The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-01
Another of O'COnn+ll.

Au6CuOU0S VI tuO 6AO"o es6Ae~SNA 49,
plentiful, bat here is one that l have
never seen in print, and certainly as
good as the best. have it from gen.
tleman who has enjoyed the privilege OF
close friendly intercourse with near
relative of O'Connells. and who is the
happy possessor of several of the great
mans manuscripts.
OConnell was possessed of power OF
Misrepresentation that amounted almost
to mind-reading. His insight into char
acter, and his reading of physiognomy
were wonderful. The following instance
is remarkable example of this:
On certain occasion he was engaged
by an heir-at-law to contest the validity
of will which had been unexpectedly
brought forward as the last will and tes-
lament of the deceased, and declared to
have been by him made on the very day
of his death.
The contestant was nephew of the tes-
tator, and nearest relative, and very
few hours before his uncle died, he 1.-THE
uncle) had told him that he was his sole
heir.
But the possessors of the new will
swore roupdly, and the case seemed du-
bious for the nephew. In the course OF
the trial witness for the defence Of the
late will was called, who swore positive.
~ that he saw the testator's hand upon
the paper, with the pen in his fingers,
and that the will was then signed.
O'Connell watched this man narrowly.
He was very proper man in appearance;
solemn and sedate; with an outward show
of piety. There was something in his
testimony not natural. The man was
not telling truly what he had seen. At
length O'Connell took him in hand for
examination.
"Witness! you were in the room, and
saw that will signed?"
eyes, SIR"
"You saw the testator, himself, write
his name?"
Yes, sir--I saw him write on the pa
per-on the spot where his name is now"
"And he was alive at the timer"
'There was life in him certainly sir
life and sense"
This was the point which O'Connell
had before marked: "There was life in
himV And furthermore he observed q
peculiar twitching of the witnesses lips,
"a puckering of the mouth-that could
only have been the result of some bit of
remembrance which caused him thus to
quicker his mouth involuntarily.
George Henry McG rath, )" calling him
by his full name, "you know that the
testator signed that will?"
Eyes, SIR"
"Did he have assistance?"
Eyes, sir. A man held his hand to
steady it, for he was very weak"
''Yet he was alive?"
"He had life and sense, SIR"
At this juncture O'Connell strobe for
face with one of those expressions which
when he spoke his voice was like crack
of doom.
"McGrath Look me in the eye! Do
you suppose l cannot look into your era
ven heart and see the base subterfuge
you harbor there?"
Then grasping the mans arm, and
sinking his voice to the tone of the sep
ulchre, he went on, speaking louder as he
proceeded:
"You say the testator had life left in
him. Now. sir-on your oath-what was
it that had been put into his mouth
Was it living fly? Answer me ~
The poor wretch shook like an aspen
and the attorney for the defendant had
started forward to save the day, but
O'Connell was on his guard.
''ANswER ME |"
And a convulsive Eyes" burst from
the pale lips of the frightened man. He
was not proof against the electric
power of the legal giant.
OF course that closed the trial; and we
will only add, in conclusion, that while
Daniel was able to appear in cour: the
man who would appear against him
must have Truth and Right on his side.
If he had not no amount of testifying
and swearing could avail against the
wonderful Misrepresentation and cunning
craft Of this man of the people.
FAIR OAKS BArrLEFIELD.-Then neigh
bors seem not to comprehend when one
begins to ask them questions concerning
the Fair Oaks battlefield" for while
Northern writer's speak of the battle o.