The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-10-02
OBITUARY..


famous Irish Judge AMI politician. IL will
be remembered that lately In NJ OF In
sanity he attempted to kill his valet ana WAS
subsequently removed 10 a unatic asylum Juogo
Keogh was ono OF the most remarkable men IN ire
land and played a prominent part in the political
history or that country during the last quarter OF
century 1t may be safely said that he was the most
unpopular man in ireland. lie was hated oy
the na,ionalists OF all shades with an
intensity that cln hardly be understood OUT
OF Ireland; the ulramonlancs abhorred him, while hs
was simply despised by the conservatives as mas
who had dono their party some service and had got
his reward For twenty EIGHT years hts mans
has been constantly in tho mouths Of the irish
people; Irish newspapers OF all shades OF
opinion have boon chronicng and commenting
upon his acts; public meetings have discussed n's
and an amount OF bitter denunciation has been
hurled MIN woula have crushed any man, good
bsd who not gifted with strong constitution
aud mind of tho most vigorous kind. Since the
days notorious Lord Norbury no man In ireland
has been the subject OF such universal excoration,
has any man in Ireland In the present gen.
Grafton tho British government 50 much 70 sus
tain him or done them SO much moral injury by his
acts owing to the increased political knowledge Of
the Irish people he is probably the last OF d
class OF lawyers who have climbed TO place
ana power by process, now OF little
usc OF first Stimulating intense national sympathiea
as means OF getting into Parliament, and then az
critical moment becoming converted to belief In thG
beneGccnce of British rule. He was such an oxag-
gerated specimen OF the class. ne was man OF such
strength OF character and his acts were productive
of ouch popular commoton and Indignation, that
his name has become bywori and served
as a warning against all whose conduct indicated .
desire to follow his footsteps. Thirty years ago
nothing easier than the entrance into Parliament
Of a young barrister vino took up some popular cry
and talked bombastic nationality. To-day NO
man has less chauce with nh Irish constituency
than the patriotic lawyer with Parliamentary aspira-
tions. Every man performs some duty IN the world
and does something for hts country, aud, looked a.
from This standpoint, William Koogh has been 9
benefactor TO tho lrisn people. "Wiliiam keogh."
sSe am IfS'"; IN west OF Ireland 4.
received a university education m trinity
College and was duly called TO the lri.h
bar In 1910. Al this time the direct road for
a barr,ster the IRISH Bench via the House Of
Commons, and the way to get INTO The House ofCom.
political. s I' p pr , Counsellor Keosh became
politician of an advanced, indeed, Of violent
ior their power ana passion. and y after
DAYS. whom ne played tho role Of law officer Of
judges a s'" WITH tn tho same vehement excess, his
politicsl speeches wero often quoted against
HIM Notably h9.g; D.
the "boys that the dark nights were coming. mean
ing thereby. the lawyers say tina. time propi'ious
70 landlord and agent shooting was At hand Also
Of Heaven neon himself a,, Il !: u eve; =;
Koogh" The phrase generally used when speak
ing or writing Of him. from the frequency with
nhcsI principles ana pledges with this *
preasion In the days OF his rampant patriotism.
Ae got returned 70 Parliament. ana IN time. ike
his sails 50 as 20 make the pleasant havoa
o. the Irish Bench. as o,hors who p,o,,. wen:
as an advocate OF tenant right" he could not sup.
port tho government against that MEASURE without
famous .'Durham letter" supplied him and his
colleagues with an excellent pre,ext Tor
cnanne. Pro.es.an ANTS" and Catholics had fought
By side favor OF tenant right, but the Ecoc
sas,ical Titles bill enabled the DrassSano" as me
sections Of tho party and turn the popular fccling
into now channel Kcogh became rampant OPP
ponent of the tho latter measure, ana
by this the approval OF some OF tho Catho-
lic hierarchy and tho moro ignorant Of tho Catholic
people. In tho indignation against religious insolcr
nnce cause OF the tenant farmers and the real
interests OF tho country were forgotten while the
right movement and sank into political apathy.
This was Keoghs chance, and no used 10
and OF the newly aroused religious enthusiasm tho
pcasantry he fought tho popular leaders and boat
them on their own x sroana Ins ,,naepSSdens op-
port the Ministry without fear oil the result In limo
became Solicitor General and Attorney General for lrc
land. During his tenure OF the latter oico vacancy
occurred, in tho year 1856. tho Bench In the
Court Of Common Ploas. IN ireland tho Attorney
on,i,ied 10 tho first vacancy on the Bsncn.
Attorney General Keosh promptly put 10 hts claim
pointing him Third Pu,sno J udgo of Her Msjes.v's
Court Of Common Pleas. There was q howl
Of Indignation IN Tho na,,ons, ,,,r pros, over
and porndy OF 'So-heip-me-God Ksoxh. who, having
taken solemn oaths TO DC true 70 popular principles.
and flung himself into The Of the
government. Attorney General KeOgn had long
as Judge Keosh, he could afford 10 disregard it, The
storm subsidized in time, and Mr. Justice Kcogh logged
Of his ~ learned brethren. So he nigh. have
logged TO the end oil the chapter but for the
manner ~ which he thought a. 10 discharge hs
sion to be tho Lord Norbury Of bis day. One OF
the earliest OF his performances in this connec.
Nenagh, county Tipperary, not long after ne
became Judge. 70 try two brothers named
His conduct on that occasion was ouuagsousiy
and bru,aily violent and snsmsiuIly partial.
Crown Prosecutor and The prisoners At tho bar,
he flung himself with passion approaching fury "a
tho side OF tho Crown, and instead Of tho seat OF
justice being occupied by tho unimpassioned,
dignhsd Judge heated advocate against the
prisoners innamed almost 70 isroolty, prosides
protesting their innocence TO tho last. Tho icel.
log 10 tho district was, and Ia 10 this day, that
tired with brutal unialrness, and that, IN fact,
they were Judiclally murdered.
:, The next very prominent manifestation BY Judge
Keogh during some Of me especial commits.
sions' which were issued for the tris! Of the
many prisoners, great and small with whom
the jaIls were crowded during tho Fenian
excitement. Judge Keogh and Judge Fits-
gerald were tho presiding just,ces and the result
emnensIy satisfactory TO the government Only three
lot got or by acquitta. Tnirty-slx were con-
vrctcd or pleaded guilty. and In one ease the Jury
disagreed. The most remarkable OF these trials
was that Of o'Douovan Rossa, who spoke Tor whole
day IN defence, reading Ms part OF IL from nles
OF swspapers articles denouncing Judge Kcogh In
scashing terms Tue Judge sat out this prolonged,
fierce attack upon him from the dock like . statue.
but the set Of the great heavy square jaw told OF the
passion that boiiing within him. Nest Of the
articles were from tho Irish People, aud recorded the
Judges 10 tho plainest language. Several times
the prisoner was intcrrupted Dy the Judge, but 40
often he turned TO charge OF iniamy
comparison with Iho notorious Norbury. Tho
nght was unequal one, but the humiliation
nil tho side o the ex-rcbeL the
Bench, and all ireland chucked over II nsxs day.
When tho READY verdict OF ''guityn was
handed 10 IL becamc the turn OF the learncG
Judge, VINO consigned tho prisoner to penal
servitude for the term of hts natural life II was