The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-01-25
THE SECRET IRISH REPUBLIC

Sentence of Two Conspirators-Impor-
portant Revelations.
NEW YORK, Jan. PA Cork despatch of
last night gives the following details of the
trial and sentence of the Twoheys-J Jeremiah
and James-two of the thirty men arrested on
information supplied by Connell alias Capt.
Moonlight, who were tried to-day and sentenced
each to seven years penal servitude. Connell,
during the cross-examnation, stated that at a
general meeting OF the body he was unani-
mously elected Lieutenant Armorer of the
Mill street district, which embraces an area of
fifteen or twenty square miles. The captain is
jeremiah Riordan, a bakers son in Mill street.
All the members had sworn on the Bible to OBJ
serve the following oath:-'I swear to be true
and faithful to the Irish Republic to obey my
superiors and to take up all arms when re-
Quired. Death to the traitor. So help me
God.''
The oath was in writing, "Iswore it myself"
said Cornell, land would never have turned
informer but that was informed on by some
one who swore that oath. swore in about a
dozen members, who were brought me by fell
low members for that purpose We were not
in the habit of swearing in members against
their will, though we slept at fsrmers' houses
without being asked. always commanded in
the absence of the captain. The captain made
written orders in book kept for the purpose.
Ny duty was to copy these and see them exc
cuted. Two of the orders so copied by me
were found on me when arrested. One of
them reads, "Pst Twohey and Pat Ring with
four men TO appear under arms at an early
hour at James Twohey's on the night OF the
Both of December. Bring heavy shears and
false vhiskers. For Owen Riordan, Also"
The other neutrality-suspicious. order by
Capt Moonlight for appointed raids. On the
30th December James Sullivan to be shot in
the legs, his mother and daughter to be clipped
for dealing with the Hogartys; John Linehan,
story telling, to be clipped; Dennis Coakley,
for farming out his laborer, to be shot in the
legs; Maurice O'Brien to be shot in the legs
for paying rent.
(Signed by CAPTAIN MOONLIGHT
Replying to the Crown counsel, Council said
that he had no communication with the au-
thorities previous to his arrest. There was no
foundation for the assertion that he had made
q pre-arrangemept with the police to get ar
rests. There were rewards given us for brav-
cry. I myself got G12 from Dublin The let
ter had a postmark, but there was nothing to
show from whom it came. Members could
have the choice Of either medals or money. /
saw some medals Riordan the captain, has
one" Connell added :-''There are moonlight
hands in other districts and captains whom 1
don't know"
Judge Fitzgerald, in charging the jury, said
that independently of Connell's testimony
there was strong evidence against the prison
ers. The state of affairs was shocking, and
there could be no doubt but that Fenianism in
its worst form was deeply rooted in the couD-
try. The jury, after two hours, found the
prisoners guilty Judge Fitzgerald said that
be hoped that the sentence would have good
effect on the community, though from his ex-
perience he thought the trouble not ended. The
evidence of Connell has created profound
sensation.