Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-10
A DASTARDLY ACT.
Capt. Phalen of Kansas City Probably
Fatally stabbed bv a Noted Dyna.
inter In the Office of O'Dou.
Ovan Rossa-Twelye
Wounds on His
Body.

NEW YORK, Jan. 3.
Thos. Phalen, said to be superintendent
of the Kansas City workhouse, was stabbed
and probably fatally wounded in the office of
O'Donovan Rosa, today, by a man named
Barry. The men quarrelled presumably in
relation TO Irish national affairs. Barry was
locked up. Phelan was removed to the
Chambers street hospital, where it is thought
he will die
Ii is learned that Phelan was regarded as a
traitor by the dynamiters, and that letter
was sent TO Kansas CITY to decoy him to New
York. 1t was believed that he had betrayed
their secrets by>having them published in the
form of an interview.
When Phelan reached New York he was
met by Jno. +. Kearney and escorted to
Rossa's Office, where Immediately on his ar
rival he was attacked. He rushed. bleeding
from many wounds, into the street. He was
pursued BY man, who was arrested by Off
Ger Levy. While the officer held the prisoner
50 Phelan could identify him as the assailsnt
Phelsn suddenly drew revolver and fired at
the prisoner but missed him. At the station
house the prisoner gave his name as Richard
Short, butcher. The wound by the pistol
shot fired by Phelan was found to be slight.
The prisoner was locked up. Meanwhile
Phelan laI on the sidewalk. Fireman Goth
rell asked him if he should get a priest or
| minister. "No," replied Phelan, 81 want
nobody. | belong TO no religion"
An ambulance took the wounded man to
Chambers street hospital. His clio hing was
cut in several places, under which there was
no wound. The four stabs in the back were
slight, two just below either shoulder They
were two inches deep seventh was in the
right side of the neck. Another penetrated
the chest. and each arm received a thrust
The right arm was almost severed from the
shoulder.
| An ante mor,em statement was obtained
| from Phelan by the coroner at the hospital
| Phelan declares that the man who assaulted
him was named Barker. Kearney and two
other men witnessed the affair. ODonovan
Rosa, when questioned, pretended to be
| ignorant but he has now disappeared.
O'Donovan Rosa lives in the outskirts of
Brooklyn. Rings at his door bell tonight
brought no responses. friend of his said
he had lately heard talk of "treschery"
among certain parties, but he was surprised
that the men should so far forget themselves
as to fight. He was sure Rosa knew moth
ing about the affair and if Rosa had been
present the stabbng would have been pre-
vented
Alta late hour tonight Phelan's condition
had not improved and it is believed by
physicians he will die.
The attempted assassination of Phelan has
caused a great sensation. An interview in
which Phelan was supposed to have betrayed
the secrets of the dynsmiters, and which was
published in the Kansas City Journal, con-
| tained statement from Phelan in which he
told about the attempt to blow up the steamer
Queen, at Liverpool dock, also about the
attempt to blow up the Caldeonian railway at
Glasgow and mentioned the names of the
men who were concerned in those jobs
Kearneys name was mention as chief pro-
iector. Phelsn went to Engand shortly after
Garry was made famous as an infJrmer aud
it was for some time supposed that as he was
a crack shot with the rifle and pistol he had
gone there to execute vengeance on Garry
and the name of O'Donnell was believed to
be the alias for Phelan. Phelan came near
being transported for life when in England,
and escaped to America in disguise.
At one o'clock this morning the surgeons
at the hospital said they entertained hopes of
Phelen's recovery. They discovered three
additional wounds in the patients head, max
ing twelve in all.
KANSAS CRY. Jan. 9.
News of the stabbing of Capt. Thomas
Phelan, in New York, created quite stir in
this city. Only few friends were aware of
his visit to New York. Phelan took an ex-
ception to O'Donovan Rossa's paper, on an
interview published here, and left for New
York city, Tuesday night. with the intention,
it is stated, of asking an explanation or re-
traction of them. He has been a resident
here since 1864. He served in the federal
army during the war and has figured conspic-
uously in local politics He has been an ar
dent supporter of the Irish cause and man