Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-14
EGAN IN NEW YORK.
His visit to America q Commercial One
Undressing Interview.

Patrick Egan, formerly treasurer of the
Irish land league arrived in this city to-
day, and 10 now stopping at the Grand Cen
trail 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
a clue to private matters which he did not
wish to be made public.
Egan in lengthy interview regarding his
alleged escape from Dublin saws the state
ments are entirely without foundation; that
the chief purpose of his visit is commercial
business; to visit Chicago. ST. Louis. St.
Paul and other large -four exporting centres
in connection with his firm in Dublin, as
they deal largely in American -four. His de-
cision to do so was FASTENED by the urgent
request of Sheridan that he should give evil
dence in the extradition proceedings now
pending against him; and also by strong let
tiers received from Mrs. Mooney, president
of the American land league, and other
friends to come TO America, and to give the
leaders of the movement here such informa
ton as is in his power regarding the situa-
ton at home.
Egan 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 and conspiracy in Dublin, he
saws the government would be wanting in its
duty if it did not do everything possible to
break up such conspiracy and convict Its
members. provided it acted fairly and square
w. He denies that the land league funds were
contributed toward the conspiracy; he clans
that the object of the castle officials is to
connect the land league with the commission
of outrages and thus damage the national
party and will stop at no vii
- H. II e
he is informed that the evidence of Carey
was accepted to criminate him (Egan), and
through him the land league. In regard TO
Sheridan, whose extradition had been at
tempted by Great Britain, Egan said: The
charges are simply ridiculous. Foster has
repeated in the House of Commons that
Sheridan was constantly going back and forth
from me in Paris. to outrage Mongers in the
west of ireland. Sheridan left Ireland for
Paris in October. 1881. and has only returned
there once since. That visi, was made in De-
cember, 1881. when he was, of course. dis
guised, as a warrant for his arrest had been
issued. His object then to investigate
and harmonic certain alleged difficulties in
connection with the ladies' land league.
then gave TO him fIl0. half of which he gave to
Rev. Mr.. Lawler of Valencia, for the relief
of evicted tenants who were in great need.
He also gave other sums TO evicted tenants
who were in distress. He gave me vouchers
for all his expenditures.
About the charges of misapproprrtion of
land league funds made by Lady Florence
Dixie he said: Lady Florence Dixie has
been led, through her craving for notoriety,
to become the mouth piece of Richard Pigott,
whose own statements would receive no at
tention. In April. 1881, Pigott wrote me he
had been offered $500 by castle officials to
publish a statement in his paper. (rhe Irish
mani alleging Misrepresentation of the land
league funds. He said he needed money and
threatened to accept the offer unless he sent
him $500. OF course l refused to do so and
defied him to do his worst. Subsequently a
pamphlet, the manuscript of which was in
Pigott's handwriting, was set up in type for
Lady Florence Dixie. She became fright
ened of the serious charges it contained
against the members of the land league and
gave orders that the few copies printed be
burned and the forms broken up. | secured
one of the copies, and all the charges made
since BY Lady Florence Dixie are these there
made. They are utterly false. My accounts
have been thoroughly audited by John Dill
Ion, Rev. Father Sheehy and Matthew Harris.
No complaints have ever been made by &C.
tual subscribers of the land league fund
There is now on hand between S25, 900 and
S26, 900, all of which is invested in American
securities in the names of the five trustees.
Egau will probably remain in this country
for three or four months. He will remain
in this city about 10 days. He expects to
visit Buffalo to see Money and to visit Bos-
ton. He will be present at the convention to
be held in Philadelphia, March 18th. He
earnestly disclaIms any intention to make
speeches while travelling here. Parnell will
certainly be present at the convention, he
says, if it is possible. If he cannot come
Sexton will probably come over in his stead
but both of them cannot be absent from Par
Lament at the same time.