Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-12-09
O'DONNELL.
An Audience With the President in BE.
half Of the Condemned Man.
Sunset Cox's Earnest spcech--The Ap,
peal OF the "Clau Ma Gael.v

llNSS anu prominent citizens called on
the president and were granted an au-
nience IN the cabinet room. In behalf
oi " Donnell: Cox and Robinson OF
New York, Morrison. Springer and
E1nerty of Illinois, Gen. Keiler and
Koran Ohio, Murphy of Iowa, May
Jerry OF Michigan, Lamb of Indiana,
McAdoo of New Jersey, Collins OF
Massachusetts, 0'Neill and Burns of
Missouri; also, j. r. Irwin of the Pc.
Kin, Ill.,, Daily Times, Fritz and
Young OF Ohio, and others. After a
lew minutes devoted TO introductlous,
the president heartily shaking hands
win each gentleman, and
some interchange of iucular
remarks on the political status, the
callers all being Democrats, Cox said.
"Mr. President, these score or more of
gentlemen have com TO speak 10 YOU
IN behalf of PatriclS O'Donnell, n citi.
lien of the United States who has Just
been summarily tried and sentenced
to he executed ON the 18th inst. We
do NOT come MS lawyers to criticise the
procedure By which he WAS convicted,
nor do we ask the sentence To bc set
aside, because he took the
life of an iMlormer who
was held in eXecration by mankind
and will bear the odium uf history.
We simply ask the postponemeut OF
his execution, IL your intervention, IA
our chief magistrate, can effect It,
But rs the cause, we represent is the
general and earnest sentiment OF the
people, | may he allowed 10 say that
certain facts have produced II broad
and deep seated sympathy. These
facts are the killing was not murder,
there was no malice prepense; there
We're none OF the deliberate elements of
murder, which are lacking in the case
The condemned man was not a menu
Der OF any secret organization. When
he entered upon Lis voyage he was not
aware that Carey, the informer, was
fellow passenger. He was pursuing n
bona fidc Journey with his wife to the
Cape. The truth is, the killing was
nh ailray; II grew out of the occasion;
II was sudden, and had no connection
with political events in Ireland. Be
sides, IL Is thought 10y many that the
trial was unfair, not 10 say crGel. The
authorities of the Cape claimed iuris-
diction. 1t is Il law of
the ''realm that the first
part OF the nation whose laws are bro
ken is the locus in quo for trial. us
tom and law unite to condemn the
proceeding rs contrary to English
jurisprudence Besidcs, there was
wanting the old practice, of late ahro-
gated in England, whereby n jury
should have been empanneled of one
half ofthe nation he belonged to and
the other half OF the nation by which
he is tried. II is also certain that the
Judge decided upon the facts rs we'll rs
the law. Thus was there u mOukery
Of Jury trial aud scandal
of Justice, ! mention these matters
not for you To present them III dip.
lOmatic way. Your administration
may not consider IL proper 10 criticize
much less anathematiZe the action of
the British courts, We would not
allow any reflections upon our judicial
action from the English government,
still, these facts have produced gem
eral and ineradicahle impression
upon the American people, and
MS such recount them.
This sympathy is intensified hy
the knowledge that Patrick 0iDounell
is citizen of this country. Although
naturalized, yet by treaty lac Ia in the
same relation ms ii born on our soil
General Collins--"lt has been colt
cedcd and vel known that he is
clifton"
Cox-"If Mr.. President, this hur-
ried execution takes place there will -
shudder run through our people,
Foran--"Is il not true that O'Dou-
nell was n Union soldier
Finerty-"lt Is SO generally re-
ported aid understood, and il has not
been contailcted.p
Cox continuing, said: Let MS en-
deavoT TO do something ! would not
emharrass the executive by undue re-
quests. Having long served ON the
committee Of foreign affairs, had oc-
casion to protest against the ns-ump-
ton or usurpaliOn 10y congress OF dlplo-
matte power which Is exclusively |
lodged Ia your function, but, sir, you /,
have nterfered in another ease, thar /
of Or. Lawson 1T was the ease of Il |
person murdered 1t had none OF
the interesting international phases !
of this ease ii ala mol |
evoke TIE universal sympathy winch |
this case does. Hence, us members OF
congress, we thus, though unoillcihlly, |
represent this universal sympathy A
large vote II among them, and we are |
not little interested all of us.
( Laughter In fact, we represent |
twenty millions Of people of Irish de-
scent, among whom we count such sol
diers as General Sheridan and You,
MIR. President. are proud TO be reck-
0ned among the descendants OF this
gallant race Here the president
smiled aud bowed assent)
ain behalf Of these sympathetic peo-
pie. 'said Mr., Cox, land ia view OF the
facts have related, we only ask you
to direct the secretary OF state 10 open
TO carry out our earnest
wishes"
Finerty ordinary diplomacy
will be too late, may l without mn
suggest that negotiations iof
Of the execution be by
cable and at onee.p
The President,-"I'hc execution Is
fixed for Monday week, the TN insl.;
Of course 1t must be by cable
Cox-''If there should be apostpone-
ment of execution, meanwhile snch
may be made either
10 commute the sentence or enlarge
the prisoner under proper conditions
We appeal to your clemeney ana hu-
manly ~
The PRECEDENT in reply said that the
Of state would at once
elegraph Minister Lowell to make
III possible inquiry regarding
)'Dnnnell's citizenship, and be pressed
o take whatever action he could with |
Cox, before retiring WITH |
he delegation, handed the president
copy of an appeal prepared
~ The Clan Nh Gael association
@hich has been sent To each member
II congress, and Of which the main
,art.is ~ follows:
lisiina ,,a tta, 4 ~ f.afp ulisiDu of which |