The Portland daily press., 1883-12-17
BEFoRE THE ExECUTvON.


LONDON, Dec. 15.-O'Donnell maintains his
good spirits and CHEEKY ways in prison. The
reports that have gained more or less currency
in England that he expected to be reprieved
are untrue During his interviews with his
wife and his brother Daniel this plainly ap-
peared He has spoken calmly and freely OF
his approaching execution, and has always
taken it for granted that it was positive and
certain. His conversations with his brother
have been carried on in Irish and he has there
fore communicated his feelings without re-.
serve in the presence of the prison officials.
Among other things he said that he had been
sure from the first that the British govern
ment was determined to find him guilty at all
costs, and would show Linn no mercy. He says
he will make no statement on the scaffold,
but that he wants it known that he stands by
the COZ. .ectness of the account which he gave
in his statement of the death of Cary. He
eats well, shows an increase in weight since
the conclusion of the trial, and lives as normal
a life as prisoner may. The hangman. Binns
reached Newgate today, and will not be allow
ed to leave the prison until after the execution
has taken place. Public interest in the fate OF
ODonnell seems to be slight, and the people
are apparently Indifferent whether he be hang
ed or reprieved. His solicitors have failed in
their efforts to reach the jury. Some of the
jurymen have feared that thev would fall I'M
der the revengeful wrath of the Invincibles
and have kept out of the way.
O'Donnell maintains great irmness OF de-
meanor, and is apparently prepared to meet
his fate. He regards himself as a martyr. His
determined air of bravado and cheerful indif-
ference to his impending fate have greatly i'm
pressed his wardeIs. His brother visited him
for 20 minutes At parting, O'Donnell shook
his blother by the hand, excaiming: "Good-
bye, old fellow; keep up your spirits, and don't
be downcast because of me-"
All the preparations for the execution oil
O'Donnell on Monday are completed. The
greatest precautions have been taken against
any hitch occurring in the machinery of the
scaffold. O'Donnells brother, at his farewell
interview with tho condemned man, was terri
bly, upset. DR.. Fleming will attend O'Donnell
at the last moment.
LONDON, Dec. 16.-O'Donnell passed good
night and continues cheerful. His appetite is
fair, but he enjoys smoking more than any.
thing. He was visited this afternoon by Mr..
Fleming and another priest, and was atten.
tive to their exhortation. The strictest reti
cence is observed by prison officials and spec
ial guard of "a men is on duty inside the prison
day and night, and several detectives are sta
toned outside. Streets in the vicinity of the
prison are empty and quiet. Some uneasines:
being felt about Binns' drop it was thoroughly
tested today and the machinery again over
hauled and seemed to work well. The exclu
sion of Representatives of the press from the
prison ana difficulty in obtaining Information
cause much dissatisfaction. The execution
will certainly take place at eight o'clock Mon
day morning.
WASHINGTON, Dec 16-Thursday last Sec
retary FaelinghuyseR telegraphed Minister
ata NJ ha of
tatives brought the case of O'Donnell to tht
Presidents notice in hope the latter might Sc
oere a reasonable delay in the execution of ths
sentence and might ascertain whether the
prisoner was IN American citizen and whethel
there was an error In his trial. In Telegram
Mr.. Lowell was instructed as follows:
las before instructed you will onsdel
O'Donnell's citizenship established, there be
ing in Great Britain no iudial examination OF
appeal Of proceedings at the criminal trial pos
sible errors can only be corrected through
new trial or by executive action upon the sen
tence. Therefore this government is anxious
that such careful examination be given the
proceeding in this case as to discover an error
should one have been committed. You art
therefore directed by the President to request
a delay of execution of the sentence and that
careful examination of the case be made BY
Her Majesty's Government and that the pris
oner's counsel be permitted to present any al
legged points in error"
Secretary Frelinghuysen is now in receipt OF
a telegram from Mr.. Lowell who states thai
on the 18th he received the above telegram
and Immediately communicated it's substance
to Lord Granville who acknowledged its re
ceipt and stated that it had been referred tt
the proper authorities. Also that on Saturday
the 18th, Mr. Lowell received Lord Granvillel
reply, in which the latter after referring IL
Mr.. Lowell's communication stated that The
counsel for O'Donnell having submitted sucf
representations as he thought advisable on tie
prisoners behalf, those representations and al
other circumstances of the case had been care
fully examined and considered in the mannei
usual in a case of capital convictions and Hel
Majestys Government, found no grounds up
on which it would be justified in advising the
Grown to interfere with the sentence, of the
law or the execution.
NEW YORK Dec. 16.-The Brooklyn Eagle
London special says: O'Donnell, Saturday
for the first time, practically admitted he wa
an Invincible. Saturday evening O'Donnel
sent for his brother, and the two had long
private conversation. When the visitor
emerged, upon being closely pressed, he mad,
the following statement: "For fear that any
thing might happen to him between now ant
Monday, my brother sent for me and asked m,
to put before his friends his last statement. HI
intends upon the scaffold to say the followinl
words:
II killed James Carey, the informer, ant
am not sorry for killing him, nor never hav
been. Not only that, but all London's wealtl
would not buy me or induce me to give an.
one away"
The police alIega that plot exists anon,
the Invincibes to kill Binns before the hou
fixed for the execution if possible. The polio
tonight assert that the British government
has been informed from New York that stron
and we'll organized party of American Irwin
cibles left New York, Thursday, Nov. 29th
aboard the Monarch line steamer Assyrisl
Monarch, for the purpose of attempting tn
rescue of O'Donnell The party, an America
despatch says, are desperate, and through a.
lies in London have chartered small an
| swift steamer in London to convey the rescue
| fellow to sea.
AS ridiculous as any such idiotic schem
| must appear to persons acquainted with tn
| situation at Newgate OF other English prisonI
| still the Scotland yard force has taken offica
notice OF it and posted str0ngscorps Of specis
men at Gravesend for the purpose of arrestin
| the Americans when the Assyrian Monarc
| arrives there Sunday When questioned abou
| the matter Tonight Scotland yard inspecto
| said the police believed if theAmerican part
| came at all, their real mission would b
| revenge against the officers and others engage
| in the prosecution of O'Donnell and ever
| effort will be made to arrest the entire part
| the moment the steamship has landed
| The government has issued permit to th
| police to search persons and luggage and e1
| anime into the identity of every passenger al
| riviog aboard the Assyrian Monarch, and III
1 doubtedly some arrests will be made as th
| government believes the information fror
| New York to be specific and reliable.
| EvENING.l
| LONDON, Dec. 16-The police on leavin
| their duty at the prison this evening, repol
| ODonnell continues firm as rock Ever
one is much impressed with his nerve. O'DoI
| nell is fully prepared to meet his fate, but r.
| marked that his death would be avenged G
England.
Victor Hugo in letter to Queen Victori
| asking for the pardon OF O'Donnell says, tn
Queen Of England has shown more than one
| her greatness of heart, and he prays that tn
Queen will grant to the condemned his Iii
| and accept the unanimous and profound thanl
| of the civilized world.
Messes will be said at 8 O'Clock to-morro
| morning in the various Catholic churches Il
the repose Of O'Donnell's soul.
The local news agency states that at II
farewell visit OF ODonnells brother yesterda
the two men conversed for half an hou
O'Donnell gave his brother final instruction
in regard TO certain private matters. The
spoke in Irish TO prevent the warders unde
| standing.
fsThe unexpended American fund subscribe
for his defense will be divided among his wi
and other dependent relations.
He died for Ireland, be said, and would d
like brave man. O'DoUnell's broth
was desrous of burying ODonnell
body in conseerated ground and W