River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-08-24
O'CONNELL'S READY WIT.
How Ii Won Him Two STRIKING Vie
tories

tories
At the Clare assizes, in Ennis, two
brothers, named Horigan, were ar
rested for setting fire to a police bar
rack, the property of Darby O'Grady,
ESQ, and it was stated the barrack had
been ignited by means of jar of pitch,
found half consumed near the burned
barrack.
O'Connell was employed for the de-
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 it.
The principal witness for the prosecu-
ton swore that he discovered the bar
rack on fire, and knew it was set on
fire by pitch, for he got the smell OF
it."
''You know the smell of pitch, then2'
said O'Connell.
81 do, WE'LL" replied the witness.
"You seem man able to smell pitch
anywhereW said O'Connell.
"Anywhere | found it,
Gwen here in this courthouse, il it
were here?"
NO uOuDl l. WOulu.
"And do you swear you don't get the
smell of pitch here?' asked OConnell.
81 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 per-
iured rascal Go DOWN.
This saved mis- clients. The jury dis
credited the witness.
At Limerick O'Connell had to defend
a case which presented slight hopes of
bis being able to obtain an acquittal.
His two clients were indicted for rob-
berry, and the case was substantially
proved against them. They called a
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
polysylabic terms he could devise.
Having stated "their reputation for rec
tifca'ion of habItual prOpriety was ex-
emplary 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?"
GAS far as my expt rlence of their de-
pertinent, / am under that impress
sion"
"You think they are. That compre-
hends q great DEAL" said the judge,
still displaying temper. Turning to
the young priest, he said: "That will
do--go down, sir"
O'Connell. assuming an air OF great
Indignation. as the priest shuffied off
the table, addressing the prisoners in a
tone OF deep commiseration, said:
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"
He flung the brief and the notes to
the agent for the prisoners, and COM
menced putting on his cloak, mutter-
ing: my innocent clients, | despair
altogether now of your acquittal. You'll
be hanged, and never were men hanged
more uniustly. The only hope | can
look to is that, il 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. The
Judge invited O'Conneli to continue the
defense of his clients, and to this, after
some pretended reluctance, O'Connell
assented. The case went on, and the
Judge, to show he was no bigot, put the
character for honesty given the prison
ers by the priest so strongly that the
jury, almost instantly. brought in their
verdict, not guilty.