Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-08-20
o'coNNELL's READY WIT.
How Il Won Him Two Striking Vie
tories. sr

At the Glare assizes in EnniStwo
brothers, named Hourigan, were Sest-
ed for setting fire toa police barraathe
property of Darby OGrady, va, and
It was stated the barrack lld been
ignited by means of jar of pkh, found
half consumed near the burnabarrack.
O'Connell was employed foithe de-
Tense, and by his desire a sklet con-
tanning pitch was secretly PLAID near
the witnesses chair, and yer this
o'Connell placed his broad-timmed
hat, so as effectually to conceait. The
principal witness for the precution
swore "that he discovered thebarrack
on fire, and knew 1t was set on fire by
pitch, for he got the smell of II
"You know the smell ofpitd then"
said O'Connell.
81 do, well,n replied the witrss.
"You seem man able to SELL pltch
anywhere%
! aAnywhere found it,"
Even here in this court-hoBe, II 1t
were here"
mo doubt would"
sand do you swear you don't get the
smell of pitch here?" asked ,OEonnell.
~ do solemnly," replied thewitness.
off it were here I'd smell it."
Then O'Connell, taking his BIT Otfthe
skillet of pitch which was PLACID beside
the witness chair, cried:
"Now you may go down, Du per-
jured rascal! Go down"
This saved his clients. The jry dis
credited the witness.
At Limerick O'Connell had acaSe to
defend VIII ich presented Slight bpes or
his being able to obtain an aquittal.
His two clients were indicted br rob-
berry, and the case was substantially
proved against them. They oiled q
young priest for testimony a. b their
character for honesty. He thoIgh to
make a parade of his learning by the
use of big words, and his repliesto the
usual inquiries were in the mos poly
syllable terms he could devise. Having
stated "their reputation for rectiication
of habitual propriety was exemplary
and eommendable, Judge TorrenS,
who Chafed with irritation as the young
priest rolled out each jaw. braker, at
last cut him short with:
"COme, sir, no more of this. Say
shortly what you know of these men.
Are the honest?"
,"As far a. my experience oftheir de-
pertinent, l am under that IMPRESSION
"You think they are. Thatcompre-
bends q great deal, =" said the judge, still
displaying temper Turning to the
priest, he said: THAT will do-gO down,
sir"
OCOnnell, assuming an air ( great
= . -
id tgaE.e, oaR dfessing 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 ANONYMOUSLY turned out OF
court, am in despair Of being able TO
serve YOU. Here's your brief and fee. y
He flung the brief and the notes to
the agent for the prisoners, ana com
menced putting on his cloak, mutter'
ing: MY innocent clients, | depair al,
together now of your acquittal. You'll
be hanged, and never were men hang
ed more unjustly. The only hope can
look to is that, if your sentence is not
carried into execution before the twelve
Judges meet, | will bring this outrage
Gus 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, OCon
nell assented. The case went on, anC
the Judge, to show he was no bigot, pu
the character for honesty given TIT
prisoners by the priest so strongly tina
the Jury, almost instantly, brought il
their verdict, not guilty.