Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-19
O'DONNELL IN THE COURT ROOM.
The scene at His Conviction Described
by Gen. Roger y. Pryor.


Gen. Roger \. Pryor, who was sent to
England to assist in the defense of fO'DOn-
nell. the slayer of the infOrmer Carey, re-
turned Yesterday on the Germanic, Of the
White star Line. He spent last evening
cOnversing with Patrick Ford, OF the Irish
World, lawyer &. W. Peasants and 9TH
ers. He did not see O'DOnnell after his
conviction, but received a message from
him, in which the condemned man ex-
pressed gratitude to the Irish Americans
for what they had done for him.
"HOw did O'DOnnell bear himself dur
ing the trial?' Gen. Pryor was asked.
Like hero. He was intrepid, deco
rOus. and dignitied. He was perfectly
stOical throughout. Nobody ten feet away
heard the clerk ask why sentence should
not be pronounced. O'DOnnell certainly
did not. | did not hear him. nor did Mr..
Sullivan. Three English barristers came
to me to say that the clerk had omitted
to ask the question. O'DOnnell had ready
a ringing speech. He was leaning on the
rail like this when sentence was pro-
nOunced," and Gen. Pryor bent over the
table in his library. ''When the Judge
said he hoped the prisoner would spend
the time left him repenting of his deed,
O'DOnnell Strengthened up proudly, The
words he uttered when the Judge refused
TO allow him to speak were: Three cheers
for old Ireland. Hurrah for the United
States, To hell with the British CrOwnr
He Is a rude man. and could not fold his
arms like Robert Emmett in histriOnic
grandeur. and makes a dying speech
After the Judge delivered that fatal stab.
Mr.. Guy, one of his solicitors, said to
O'DOnnell. 1t looks blue for yOu.' Il
don't care he replied. There never was
a crander hero than that poor untutOred
man.
"What do you mean by the fatal stab
to the prisoners"
Judge Denman considered him guilty,
and meant TO see that he was convicted.
In his summing up he was fair enough.
He did not consider it necessary to be I'M
fair. But upon his summing up the jury
was inclined to acquit the prisoner. They
believed that Carey had a pistol and in
tended to use it. When the jury asked
whether, if there was deadly weapon in
the hands of Carey which 0'DOnnell
thought he was going to discharge, the
shooting would be manslaughter or muir
der, the Judge evinced, palpably, disap-
pOintment, not to say disgust. He an
swered the question, and then asked
where the evidence was to show any act
done by Carey to lead O'DOnnell to think
the informer intended to shoot. That was
criminal in the Judge, and il was said
in n tone that | shall never forget.
l said then to Father Fleming, Miss Ford
and Mr.. Sullivan, That puts the rope
around O'DOnnelrs neck To show that
Judge Denman knew what he had done, l
will tell YOU an incident. Before the ver-
diet was rendered he walked out of the
court room. He came back with his black
cap by his side, and put it coyertlv on his
desk. Any Judge VINO would have used
the words here that Judge Denman did
would have been impeached. When Mr..
Russell raised the point that he could tell
objected. The Judge was inclined to SuS-
tain the objection, but he saw that if he
ruled the statement out he would have to
reserve the point. Finally he suggested
TO the Attorney General to yield the point.
which was done. Had he ruled adversely
he would have had to give an appeal, and
O'DOunell would then have been acquit-
ted"
Did the Irish agitation have any effect
on Judge Denman's conduct in the trial -
i did not see that it did. That the
Irish question had its effect on him is be-
yond doubt. There was a notion among
some that the underground railway
explosions influenced the Judge. / don't
believe the Irish had anything to do with
the explosion. In my opinion, it was the
work of discharged operatives. AS far as
I could see, down to the interrOgatOry,
nothing struck me as unfair to the prisO-
ner. | was pleased and sanguine up to
that time. An English Judge has far
more power than one in America, and can
direct his jury as he wants it to 60"
what did you do to save O'DOnnell
after his conyictiOn?'
''In England there is no way of recti-
fying an error except by respite. Being
an American, l said | would not assume
% point out the error in the Judges
charge. 1 would leave that for Mr.. Rus
sell and the others TO do, but | was to seek
the Intervention of Minister Lowell
O'DOnnell was given the shortest possible
time. Three clear Sundays are allowed
in England. O'D0nnell was convicted at
O'Clock Saturday night, and his doom
was fixed TO be met in sixteen days. |
urged upon Mr.. Lowell that the Lamson
case offered a precedent for his in
terventiOn. That was not a pOliti-
cal case, but a base murder for
money. If Mr.. Lowell had gone TO
Mr.. Gladstone the respite could have
been got instantly. Communications
from Mr.. Gladstone to Mr.. Lowell are,
YOU know, from the most engaged to the
most engaging man in England. l may
explain. The granting Of a new trial
comes from the Judge sitting at convic-
tiOn. The only one to interfere outside
is the Home Secretary, who may COM
mute the sentence or respite the prisoner.
O'DOnnell did not ask for a respite. He
craved no favor Of the British Crown. He
can neither read nor write, but he is far
above men of his class. had hopes when
i left, but l can see none now. Mr..
/ Lowell did not tell me that he would or
would not exert himself to secure inter-
ventiOn. He created the impression on
my mind that if his government au-
I thOriZed him to interfere he would do sO.'
Mr.. J. H. Hayman, Fleming, Ca, says.
Il used Browns Iron Bitters for malaria
/ Fax-or x.-stb ,,,oct Ionafa;oI ,..,,l4, >,