The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-11
Possibility that Congress May Order an In
vestigation of the Methods Pursued by
lrish-American Dynamite Plotters.
Richard Short Remanded to Await the
Result of the Victims Injuries.
Phelan Believes that He Was Entrapped, and
that 1t Was Intended to Murder
Him-Plot Against Steamship.
OPINION AT WASHINGTON.

OPINION AT WASHINGTON.
Phelan's Career at the Capital-A Congress
sional Inquiry Possible.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-Tongues have been
well employed here, to-day, in commenting upon
the attempted assassination of Thomas f.
Phelan in O'Donovan Rossas Office at New York,
yesterday. Phelan used to live here, is well
known in this city now, and many incidents of
his life have been recalled in opinionating upon
the subject. Phelan was appointed to superin-
| tendency in the Capitol. police force during the
Forty fourth Congress, and served until the end
of the Forty fifth Congress. He came here from
Kansas City, and secured his official position
through the influence of Representative Benja-
min Franklin, of that district. He had a wife
and three children and at the end of his services
returned to Kansas City. He was considered by
those who served on the police force with him as
somewhat eccentric, and reckless beyond de-
gree; yet he was ever expressing concern for the
future welfare of his family, and eyinced much
affection for his wife and children. Thomas
Connolly, who is spoken of by Phelan, and who is
referred TO in the latter's ante-mortem state
der Phean. Connolly is at present an employe
of the postofice House of Representatives
Speaking of the tragedy to-day, he said: "With
all of Phelan's reckessness, he was continually
working upon some scheme to provide for the fu-
ture welfare of his family After he left here
did not see him until met him in New York,
upon the eve of his departure to Europe. He
said he was going over to look after some prop
erty left him, but he acted in such way that l
suspected that that was not his object in going
At his request bought his ticket and arranged
for his passage. If remember right, it was
for trip on the steamer Queen that made the
arrangements When he came back from Europe
met him, both in New York and Albany.
He told me about his trip and what had been
done. He told me exactly the same story is
contained in the statement which he made in
New York last evening I asked him if he had
not feared being unable to get back to the
United States. He said that he had had no fear
on that subject whatever; his prospects were all
right 1t was said at one time that Phelan was
the man who killed Carey, the informer, but
that do not believe to be true. I asked Phelan
about IT, and he denied it emphatically, and as
sured me that he had not even the remotest
connection with Carey's death. There is one
thing about Phelan that have never been able
to understand: He went from here, at
the expense of Mr.. Franklin, to work in the lat
ters interest for return to Congress. When
he got to Kansas City he worked for Crisp, his
opponent for the nomination. That I do mot
understand
Phelan is a tall, we'll built man, of about forty
years of age. Many Irish citizens here say that
the attack on Phelan was not so much on ac-
count of his interview in Kansas City, giving in
detail what he had done as dynamiter in Eng
gland, but because he had threatened to tell
more at the same time. They do not approve
of the plan of summoning him to New York to
be killed. and much very harsh criticism is passed
by prominent men upon ODonavan Rossa. They
believe he is in some way culpable; that if. not
an accomplice, he should not have had such a
crowd about his Office, and that it looks like his
place was rendezvous for Internal machine
men.
DYNAMITE AND POLITICS.
1t is not improbable that the affair will lead
to Congressional inquiry. Among Congress
men to-day there was good deal of discussion
over the affair and it's possible effect upon egis
laton. Those who favor an extension of the
scope of the extradition treaty say that this
calls TO mind the fact that something ought to
be done to break up the dynamite societies On
the whole, however, it seems to be the impress
sion of Congressman that the dynamiters have
no connection with national legislation. Gov
ernor Long, of Massachusetts, expressed his hor-
ror of the dynamite policy, and added that he
thought such crimes as those in which Rossa
Phelan ct al. were engaged only put back the
cause of Ireland, which will certainly prevail if
left TO an enlightened public sentiment. He
thought, however, that England's course in the
Orsini matter was such that she could not ex-
pect favorable legislation on the part of the
| United States.
| Mr.. O'Neill, of Missouri, said that he knew
Phelan, and did not think he was traitor to the
Irish cause He believed that all true friends of
Ireland would oppose the dynamite policy, and
that local self government will eventually result
| from proper agitation, without murder.
| Mr.. Morse, of Massachusetts, says dynamite
is good thing, and that as soon as it is used by
| O'Donovan Rosa and his friends to annihilate
each other with, it will have accomplished great
good for the country The general belief az
pears to be that no legislation looking to the
punishment of the dynamite fends will be at
tempted this year.
THE ASSA CSTN ANN 1TS vTCrTyr