The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-10
CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT.

congressman and Citizens Ask that the
Government Take Some Action.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8-The following rep
resentatives and prominent citizens called
on the President to-day, and were granted an
audience in the Cabinet room: Messrs Cox
and Robinson, of New York; Morrison,
Springer and Finerty, of Illinois, General
LeFevre. and Foran, of Ohio; Murphy, of
Iowa. Maberry, OF Michigan; Lamb, of Indi-
ana; McAdoo. of New Jersey; Collins,
OF Massachusetts,; O'Neil and Burns
of Missouri; also J. B. Irwin, of the Pekin
ull.) Daily Times Fritz and Young, of Ohio
and others. After few minutes devoted to
introductions, the President heartily shak-
ing hands with each gentleman, and some
interchange of jocular remarks on the po-
litica status, the callers all being Democrats
Mr.. Cox said:
Mr.. President, these score or more of gentle
men nave come to speak tn Won in behalf of
Patrick ODonnell, a citizen of the United States
He has just been summarily tried and sem
fenced to be executed on the 9TH inst We do
not come as lawyers to critcise the procedure
under which he was convicted, nor do we ask
that the sentence he set aside. because he took
the life OF an lnfOrmer, the execration of man
kind, the odium of history. We simply ask a
postp0nement of the execution, II your inter
VenCiOn as our cnleI magistrate can effect Ii.
But, as the cause of a general, earnest senti-
ment of the people we represent, may be al
lowed to say that certain facts have produced a
broad, deep seated sympathy These facts are
that the killing was not murder, nor with malice
prepense. 1t was not deliberate. The elements
OF murder are lacking in the case. The con-
demned man was not member of any secret Or
ganizattOn. When he entered upon the voyage
we was not aware that Carey, 1.-THE lnformer,"
was his fellow-passenger. He was pursuing a
"bona hde" Journey with his wife to the Cape.
The truth Is the killing an atfray. II grew
out OF an occasion sudden, and had no connec-
ton with the political events in Ireland. Be-
sides. it is thought by many that the Irisi was
unfair, not TOT Bay cruel. Tic authorities of the
Cape claimed jurisdiction. 1t is law of the
realm that the first part nation" whose law is
broken is the "loeus in quo" for trial. Custom
and law unite to condemn this proceeding, and
1t is contrary to English Jurisprudence. Besides,
there was wanting the old practice, OF late alb
rogated in England, whereby jury should have
been impaneled, one half of the nation he be-
longs to and the other half of The nation by
which he was tried. 1t is also certain that the
Judge decided upon facts ds well as law. Thus
was there a m0ckery of jury trial and a scandal
of justice. l mention these matters not for your
presentation of them in diplomatic way Your
administration may not consider 1t proper Co
Griticise, much less anathematiz' the action of
the British court We would not allow any re-
Election upon judicial action from the En-
glish government. Slih these facts have pro-
duced o general and ineradicahle impression
upOn tho American people, and as such recount
them. THIS sympathy Is intensified Oy the