The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-12
The President Requested to In
terfere I'm His Behalf.
A Number Of Congressman Personally
Invoke the Earnest Intervention
Of the Chief Executive.
Congressman Finerty Predicts the
Early Destruction of the English
Parliament Buildings.
O'DONNELL.

The Intervention of the United States m
Solicited.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The following members oil
the House of Representative ana prom inent eiti-
zens called upon the President to-day and were
granted an audience in the Cabinet Room: Cox
ana Robinson. New York; Morrison. Springer and
Finerty, Illinois; General LeFevre and Poran,
Ohio; Murphy. Iowa; Maburry, Michigan; Lamb,
Indiana; McAdoo. New Jersey; Collins Massachu-
setts ONel ana Burns. Missouri; also J. B. Irwin;
Pekin, Ill, Daily Times; Fritz and Young, Ohio;
and others After few minutes devoted 10 intro
ductions the President heartily shaking hands
with each gentleman. and some interchange Of
iocular remarks OH the political status. the callers
all being Democrats, Mr.. Cox said:
MIR. President-Ihese score or more gentlemen
come 10 speak 10 you on behalf of Patrick 0'DOn-
nell. citizen of the United states. lie mas Just
been summarily tried and sentenced TO be execu-
ted on the 18th inst. We do not come as lawyers
10 criucise the procedure by which he was con
victed do ask that the sentence be set aside
because he took the lite OF an inforner. We simply
ask a pos tponement of the execution, If your in
teryentiOn as our Chief Magistrate can effect it;
but AS the cause is one which has the general,
earnest sentiment OF the people I'VE represent, L
duced broad ana deep-seateu sympathy Ihese
facts are that the killing was not murder, not
malice. The pretense was not deliberate TDe
eIements of murder are lacSing in the case The
CONDEMNED man was not a member of any secret
organization when he entered upon the voyage.
He not aware that Carey, the ''informer,' was
hde" journey with his wife TO the Cape The
truth is the killing was an atray. IL grew out OF
an occasion which was sudden. and had no con-
nection with political eyenis in Ireland. Besides,
il is thought by many. that the trial was unfair,
not 10 say cruel. The authorities at the Cape
claimed jurisdiction. At rs tile Law OF the realm
that the first part Nation whose laws broken
is Locus in quo'' for trial Custom ana law
unite TO condemn proceedings If contrary 10 Tn
Fharn rnfr
the old practice, OF late abro Sated by England,
whereby the Jury should have been empanelled,
One-half from the Nation which he belongs 70,
ana the other half TO the Nation by which he Is
tried. IL Is also certain that the Judge decided
upon facts as well as law Thus was there mockery
OF q jury trial and scandal OF justice. mention
these matters, not Tor your pre>entatou OF them
in u diplomatic way Your Administration may
not consider IL proper TO criticiSe. much less an
athematize the action of the British Courts We
would not nllow any reflections upon our judicial
action from England. stil. these Iacts have pro-
duced a general and ineradicable impression upon
the American people, ahd as sueh recount them.
This sympathy Is intensified By the knowledge
that PatricE o. 'Donnel is citizen OF this country,
although naturalized, yet by treaty lie is the same
relation as if born on our soil"
. General Collins-lt has Ocen conceded aud well
known that he is n citizen.
ton takes place. there will a shudder run through
Mf. Faran-Is Il 10. ifae tlrve'Donneii was
Union soldier?
Mr. Finerty-7It is 50 generally rcported ami
Mr.. Cox (cOnlinuing) Let us endeavor to do
something ] would not embarraSs the Executive
by undue requests. Having long served on the
protest against the assumption or usurpation by
Congress of the diplomatic foWer. which was ex-
S SSinsiyey nIged III 1omr Iunenon; Bat m SIR you
son. IL was the case OF person convicted OF muir
der. II had none of the interesting and interna
tloDal phases of this case. 1t did not evoke the
rTiversal sympathy that this does. Hence, as
lIembers OF C0ngtss, We thus, though unofficial
ly, represent this universal sympathy a large
a little interested, all Of US. Laughter
The fact y that we represent NOO0OOo
SI SeSPe Of Ish descent a,oo,g vnS3 we count
President, are proud 20 be reckOued among the
defendants OF this gallant race. tHere the Presi-
dent smiled and bowed sssentl On behalf Of
these sympathetic people ana in view OF the facts
l have related, We only ask YOU to direct the Sec
retary OF Stale 70 open negotiations 10 carry oIt
our earnest wishes.
Mr.. Finerty-As ordinary diplomacy will be too
late. may 1: without improperly. suggest that ne
EQUATIONS for "A pOstponement of the execution be
by cable. and al OnceH
The President-The execution is fixed for Mon.
day week, the 18th. OF course II must DC by cable
the execution, meanwhile such representation
may be made. either to commute the sentence or
Try the prisoner under the SIopar conditions. We
appeal 10 your cl emency and humanity.
The President, In reply. said the Department aI
State would at once Telegraph Minister l. well 10
make all possible inquiry regarding o. Donnell's s
citizenship and he the Presidenp would taxe
whatever action he could with prepriety.
Mr: Cox, before retiring with the delemtio1,
handed the President copy of tile appeal pre-
pared by the Clan VA Gael Assoc alton. which had
been sent TO each member of Congress, und wuic o.,
in the main pari. Is ms follows:
The act for the commission OF which our fellow
citis -. Patrick ODonneil. now awaits execution,
is hs ing caTd TO defend surees fully. his life.
aEai AN attack made upon him by "A wretch who
hal ready betrayed aud houndc o. death sew
eral Of his own associates The conduct Of o. Don
nell u regarded not only ms juStiiaUle, but merit
ur0us Dy hundre o! thousand, Of American citi-
zens. We request your prompt aid tn relieve him
irUm the imp ndin. fate, not for these reasons
alone but also because IL il acknowledged even oy
~ prosecutions, that not only wits he nncOnucctet
With any Society, but quite ignorant OF the iden-
tiiy OF his asSailant until ry short time before
the ahmy. therefore the essential eIeinen Is
OF deliberations. premeditntion and malice
aforethOught necessary TO establish the charge
Of murder are totally wanting. b"cause
lie olonial authorities OF the Cape OF Good Hope
insisted that he committed the, alleged otfense
within heir jurisdiction. and oufht 10 b tried in
their Courts. Notwithstanding whicn. they were
compelled by the British Government yieid him
ny he might be tried in the center Of its power.
because lie not tried nj the fr part Nation
wiese laws he 10 said have transgresscd Accord
ing 10 legal usage aud requirements. aud because
the Judge who presided nj tho trial, contrary TO
OF iact tho very purpose for which the
jury was impanelled, and without which
the sacred right OF trial by Jury
in The conviction that {. can not be Con-.
eredunbefttng that even executive action be
requested in the present instance By the TACT that
such course had been adopted At the solicitation
of friends OF The accused. The question Is simply
whether an American citizen shall by q fsreign
means without remonstrsnce and without an ei-
fort 10 ave MIN. We rely confidently upon your
sense o. justice 70 render sucn help As In your
may lead 10 the desired result I"