The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-09-01
0'CONNELL'S READY WIT.
How n Won Him Two Striking Vic
lOries.

tories.
AT the Glare assizes in Ennis, two
brothers, named Hourigan, were arrested
for setting fire to police barrack, the
property of Darby O'Grady, Esq, and
1t was stated the barrack had been ig-
nited by means Of jar of pitch, found
half consumed near the burned barrack.
OConnell was employed for the de g.
Tense, and by his desire a skillet con-
tanning pitch was secretly placed near
the witnesses chair, and over this
O'Connell placed his broad-brimmed
hat, so as effectually TO conceal il. The
principal witness for the prosecution
swore "that he discovered the barrack
on fire, and knew it was set on fire by
pitch, for he got the smell of it."
"You know the smell of pitch, then?'
said OConnelL Nac..af u
81 do, we'll, replied the witness.
"You seem a man well able to smell
pitch anywhere" said O'Connell.
Anywhere found it,"
Gwen in this court house, if it were
here" NathaAt8tAh a
"No doubt I would"
Sand do you swear you don't get the
smell of pitch here ?" asked O'Connen.
Z" / do solemnly," 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 F."
This saved his clients. The jury dis
credited the witness.
At Limerick O'Connell had case to
defend which presented slight hopes of
his being able to obtain an acquittal.
His two clients were indicted for rob-
berry, and the case was substantially
proved against them. They called q
young priest for testimony as to their
character for honesty. He thought to
make a parade of his learning by the use
of big words, and his replies to the
usual inquiries were in the most polysyl-
Liable terms he could devise. Having
stated "their reputation for rectifcation
of habitual propriety was exemplary and
commendable, 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
shortly what you know of these men.
Are they honest?'
AS far as my experience of their
department, L am under that impress
sion"
"You think they are. That compre-
hends great deal, said the Judge, still
displaying temper. Turning to the
priest, he said: "That will do-go down,
SIR
O'Connell, assuming an air of great
indignation, as the priest shuffled off the
of deep commiseration, said My poor
fellows, bigotry is on the bench, and,
when your excellent young priest has
been oignominiously turned out of court
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, and COM
menced putting on his cloak, muttering:
"My innocent clients, 1 despair alto
gether now of your acquittal. You'll be
hanged, and never were men hanged
more unjustly. The only hope can
look to is that, if your sentence is not
carried into execution before the twelve
Judges meet Il will bring this outrageous
case before them"
This had the effect intended. Judge
Torrens invited OConnell to continue
the defense of his clients, and to this,
after some pretended reluctance, O'Con-
nell asseDted. The case went on, 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
jury, almost instantly, brought in their
verdict, not guilty.