Morris tribune., 1883-12-19
The Truth at Last.


tracts from a letter written by one of ODon-
nell's counsel, which purport to contain the
real facts of the killing Of Carey. The writer
says: At last the truth may be told of the
killing Of James Carey. 1t was not to be
told so long as a shadow of chance
remained to prevent the sacrifice
Of patriots for that Of the in
famous wretch whom he deliberately swept
off the earth. For Patrick O'Donnell did
deliberately kill James Carey, and he delib-
erately killed him because he was James
Carey. There was no struggle. Carey made
no attack on ODonnell. O'Donnell never
set up the plea of sef-defense. Had he been
permitted to tell tie truth the fimsy subter-
fuge of self-defense would never have de-
tracted from an act he considered meritori-
Gus in the sight Of God and man. He knew
the consequences of the act and he would
have manfully accepted them.
O'Donnell did not know Carey on the voy-
age from England to the cape. He was not
member of any society. He was merely
rolling stone. He had wandered restIessy
over many parts of the American states, in
capable of peaceful residence. He had moved
about in Ireland and spent some time in Eng
land. With no definite aim he was going to
Australia Nervous and restless, almost
to the verge of insanity, Indifferent to
natural ties, and reckless Of his actions,
he took with him for companion
an unfortunate who was neither maid nor
wife, fact sufficient to show that he had
not gone on a commission of vengeance
whose ful1llment would fill the world with
his name and turn the fercest glare of noto-
riety ON his character and habits. He had
no suspicion that the man with whom he had
played cards and drank an occasional
glass of beer was this monster
But the news was ahead of the ship,
and local paper at the cape con-
tanned an excited article denouncing the gov
ernment for polluting Australia with the
wretch. O'Donnell heard this article read
and was shown a w0od-cut of Carey, whom
he at once recognized. He instantly resolved
to kill Carey, out Of sheer instructive sense of
duty as an Irishman. On the impulse of the
resolution he ssid to The man who had shown
him the wood-cut, @Fll kill himl" as was
sworn on the trial.
From the moment he formed his purpose he
never wavered in it. But he knew it would
not be easy to kill Carey, and he could not
afford to make the attempt and fai'. Carey
was well armed, vigilant and suspicious.
O'Donnel determined to ship with him to
Port Elizabeth, go with him to the farm
Carey told him he was going to take, and
then, without eoncealment of purpose or mo-
tive, show him there was no spot on which
an Irish informer would be safe O'Don-
nell became nervous and excited. In a
reckless hope of calming himself he drank,
the morning of the fatal day, glass of
whisky. 1t robbed him of self-control. He
was not intoxicated, but his discretion was
gone. Finding himself euddenIy alone with
Carey and his travelling companion he could
not resist the desire to kill him at once
Carey, with lightning quickness, perceived
his danger. The two Hishmen glowerei at
each other. Carey hissed: "Do you know
meW ODonnell Missed back: ~ do. You
are Carey. the informer. To hell with your
The bullet sped with the words, and the deed
was done. Carey cintched his own revolver,
but it was too late. ODonnell discharged a
second shot and third to make sure II his
work, and Carey rolleI to the deck. No hui
man eyes saw the encounter except Dion
nelis companion, who threw her arms around
him and filed the ship with her cries. He
had weakly told her that morning his de-
termination to kill Carey and that he would
be hanged for it, When Mrs. Carey reached
the scene O'Donneu said to her: II had to 90
il" meaning simply that he felt it to be his :.
duty as an Irishman to kill the wretch who
had swore away innocent lives and enticed
honest men to the gallows. His silence re-
manned thereafter unbroken.
The writer then criticises the plea Of self
defense which he declares that O'Donnell was
opposed to. He continues: Whatever hope
existed lay in cultivating English public
opinion for the prisoner. In this the counsel
were thoroughly foilei by the insane folly Of
some of the Irish in America, whose silly but
vicious defamation, impotent for good, was
powerful for harm. The threats of
retaliation reused no fear in those at
whom they were aimed, but they
aroused british hatred toward
O'Donnell, The height Of criminal folly was
felt to be reached when the announcement