Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-09
O'DONNELL'S CASE,
AN INFLUENTIAL DELEGATION
WATTS ON PRESIDENT AhTHUR.

They Present in Very Striking Manner
Through Mi. Cox, Their Views. and the
| Reasons why the Executive of tie United
States Should Intercede.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The following
| members of the house of representatives
and prominent citizens called on the presi-
dent to-day, and were granted an audience
IN the cabinet room. Cox and Robinson,
New York; Morrison, Springer aid Fin
erty, Illinois; General Lefevre and Foran,
Ohio; Murphy, Iowa; Maybury, Michigan;
Lamb, Indiana; McAdes, New Jersey; Col
Inns, Massachusetts; O'Neil and Burns,
Missouri; also j. B. Irwin, Pekin, (ID.)
Daily Times, Fritz and Young, Ohio, and
| others. After few minutes devoted to
lntroductions, the president heartily shak-
ing hands with each gentleman, and gave
some interchange of jocular remarks
on political status of the
| callers all being Democrats,
MIR. Cox said: Mr.President: These score or
more of gentlemen have come to speak to
you In behalf of Patrick O'Donnell, citi-
zen or the United States He has Just
been snmmarily tried, and sentenced to be
executed on the 18th inst. We do not come
as lawyers to criticise the procedure by
which he was convicted, nor do we ask that
| the sentence be set aside because he took
! the life of an lnformer, the execration of
| mankin d and the odium of history; we
| simply ask postponement of his execu-
ton, If your Intervention as our chief mag
| istrate can effect it, but as the cause is a
| general earnest sentiment of the people
We represent, l may be allowed to say that
certain Of the facts have produced a
broad and deep seated sympathy.
These facts are, the killing was not muir
der, not malice, the presence was not de-
| liberate, and the elements of murder are
lacking in this case. The condemned
man was not member of any secret Or
| ganlzatlon when he entered upon the vow
| age-he was not aware that Carey, the in
| former, was a fellow passenger-he was
pursuing bona fde journey with his
wife to the cape. The truth is, the killing
was an ARRAY. It grew out of an occasion
that was sudden and had no connection
| with the political events in ireland. Be-
sides it is thought by many that the trial
was unfair, not to sayIcruel. The authori-
ties at the cape claimed Jurisdiction
1t is the law of the realm that
the first post' of the nation whose laws
are broken is 'locus in quo'' for the trial,
and castom and law unite to condemn the
proceeding. 1t is contrary to English
jurisprudence. Besides, there WAS want
ing the old practice, of late abrogated III
England, whereby the jury should have
been empanelled, the one half from the
nation he belongs TO and the other half
from the nation by which he was tried. It
is also certain that the Judge decided upon
facts IS we'll as law. Thus was there a
mockery in the jury trial and
q scandal of justice. 1 mention
these matters, not for your representation
of them in diplomatic way. Your ad-
ministration may not consider it proper
to eriticise, much less anathemize the az
ton of the British courts. We would not
allow any reflections upon our judicial ac-
ton from the English government. Still
the facts have produced general and in
eradicable impression upon the American
people, and as such I recount them, and
this sympathy is intensified by the knowl-
edge that Patrick O'Donnell is
citizen of this country, although
naturalized, yet by treaty he is in the
Gen. Collins said: It is conceded and it
is we'll known he is a citizen.
Mr.. Cox said: If, Mr.. President, this
hurried execution takes place, there will a
shudder run through our people.
Nh. Foran said: Is it not true that o.
Donnell was Union soldier?
Mr.. Finnerty said: It is so generally
reported, and I understand it has not
been oontradicted.
Mr.. Cox continuing, said: Les us en-
deavor to do something. would not en-
barrass the executive by undue requests.
Having long served on the committee on
foreign affairs, I had occasion to
protest against the assumption or usur-
patton by congress of the diplomatic
powers, which is exclusively lodged in
your functions. But, sir, you have inter
fered in another case, that of Lawson. It
was case of personal murder. 1t had
none of the interesting and international
phases of this case. 1t did not evoke the
universal sympathy that this case does,
hence as members of congress, we thus,
though unoffcially represent this univer-
sal sympathy. A large vote is among
them and we are not a little interested all
of us. Laughter.) In fact we represent
twenty millions of people OF
Irish descent, among whom we
count such soldiers as General
Sheridan, and you are Mr.. President, are
proud to be reckoned among the decend-
tines of this gallant race. Here the presi-
dent smiled and bowed assent. On behalf
of these sympathetic people, and in view
of the facts we have related we only ask
you to direct the secretary of the state to
open negotiations to carry out our earnest
wishes.
Mr.. Finerty said: As ordinary diplo-
macy may be too late, may I'll not with
out improperly, suggest that negotiations
for the postponement of the execution be
made by cable, and at once.
The President said: The execution is fix
ed for Monday week, the 18th, and of
course it must be by cable.
Mr.. Cox said: If there should be post
ponement Of the execution, in the mean
while, such representations may be made
either to commute the sentence or enlodge
the prisoner under proper conditions, and
we appeal to you for clemency and human
ity.
The President in reply said: The depart
ment of state would at once telegraph to
Minister Lowell to make all possible in
quiry regarding O'Donnell's citizenship,
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