The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-11

ions of trials of the kind. Abundance
| OF hard swearing on the direct, retrac-
lions and contradictions on the cross
examinations. The defense was mas
terpiece. Several times the rope seemed
| lrrevocably entwlned around poor Lar
rvs neck-as many times the dexterity
of OConnell united the Gordian knot.
From some of the witnesses he extracted
that they were unworthy of credit, being
| notorious knaves or process servers.
Others he inveigled into a metaphysical
puzzle touching the prisoners Identity
others he stunned by repeated blows
with the butt end of an Irish joke. For
minutes together, the court and jurors,
galleries and dock were in q roar. How.
ever the law or the facts might turn out,
it was clear that the laugh was all on
Larry's side.
"In this perilous conjuncture, amid
oil the rapid alterations Of his Case
now the prospect of a triumphant return
to his home and friends, now the vision
abruptly dispelled and the execution
staring him in the face, Larry's coun-
tenance exhibited picture of heroic
immobility.
"Once, and only once, when the evil
dence was il full tide against him, some
signs of mortal trepidation overcast his
visage. The blood in his cheeks took
fright and fed. A cold perspiration burst
from his brow. His lips became glued
together. His sister, whose eyes we're
riveted upon him as she chung to the dock
side, extended her arm and applied q
piece of orange to his mouth. He &C
cepted the relief without turning aside to
see by whose hands the relief had been
administered.
cat this crisis of his courage home
thrust from O'Connell foored the witness
| who had so disconnected his client. The
public buxzed their admiration, and Larry
was himself again!
"The case for the crown having closed,
O'Connell announced that he would call
no witnesses. Larrys friends pressed
hard to have at least one OF the alibis
proved, but O'Connell was inflexible,
and they reluctantly submitted. The case
went to the jury laden with hanging mat
ter. but not without saving doubt.
After long elaboration the doubt pre-
vailed. The jury came out and the glo-
rious sound of Not Guiltyv announced
to Larry Crouin that he had miraculous
ly escaped the gallows. He bowed with
undissembled gratitude to the verdict.
He thanked the jury. He thanked
OConnell, shook hands with the iailor,
sprung, at one bound over the dock, was
caught as he descended in the arms of
his friends, and hurried away in triumph
from the precincts of the court.
1t will be remembered that Lover
makes Shamus mount the gallows, his
mother, if we rightly remember, stand
ing near him. She whispers something
in his ear, he springs from the scaffold,
is caught by his friends, and is off and
away before the jailer or any other of
the authorities can say Jack Robinson"
much less proceed to lay hands on him
to bring him back. But to continue:
saw him few minutes after, as he
was paraded through the main street of
the town to his barony. The sight was
enough to make one almost long to have
been on the point of being hanged. The
principal figure was Larry himself, ad.
vancing with q firm and buoyant step,
and occasionally giving responsive
flourish of his shillalah, which he had
already reassumed, to the cheerings and
congratulations amid which he moved
along. At his sides we're his wife and
sister, each OF whom held the collar of
his coat tightly grasped, and, dragging
him to and fro, interrupted his progress
every moment, Is they threw themselves
upon him and gave vent to their feelings
in another and another convulsive hug.
"a few ards in front of his mother
hustled along at strange sort OF pace
between trot and canter, and every
now and then discovering that she had
shot too far ahead, pirouetted round and
stood in the center Of the street clap
ping her withered hands, and shouting
ont her ecstacy in native Irish, until the
group came up and again propelled her
forward"
And that is the story of the celebrated
Shamus O'Rrien in prose! In the flow
and beauty of words the poem may ex-
Gel it, but in dramatic force and feeling,
the truth is not to be surpassed. A touch
of humor. as in the above description,
seems to be native to the Irish in relat.
ing any narrative, no matter how tragic.
Ireland's history teens to overlooking
with the deeds of her patriotic sons, but
of her equally patriotic daughters the
record is scant indeed.
Full of tears and smiles would be .
book relating the lives Of the mothers Of
Irishmen. Like bright dew-drops glist-
ening on dying roses shines the devo-
ton Of the women of the Green Isle TO
their sons, husbands, fathers and broth
in tha; a. k~u~. - ~,~~s1 >Nl ,f