The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-10
The Charge of Judge OBrien to the Special
Jury-A Postponement of the
Trial Refused.
The Possession of Explosives Act Be-
comes a Law.
The French Indignant at Bismarck's Policy
Danger for Irishmen in England
Watching Russian Refugees.
THE PHGNIX PARK MURDERERs.
Their Trial lBegun-Opening Charge of Judge
O'Brien TO the Hurry.

Their Trial lBegun-Opening Charge of Judge
O'Brien to the Jury.
DUBLIN, April 9.-The courthouse where
the trial of the Phoenix Park assassins is to
take place, was besieged this morning by
crowds eager to gain admission. The author
tiles, however, only admitted the jurors called
in the case and fifty reporters, and they were
let into the building at an early hour, Judge
o Brien, who is to hear the case, took his seat
on the bench at Ills o'clock, when the work
of swearing in the grand jury was proceeded
with. The prisoners Brady Kelly Delaney,
Caffrey, Curley and Fitzharris, were brought
to the court house at 8 a. m., and were es-
corted by whole troop of Dragons. The
counsel and solicitors for the prisoners, who
appeared for them at the examination in Kill
mainham courthouse, were present.
Judge O'Brien informed the grand jury
that the case OF the attack upon Juror Field
would not be called until the ordinary busi-
ness of the commission was disposed of
Addressing the special jurors, he spoke of
the importance and gravity of the Phoenix
Park murder case. He pointed to the exist
ence of regularly organized secret societies,
held together for the purpose of committing
murder. The members of such societies
actually guilty of taking the lives of fellow
beings, and those guilty of assisting and en-
couragng them, were clearly guilty of mur-
der, the latter equally guilty with the
former but mere membership in a society,"
even though it might be formed with the
general object to commit murder, did not
necessarily make all. the members
guilty of that specific crime. If the
jury believed the evidence the Crown
would produce, it was their duty to bring
in a true bill against the persons accused
He dweit on the enormity of the crime
which had as if by magic brought dark
cloud over the bright and favored prospect
that, 1T seemed, was about to open for Ire
land The Judge informed the jury that the
crown would allege that the murder of Lord
Frederick Cavandish was not a part of the
original design of the Phoenix Park assassns
but that he was victim on account of being
at the time in company with Burke. The
crown would claim, however, that all persons
present at the time of the murder were re-
sponsible for killing Lord Frederick, and
were therefore accessories before the fact:
that those of the band not present were re-
sponsibie only for the murder of Burke,
which was premeditated act on their part
The lives taken on the 9th of May last were
sacred and dear to the people. He had not
for his part, the least misgiving but that the
jury would be found faithful in the discharge
of their onerous duties
Application was then made for the post
ponement of the trial, as the preparations
for it were not complete. Counsel for the
crown opposed any longer postponement
than till tomorrow. McCune, Brady's solic-
itor, said that A. M. Sullivan would act for
Brady if time was allowed him to get ready.
Judge O'Brien said the case must proceed to-
morrow. If Sullivan was not ready to take
it in hand, he Judge o. Brien) would appoint
some other person to act for Brady. The
case was further considered, the result being
that the trial of Brady was set for tomorrow,
and DIR. Webb and Adams were assigned by
the court to defend the prisoner. Curley,
Kelley, Thomas, Caffrey and Ftzharrs were
next each arraigned separately, and each
pleaded not guilty All were held for trial.
The grand jury found true bills of murder
against Joseph and Lawrence Hanlon, Will
liam Maroney, Patrick Delaney, Pagan and
Joseph Mullett.