The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-07-31
! VOLUME Ill.
| Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.

Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
sEw oaIz4Ns. SUNDAY. JULY 81. ls7S.
Irish Prisoners In English Jails.
No person with heart susceptible to the
slightest human sympathy can read with
ont righteous indignation the treatment
which the unfortunate Fenian prisoners
have received at the hands of their brutal
Britiah jailers. Every step since the con-
yiction of these men has been One of cow
ardly timidity alternated with acts which
challenged the scrutiny OF tie world, as if
IN defiance Of those humanizing influences
which are supposed to govern men in a
state Of civilization. First, there was what
was designated as q pardon, which fell so
far short Of what was expected, that it
only exasperated by its Partially. Then
there was the gloss neglect of just COM
plants made in and out of Parliament
against the prison officials for barbarous
treatment of the prisoners. That the most
Astounding falsehoods were told by some
of these officials, is beyond all doubt, for
for men have died mad whom they repre-
.sentedas in their sound senses, and men
have died of disease whom they represent
cd as in good health, and men have been
subjected to the most odious treatment,
which was pertinaeiously denied. For such
grpss and scandalous conduct no punish
4 snsnt can be Too severe. 1sle iegRe q the
Hoyaa Commission ~ en- 3
complaints against ths jail othciais were
too serious to be ignored any longer. But
that commission committed a gross act of
injustice in the issue of it's first regulations
for conducting the inquiry, and also in the
delay in notifying the time and place at
which the investigation was to be conduct
ed, until it became q moral impossibility
for the friends of the prisoners to attend.
With regard to the last matter, Mrs.
4 O'Donoyan Rosa has published letter in
the Dublin Freeman's Journal, showing a
prevarication unparalleled in the annals Of
official correspondence. 1t is too long for
insertion, but we can only state that a
favorable response was made to her first
application to be permitted to aid her hus-
band in his statements to be placed before
the commission, and that through system
until only one day remained before the
opening of the commissioned, when, having
returned to Ireland in disgust and despair,
y dispatch from the Government reached
her, granting what could no longer be
awaited of.
But q still more iniquitous case remains
to be stated. A man whose real name was
Darragh, but who was entered in the prison
list, and prosecuted, convicted and SEN
fenced as Pherson Thompson, was tried
for taking part in the rescue at Manchester,
which led to the violent death of the police
officer in charge of the prison Black Maria.
Against the evident leaning of the charge
of the Judge, who declared that he never
saw an aAbi more thoroughly snbstanti-
ated, the prisoner was convicted and sen
fenced to death. That sentence was COM
muted to imprisonment for life. The-an=
fortunate man was confined in Milbank
1srison, where he complained of bad treat
meat. No regard was paid to his repre-
sefisations. His health broke down, and
soOn he yielded up his spirit, which British
tyranny could no longer confine. He made
but one request--in dying, he begged that
his remains should be taken to his OWL
fondly loved Ireland, and buried among
his own kindred. He was assured that this
: Hast wish should be gratifed, and he died
in peace. In pursuance of this wish and
promise, the governor of the prison teie-
graphed to the friends, who last saw the
deceased at Portland, that Thompson was
no more, and that the arrangements TO,
removing the body should be made without
delay. A telegram in return announced
that the requisite steps would at once be
taken. Thereupon the undertaken received
his Instructions, and guarantee was given
thatall expenses should be betrayed by those
taking charge of the remains. Then came
another telegram from Portland, stating
that the remains could not be delivered
without an undertaking that there should
be no political procession or display at the
funeral, and that the body should b
4