The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-10-12
DANIEL O'CONNELL,
A I,onf from the Life Of the crent IrI,l
-. e. Counselor. ..H- "....

| cuib We rohu OF trlal that took place
on the circuit, in 1920, of several men
who were charged, on the information
OF a spy named DAILY, of having con-
spired to murder certain landlords who
resided near Doneraile. Four men were
first tried, and, having been found
guilty, were sentenced to death, ard the
others were set aside for trial. Little
hope was entertained by their friends
and relations, as it was we'll known the
Juries were packed by friends of tie
government. In this extremity their
only hope rested in the advocacy of
Daniel O'Connell. .... .r.r..
It would be difficult to magnify the
terror which seized the relatives of the
men yet untried, when the fate of the
first batch of the prisoners was thus
sealed. They were aware of the infa-
nous character of the spies and inform
ers, and knew that no scruples of con-
science would restrain these hardened
catiffs from what they called swearing
mp to the mark so as to obtain con-
victions for the crown. There was only
one resource for the relatives-only one
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
O'Connell. 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 ba' ch of prisoners
would eneroach on the Sunday, pro-
posed to adjourn over until Monday
morning. Mr.. NJ Carthy 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-
cners, and as the came 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
h"hC, ohu lCHu0bb " SOuutll W
come off, 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, aud, at five o'clock
on that Saturday afternoon, mounted on
a strong horse of powerful action and
singular endurance, he started on his er-
rand for life or death. On he sped,
needless of the coming night, the lonely
road, the bleak winds, the pelting rain.
bright, genial sun shone over the
wild, rock-bound coast scenery Of Derry
name as O'Oonnell looked forth from his
mountain 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 hou"e. He was sit
ting at breakfast, when ho was told ga
man, who appeared to have come long
way, desired to see him." O'Connell saw
from his window that the man had Or
rived on horseback; and the steaming
TANKS, the dropping head, and chest
hecked 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: "I left
Cork last evening at five o'clock, and l
rode ninety miles to see you, counselor.
The friends of the prisoners yet untried
for the Doneraile conspiracy sent me for
you. If you don't undertake their de-
tense, 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'Copnell was not
proof against this compliment, which
expressed such confidence in his profes.
sional skill. Though half century had
sped since he was born, he was hale and
vigorous. He accepted 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'Connell wrote a
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 Mt his success, Viii
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
descried 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
awoke hope in the oppressed hearts of
the prisoners awaiting their trial. The
fathers, sons and brothers, wives,
mothers and sisters fell on their knees
and thanked God that their dear ones
would yet again breathe the free air of
their native fields.
The eventful Monday morning came,
the court was opened, the prisoners ar
raigned, and the judges refused to post
pone the trial for minute.
Mr.. M MCarthy, the counsel for the
prisoners, endeavored as much as posi- |
BILE to create delay, being anxious that |
the prisoners might have the benefit of
O'Connell's advocacy. The judges saw
through his motives, and Judge Tor
rens, with an epigrammatic air, observed
:" that it was the business of the court
to prevent delay and defeat artifce." A
very fair jury was at length empaneled,
and the solicitor general commenced his
address to the jury, when, amid loud
ard continued cheers, which actually
seemed to drown the sonorous tones Of
the solicitor-general, the tall form of
O'Connell. dust stained and travel soil
ed, strobe into the court house. He