The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-29
JOHANNES IN IRELAND.
OF Mr. JOHN REA, ATTORNEY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THE PRINCIPLES OF
OBSTRUCTION FROM WESTMINSTER TO BEL
FAsr-EFrEcr OF THE PROSECUTIONS ON THE
AGITATORs.

OBSTRUCTION FROM WESTMINSTER 10 BEL
FAsr-EFFEcT OF THE PROSECUTIONS ON THE
AGIrAToRs.
[BY CABLE TO THE HERALD
SLIGO, Nov. %, 1879.
Killen's case was called in the court house
this morning. AS soon as the magistrate took
his seat he asked Mr.. Rea, the attorney, if he
called any witnesses for the defence. Mr.. Rea
replied that he desired the presence of Arch
bishop McCabe, of Dublin. He also summoned
several dgnitarics of Church and State, and
among them Canon McDcrmott. The magis-
trate said he should refuse to hear
any such testimony. He then closed the
case peremptorly, and committed Killen for
trial. Rea refused to give bail for his client,
and in the open court denounced the magis-
trate, just as the latter was about to retire from
the bench, as a perjurcd spy of the government.
There was unbouhded excitement. The spec
tators instantly began to take sides. Some
cheered for Rea; some applauded the magis-
trate. The latter ordered Killen to leave the
Court. He refused. The magistrate repeated
his order, and the defendant still declined to
obey. Then the police and other officers
seized Killen under the arms, lifted him up
by main force, and SO carried him, kicking,
shouting and gesticulating, out of the court.
The scene was indescribable Orders were
given to the police to clear the court Davitt
and Rea remained in defiance of the order till
noon Then they left. Rea intends to move in
the Court of Queens Bench that the proceed
ings DO quashed as the prisoner was not asked
LICENSED JESTER.
After watching these cases for five days and
talking to all the principal people concerned in
them, have come to the conclusion that how
ever ill advised the arrests may have been, on
the score Of the doubtful success of the prosecu-
ton with Irish iures, the effect has been mag
zeal on the leading astators, who now rcvile the
government for unconstitutional measures, while
their own sentiments and speeches have been
The prosecution, as conducted by officers of the
Crown has been remarkably indulgent. At the
same time it has been firm. 1t is said that
Parnell and one or two other prominent leaders
have grown somewhat jealous of the promi-
nence into which three comparatively obscure
agitators have suddenly sprung. Two Of the
Dov
lament. John Rea, the Belfast attorney, is the
Count Johannes of Ireland, and is one of the
most curious characters in the country. He is
pugnacious and obstructive to degree With
this he is audaciousy witty. His sallies
keep tho audience in roars of laughter.
He has been arrested for contempt of court and
elected from Belfast court rooms at least
twenty times, and the more he has been elected
the more violent has been his tone when he was
again admitted. 1t is reliably stated that one
Mayor and two judges in Belfast have died OF
broken heart in consequence of the exuberance
of his verbosity and the pertinacity of his OBJ
structive policy.
BIGGAR's BUFFooN.
John Rea once made his way into the House
of Commons. interrupted the proceedings, apos-
trophized the Speaker and had to be removed
by six sergeants-at-arms. His connection with
the present case was due to Mr.. Biggar, M. p,
who, thinking that as obstruction had succeeded
so well ut Westminster it might prove trump
L !, Il AZ ID
would do more to turn the proceedings into
farce than any man in the country. Whereupon
he retained the services of that eccentric gen.
tlcman and sent him to Sligo. When Mr.. Par
nell heard of it he used his influence with
Davitt and Daily and persuaded them to de-
cline Mr. Rea's services. Killen, out of defer
ence to the wishes Of his friend Biggar, allowed
Mr. Rca to undertake his defence The conse-
ouence was that Killen's case, which has al
ready been prolonged for three days, would
have lasted till the end of the week but for the
firmness of the magistrates, who had to send
down witness after witness because Mr. Rea
wasted hours in asking immaterial questions
and making speeches on every conceivable sub
jcct To-day they got sick of the whole thing.
They checked further obstruction by summarily
committing Killen, offering at the same time to
accept bail. Rea came into court this morning
with the firm intention Of being committed to
Jail for contempt, having with him bag
containing prison clothes and toilet ar
give bail. lie applied all sorts of
epthets to the magistrates when they
ordered the court to be cleared. He told
Everybody was put out. Rea alone remained.
After awhile the Inspector of Police politely in