The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-14
PATRICK EAGAN.
The Treasurer of the Land League
in New York.
The Purpose of His Visit to this
Country.

NEW YoRK,s March 13.-Patrick EiFagan
treasurer of the Irish Land League arrived in
this city today and is now stopping at
the Grand Central Hotel. When asked the
name of the vessel on which he arrived and
the port from which he sailed he asked to be
excused from answering as to do so would be
to give clue to private matters.which he did
not wish made public
Eagan in a lengthy interview regarding his
ALLEGED escape from Dublin says the statements
are entirely without foundation. He says the
chief purpose of his visit is commercial bust
ness-to visit Chicago, st. Louis st. Paul and
other large flour exporting centres in connec-
tion with his firm in Dublin as they deal large
ly in A merican -four His decision to do so
was hastened by urgent request of Sheridan
that he should give evidence in the extradi-
tlon proceedings now pending against him and
also by strong letter received from Mr.
Mooney president of the American Land
League and other friends, to come to America
and give the leaders of the movement here
such information as was in his power regard
ing the situation at home
Eagan denies the truth of the statement that
he was obliged to flee from Dublin in disguise
to avoid arrest. Regarding the prosecution in
connection with the alleged assassination con-
spiracy in Dublin he says the government will
be wanting in its dutylif it does not do every
thing possible TO break up such conspiracy
and convict its members, provided it acted
fairly and squarely. He denies that the land
league funds contributed toward the conspiracy
claims. The object of the Castle officials is
to connect the land league with the commits
sion of outrages, and thus damageithe national
party and it will stop at no villany however
black to accomplish this. He says he is in.
formed that the evidence of informer Carey
was accepted to criminate him (Eagan) and
through him the land league.
In regard to Sheridan whose extradition has
been attempted by Great Britain, Eagan said /:
"The charges are simply ridiculous Forster
of hot
Sheridan was constantly going back and forth
from me in Paris to the outrage mongers
in the west of Ireland. Sheridan left Ireland
for Paris October, 1881, and has only returned
there once since. That visit was made in
December, 1881, when he was, of course, dis
guised, as warrant for his arrest had been
issued. His object then was to investigate
and harmoniZe certain alleged difficulties in
connection with the ladies' land league
then gave TO him e100, half of which he gave
to Rev. MIR. Lawler of Valencia for the relief
of evicted tenants who were in great need. He
also gave other sums to evicted tenants who
we're in distress. He gave me vouchers for all
his expenditures"
About the charges of misappropriation of
land league funds made by Lady Florence
Dixie he says: Lady Florence Dixie has
been led through ber craving for notoriety to
become the mouthpece of Richard Pigott
whose own statements would receive no atten-
ton. In April, 1881, Pigott wrote me he
udu Oeeu OHereu G0UU Oy Castle OmcialS TO
publish statement in his paper (The Irish
NAM alleging misappropriation of land league
funds"
He said he needed the money and threaten
ed TO accept the offer unless sent him e300.
OF course I refused to do SO, deied him to do
his worst. Subsequently a pamphlet, the
manuscript of which was in Pigott's hand writ
lrg, was set up in type for Lady Florence
Dixie. She became frightened at the serious
charges it contained against the leaders of the
Land League and gave orders that the few
copies printed should be burned and the forms
broken up. l secured one copy and all the
charges made since by Lady Florence Dixie
are those that were then made in the pamph-
let. They are entirely false My accounts
have been thoroughly audited by John Dillon,
Rev. Father Sheehy and Matthew Harris No
complaint has ever been made by actual sub
scrbers to the Land League fund.
There is now on hand between S25 900 and
$4,000, all of which is invested in American
securities in the names of five trustees.
Eagan will probably remain in this country
for three or four months He will remain in
this city about ten days. He expects to visit
Buffalo to see Mooney and to visit Boston. He
will be present at the convention to be held in
Philadelphia March 25th. He earnestly dis
claims any intention to make any speeches
while travelling here. Parnell will certainly
be present at the convention, he says, if it is
possible. II he cannot come Mr.. Sexton will
probably come over in his stead, but both OF
them cannot be absent from Parliament at the
same time.