The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-27
SwEENEY-M'swEENEY.
A Talk with His Attorney-The Truth at
First Hand. -r-=-71zs

First Hand.
San Francisco Chronicle
reporter called upon Judge d. Cooney, at
his Office No. 4O5 Kearny street, and elected the
following information:
will you please state your understanding of
the MeSweeney case, your connection with it
and whether or not You were an attorney for Me-
Sweeney in the matter of his arrest by the
British authOrtiesT asked the reporter
There has been so much said that it would
only be fair to give the truth in the matter" was
the response. What | did in his behalf was
entirely owing to the fact that knew him for
years in this city. 1t was from feeling of
frie ndship that | took an interest in his case.
McSweeney, about seven years ago, sold out all
the property he had, so far as | know. in Cali
fornia, and gathered up all he had here,
and he and his family left California and
tooA up their residence in County Donegal Ire
land. Before he left he had negotiated for a
piece of property in ireland, purchased it,
and moved his family on it. where l pre-
sumo he is residing now. l do not know Of
any single interest belonging to him in the
United States 1t seems that after he took
up his permanent residence in Ireland he was
elected poor-law house guardian, and as such
must have qualified and taken an oath as an Off
GER in accordance with British laws l saw
letter written by him to San Fraciseo six or
seven weeks ago, in which it is stated that he ran
for the same Office this year and was defeated.
/ take it from these facts that Mr.. McSweeny
must have abandoned as he certainly did his
residence in the United States, and must have
considered it preferable to take up his residence
in Ireland under the British government 1t is
true that he was a naturalized citizen of the
United States, his final papers having been is
sued to him here in San Francisco some years
before his return to Ireland. He was known
here as Daniel Sweeney and his naturalization
papers were issued by that name | see that
after his return to ireland he resumed his ances
trial name of McSweeney.
4f,aT afi anad
in Ireland Mr.. McSweeney took some part in
that agitation in a local way, so that he was on
occount of some harsh language supposed to
have been used by him, arrested and imprisoned
under the coercion act His arrest took place
in June, 1881, and about that time Mr. Blaine
wrote letters Of instruction TO Minister Lowell
concerning the suspect cases, particularly
in the Boynton and Walsh cases. Considerable
correspondence took place, and Mr. Blaine, who
was then Secretary OF State, wrote a general in
struction, which would apply and no doubt was
intended by him to apply to all suspect cases of
American citizens That instruction was very
strong in favor of demanding an examination and
speedy trial for all such persons-in faetI do not
see how he could express himself in any stronger
terms short of declaration of war, and believe
that nearly all leading Irish Nationalist and
men who have taken active part in Irish affairs,
are fully satisfied with the terms of those in
structons given by Mr. Blaine. would not,
for one, ask for any stronger instructions even
in favor of persons who had not actually aban-
doued their residence in the United States by
their own voluntary acts Before Blaine could
take any further positive action in the cases of
01cSwueney and others, President Garfield was
shot From that time to the time that Arthur
became President we certainly could not expect
anything of more positive character from MIR.
Blaine than was expressed by his former letter
of instruction.
'1t would seem. then that there was nothing
further done in McSweeney's and the other cases
until the following spring at which time
and a few others concluded we would interest
ourselves in behalf of Mr. McSweeney, and a
statement of his case, as favorable. of course to
him IS we could consistently make it W rs drawn
zap, showing his former residence here, the fact
Of his naturalization, etc, which waS forwarded
by myself to Congress through Senator Farley;