Daily globe., 1882-11-09
O'CONNELL'S READY WIT.
How 1t Won Him rvvo Striking I'll,

How 1t Won ERim rvvO Striking vic
tories.
At the Glare assizes In Eanis. two
brothers, named Hourigan, were arrestss.i
for setting fire to police barracs, sl...
property of Darby O'Grady, Esq, ans:
1t was stated the barrack had bee. {,
nlted by means OF jar of pitch, found
half consumed near the burned barrack.
OConnen was employed for the de
Tense, and by his desire a skillet con.
tanning pitch was secretly placed near
the witnesses char, aad over his
OConnel placed his broad -i}vi.nned
hat, SO as effectually to conceal it. The
principal witness for the prosecution
swore "that he discovered the barrack
on fire, and knew it was set on ire by
pitch, for he got the smell of it. !
"You know the smell Of pitch, then?'
said O'Connell.
Il do. well. F" replied the witness.
You seem man well able to smell.
pitch anywhere" said O'Connen.
Anywhere I found it's
Given 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.
~ do solemnly," replied the witness.
" II 1t were here I'd smell it"
Then OConnell, taking his hat off the
skillet of pitch which was placed beside
tie witness chair, cried:
"Now you may so down, you perjured
rascal Go down"
This saved his clients. The jury dis.
credited the witness.
At Limerick O'Connell had a case to
defend which presented slight hopes OF
his being able to obtain an acuUittal.
His two clients were indicted for rob-
berry, and the case was substantially
proved against them. They called 3
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 the
usual inquiries were in the most polvsyl-
Liable terms he could devise. Having
stated "their reputation fer rectincation
OF habitual propriety was exemplary and
commendable," Judge Torrens, who
chafed with irritation as the young
priest rolled out each jaw-breaker, at
laSG CUT MIN snort with
"Come, sir, no more of this. Say
shortly what you know OF these men.
Are they honest?"
"As far Us my experience of their
department, am under that impress
sion."
"You think they are. That compre.
hends great deal, said the Judge, st,u
displaying temper. Turning to the
priest, he said: "That will doNgo down.
sir.
OConnell, assuming an air of great
indignation, as the priest shufiied off the
table, addressing the prisoners in tone
OF deep commiseration, said "My poor
fellows, bigotry is on the bench, and,
when your excellent young priest has
been so oignominiousiy turned out of court
l am In despair of being able to serve
you. Here's you brief and fee.''
He flung the brief and the notes to
the agent for the prisoners, end COM
menced putting on his cloak, mutteriug:
"My innocent clients, I despair alto
gether now OF your acquittal. You'll be
hanged, and never were men hanged
more unjustly. The only hope I can
look to is that, if your sentence is not
carried into execution before the twelve
Judges meet l will bring this outrageous
case before them"
This had the effect inten3ad. Judge
Torrens invited O'Conneil to continue
the defense Of his clients, and to this.
after some pretended reluctance, O'Con-
nell assented. The case went Oh, and
the Judge, to show he was no bigot, put
the character for honesty given the pris-
oners by the priest so strongly that the
'Iry, almost instantly, brought in their
verdict, not guilty.