, 1876-12-01
pnni.l ocennelI.
a Lr,r rEhN rHE LtFT or rHR GEEAT
ruI-H CurN~TLoH.

In the " History 81 the Munster CIR
cut W. rad uf a trial that took place
un the cir.uii. m lS2D. uf several men
Who u.r. chargy-l. ON the information
Il spy named Huiy. Oi having con
spir,-,l 20 mur,l,r certain landlords who
r,side,l near Dun.raile. Four mefl were
first tried. and. having been found gull.
". we're sentenced To death. aud the
others were set aside for trial. Little
hops vas entertained 10y their friends
and relations. as IL was we'll known the
juries were packed by friends Of the
government. In this extremity their
only hopes rested in the advocacy OF
Daniel O'Connell.
II would be difficult to magnify the
terror which seized the relatives Of the
men yet untrIed, when the fate of the
tirst batch Of the prisoners was thus
sealed. They were aware of the infam-
GUS character Of the spies and inform
ants, and knew that no scruples of con-
science would restrain these hardened
catiffs from what they called swearing
up to the mark so as to obtain con-
victions for the crown. There was only
one resource for the relatives-only ONT
barrier between the remaining prisoners
and the halter this was the skill and
legal acumen of the greatest criminal
lawyer on the Munster circuit, Daniel
OConnell. Fortunately he was at Der
rynane, his country seat, in the county
OF Kerry but that was ninety miles
away, and there he was advertised to at
tend meeting of the people of Kerry,
In Tralee, respecting the sub-letting
acts, on Tuesday. But his advocacy
was the only chance for the untried
men, and on the Saturday the judges
did not go into court until late hour.
The solicitor-general, considering that
the trial of the next batch of prisoners
would encroach on the Sunday, pro-
posed to adjourn over until Monday
morning. Mr.. Mccarthy endeavored to
ascertain the names of the prisoners
who would be tried next, but this the
solicitor general could motor would
not-disclose. The crown, he said, had
determined to try every one of the pris.
oners, and as the same evidence
which already procured the conviction
OF the four was applicable to all, the
fears of the prisoners and their friends
were naturally at their greatest height.
Under these circumstances, a young
farmer named Burke, brother of one
of the prisoners, resolved to ride to
Derrynane and request O'Connen to
come of, at once, to Cork, SO as to act
for the defense on the ensuing Monday.
He undertook to be at Derrynane early
on the next morning, and, at five o'clock
on that Saturday afternoon, mounted ON
q strong horse of powerful action and
endurance, he started on his er-
rand for life or death. On be sped,
needless of the coming night, the lonely
road. the bleak winds, the pelting rain.
A bright, genial sun shone over the
Wild, rock-bound coast scenery of Der
rynane So OConneil looked forth from his
mountains home by the billowy sea on
that October Sunday morning. He
looked over the splintered peaks of his
beloved Kerry mountains, and, after re-
turning, heard the morning mass in his
private chapel in the house. He was sit
ting at breakfast, when he was told =" O
man. who appeared to have come long
way, desired to see him." O'Connell saw
from his window that the man had ar
rived on horseback; and the steaming
1anks, the dropping head, and chest
f1ecked with foam, confirmed the ser
wants notion that the man had indeed
come long journey. The rider was at
once admitted into the library. Ad-
dressing O'Connell, he said ~ left
Cork last evening at five o'clock, and ]
rode ninety miles to see you, counselor.
The friends of the prisoners yet untried
for the DoDeraile conspiracy sent me for
you. If you don't undertake their de-
fense, Doherty will hang them all.
There's hundred guineas for you, and
if you'll come they'll be safe if not,
they'll be hanged" O'Connen was not
proof against this compliment, which
expressed such confidence in his pro-
fessional skill. Though half q century
had sped since he was born, he was hale
and vigorous. Heaccepted the retainer,
and promised to start at once for Cork.
Burke then expressed his wish to go
with the good news, but O'Connell i'm
plored, him, in compassion to his good
horse, if not to himself, to take food and
rest. In case that Burke might reach
Cork before himself, O'Connen wrote
short note to the prisoners attorney, in
forming him ''he would attend to defend
the remaining prisoners, as fast as horse
could draw him." and then, after few
hours rest, elated at his success, Will
liam Burke commenced his return Jour
ney. Eager looks were cast on the road
to Kerry from an early hour on that
Monday morning. When Burke was
deserted, the question What news,
William" came from many a tongue.
The response. "O'Connell will be here
in an hour" elected shout that rang
through the morning air. The joyous
news pierced the barred dungeons, and