The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-08-22
O'CONNELL's READY WIT.
How 1t Won HIM Two Striking Victor

! At the Glare assiZes in Ennis, two
brothers named Hourigan were arrested for
setting fire to police barrack, the prop
erty of Darby O'Grady. ESQ, and it was
stated the barrack had been ignited by
means of a jar of pitch, found half con
| sumed near the burned barrack.
O'ConneI was employed for the defense,
and by his desire skillet containing pitch
was secretly placed near the witnesses
chair and over this O'Connell placed his
broad -brimmed hat so as to effectually con
ceal it. The principal witness for the
prosecution swore ''that he discovered the
barrack to be on fire, and knew that it was
| set on fire by pitch for he got the smell of
| it."
You know the smell of pich, them"
said O'Connel
II do. WELL" replied the witness.
You seem man able 10 smell pitch
anywhere?" said O'Connell
Anywhere | found it."
Even here IN this court house if it were
| here?"
NO doubt I would"
and do you swear you don't get the
smell of pitch here?" asked O'Connell
Il do solmenly," replied the witness.
IF it were here I'd smell it
Then O'Connell taking his hat off the
skillet of pitch which was placed beside
the witness chair, cried:
Now you may go down, you perjured
rascal Go DOWN.
This saved his clients The jury dis
credited the witness.
At Limerick O'Connell had case to de
fend which presented slight hopes of his
being able to obtain an acquittal. His two
clients were indicted for robbery, and the
case was substantially proved against them.
They called young priest for testimony
as to their character for honesty. He
thought to make parade of his learning
by the use of big words, and his replies to
usual inquiries were in the most polysylla
bic terms he could devise. Having stated
their reputation for rectlfication of habit
ual propriety. was exemplary and COM
mendable," Judge Torrens, who chafed
with irritation as the young priest rolled
out each jaw breaker, at last cut him short
with:
Come, sir, no more of this Say short |
ly what you know of these men. Are they |
honeste"
CAS- far as my experience of their deport-
ment am under that impression"
you think they are. That compre
displaying temper Turning to the priest,
he said: THAT will do-go down, sir
O'Connell, assuming an air of great in
digRation. as the priest shuff1ed off the
table, addressing the prisoners in tone of
deep commseration, said: MY poor fel-
lows, bigotry is on the bench, and when
your excellent young priest has been so
ANONYMOUSLY turned out of court, / am
in despair of being able to serve you.
Here's your briet and fee."
He flung the brief and the notes to the
agent for the prisoners. and commenced
putting on his cloak, muttering: f'MY in
accent clients, despair altogether now of
your acquittal. You'll be hanged, and
never were men hanged more unjustly.
The only hope l can look to is that, if your
sentence is not carried into execution be-
fore the twelve judges meet, will bring
this outrageous case before them.
This had the effect intended. Judge
Torrens invited O'Connell to continue the
defense of his clients, and to this, after
some pretended reluctance, OConnell as
sented The case went on and the judge,
to show he was no bgot, put the charac
ter for honesty given the prison by the
priest so strongly that the jury, almost in
stantly, brought in their verdict not
guilty.