me
credit for such undertaking as that explosion 1t
was utterly absurd to suppose so, being as am,
total stranger to acts OF daring; and If 1t be attributed
to the Fenian organization then 1t becomes more
ridiculously absurd. In the city of London, accord
ing to Sir Richard Mayne ami the Pau Mau Gazette,
there are 900 armed Fenians and that they should
have to send to Glasgow to do this work, and there
to select person Of no higher condition and no
greater abilities than the humble person who now
addresses your Lordshlp is q stretch OF imagination
which the dsordered minds OF the affrighted officials
could alone be capable Of entertaining"
The Chief Justice In passing sentence on Barrett
sad:-"The jury after mature deltberation, have
pronounced their verdict, and in the propriety Of
that verdict fully concur There may be dlscrepan-
cies 10 the evidence there always are in some Of
the statements in a case " this kind; but the main
points OF the case have been abundany established
and 1 am glad that In the protestations you have
made Of your innocence there has been attempt
on your part to repeat that part OF your defence
which rested on the alleged fact Of your being in
Glasgow when the explosion took place in London"
The Judge did not name the day for his execution.
More Fenian Trials-No Royal Betrothal.
Messrs. Nugent and O'Connor, Of the Jacmel (Fe
miami PACKET prisoners, not released, as re-
ported. They still in confinement, and will be
The betrothal Of the Crown Prince of Denmark
with the Princess Louise of England Is denied.