Omaha daily bee., 1884-08-16
REMARKABLE IRISH TRIAL
CONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
The witness denied ever having usec
the words imputed to him. From tn,
first he had never any doubt that Halo
ran was the man he saw speaking tt
Thiebault. Gradually, and under q ter
rible fire of questions, n branch, the
main branch of the defense, developed
itself. This was founded on the report Of
proceedings at the inquest given in a To-
cal paper. According to the record, il
would appear that Woodlock, ON the first
day of the inquest, not only did not
name the prisoner Halloran as the muir.
derer, but that he went further, and in
timated his inability to identify the man
he saw in conversation with the French
a A man named Connors, the herds.
nan before referred to as accompanying
M. Thiebault for the purpose of protec.
ton, was spoken of as possibly the per
son who did the desperate deed. The
newspaper report gave it that Woodlock,
when asked, on the first day OF the in.
quest, if he was sure it was not Connors,
rejoined, Elbow could | be sure?"
IL was on this report the cross-exami.
nation first turned. Woodlock quickly
recovered his self possession and became
calm and cautious. All the experience
and the ability pitted against him could
not move him. He adhered to his pres.
ent statement, that he never had a doubt
as to the identity of Halloran with the
man he saw on the roadside, and that
he never expressed any such doubt. But
he admitted that on the first day of the
inquiry before the coroner he was not in
any way pressed for the name of the
man, and that he did not then mention
Halloran. But hat ON the next day,
when the police had arrested Halloran
and his two brothers and produced them
IN court, he, without any hesitation, iden-
Vtifed the youngest man, the present
prisoner as the man he saw in converse.
ton with Thiebault. From this position
he could not be moved. Nothing could
change him. 1t mattered not to him
what the paper contained or what anyone
stated. Halloran was the man. He said
so now, he always said so. To the taunt
that he was an informer he answered,
Irish fashion, how could he be? And
| when asked why he could not, he OK
Slained simply that he was no participa-
tor in the crime. His evidence was not
given in the hope of a reward. He had
got nothing from the crown and not
stipulated for anything.
Such was the position, so far as his ev-
idence was concerned, when an incident
occurred which startled all and %astounded
some. On the jury was a gentleman
named Southcote Mansergh, a man of
property and a magistrate. Woodlock
was being cross-examined as to his
knowledge of Halloran's pursuits for
some time before the murder, with the
view of showing that he knew very little
about him, and leaving the inference that
his identification could not be relied on.
1t transpired that Halloran had been a
militiaman, and that for purposes OF
duty and drill he should have been alb.
sent from home for some time. The wit
ness was being severely questioned as to
his knowledge of the prisoners move
ments, when all attention was arrested
by a gruff, stern voice from the jury.
The voice came from Mr.. Mansergh,
The question came like a shot when the
examination was the hottest. The pris.
oner's counsel stood rigid for a second,
and then blandly smiled approval at the
Juror. In a grutf, threatening voice, tina
reverberated through the court, the
question was again flung at the witness
There did not appear to be much in 1t
The answer, yes or no, would have sllgh'
effect on the issue, bat the excitement
was intense. There was cleo richly in
the air, and the manner of the juror tt
the witness was hostile and contempt
uous. Sergeant Armstrong, who was OF
duty for the Grown, jumped up. In an
angry tone he protested against thu
question. 1t was unfair and illegal
Their Lordships should not allow it. II
did not arise from the direct examination
Before the judges could interpose, before
the purport of the objection could b.
realized, there came 1.-THE reply, thunder
ing in defiant tones from the juror:
81 know that, but L believe it was tn,
fact, and anything tending to acquit the
prisoner i feel bound to put forward"
A roar of triumphant delight greete,
the announcement. Despite the menac
ing appearance of the judges, and tn
frantic exertions of the police, the pre-
dominant feeling would have its way
Cheer after cheer set the order of tn,
courtat defiance, and Southcote Mansergh
juror and magistrate, divided popularity
with Thomas Halloran, the prisoner a
the bar. To this day the incident and it
effect on the trial are recalled by thos,
who heard the startling announcement
The cloud that a minute since was al
dark and black now showed a streak o
silver lining, and the prisoner had
friend on the Jury. The judges by
/glance, and a gentle bending of the heac
and shoulder, with a slight elevation o
the eyebrows, indicated something to on
another. There was hurried whisperin
n the ranks of the prosecution, and tn
prisoners advocate now renewed his tas
like a giant refreshed. The word fror
the jury had a depressing effect both o
the witness and the crowns counsel, an
when Woodlock left the table there wa
an impression hat he was somewhat di
credited.
Other witnesses were now produced I