Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-10
STABBED AS A TRAITOR.
Capt. Phelan, Of Kansas City. Attacked
in O'DOnovan ROssa's Office, New
HIS ALLEGED TREASON TO THE DYNAMITE CAUSE
THE WOUNDED MAN FORMERLY a LIEUTENANT IN
THE CAPITOL POLICE FORCE.


THE WOUNDED MAN FORMERLY LIEUTENANT IN
THE CAPITOL POLICE FORCE.
Thomas Phelan, now superintendent OF the Kan
sas City workhouSe, who was lieutenant In the
Capitol police here during the FOrty-sixth Con-
gress, was dangerously stabbed in O,Donovan
RoSsa's Office, Chambers street, New York yester-
day, by man named Barker. The murderous
attack is supposed TO have grown out Of Phelan's
alleged betrayal of secrets Of the dynamiters with
whom he was alfiliated He went to New York in
answer to letter from one John F. Kearney, with
whom he went to O'Donoyan Rossa's Office While
there the man Barker entered with a knife In his
hand and Immediately attacked Phelan. The lat
ter ran down stairs, pursued by Barker who stab
bed him repeatedly. Phelan fell as he reached the
sidewalk, and his aSSalant ran into the City Hall
park, but was captured ana recognized by Phelan
The latter drew pistol as the policeman brought
lnficting slight wound In the groin
At the hospital the doctors discovered
! tive e STAB ,,,a wounds on Pnelans body
severed at the shoulder by powerful knfe-cut. 1t
Is thought he viii recover Three letters found In
Phelan's pockets the police refused to show.
week ago last sunday an interview with Phean
appeared In the Kansas City Times, and out of
it Phelan said John L. Kearney was the man who
blew up the gas works and the CALIFORNIAN railway
station in Glasgow. Scotland, and gave particulars
OF trip which he and kearney afterwards made to
that country. Kearney went over In the steamer
Queen, which vessel he had planned to blow up
COCK In Liverpool The plot tailed, owing TO
detect in the machine Fifteen pounds OF dynamite
"enough to blow UP the pyramids" had been
placed In the veSSeFS hold by kaarney. Pnean
afterwards went to Liverpool and enaeavored 10
remove the dynamite, but failed. owing to the vigil
escaped TO France and Germany and made his way
back TO the United States.
ODonovan Rosa, in whose office Phelan was
attacked. pretended TO know nothing about the
matter When seen just after it occurred, and was
not TO be found last night.
special dispatch from Kansas City says: "Capr
Thos Pheian has long been known as prom inent
Irish agitatOr and sympathizer with Ireland While
he was In England last summer 1t was reported
mat he had been arrested for completely in the
Dublin MURDERS which, however, proved untrue.
While man ofhlgh temper, he is cool and brave,
and has many admirers Recently he stabbed q
man in difficulty. but as il was done i'm self
defence he was promptly acquitted. lie achieved
considerable notOrety in the 3te campaign by his
advocacy OF Blaine He has an estinable family
and many warm friends. who sincerely hope for his
recovery. He left the city hurrledy on Tuesday
In y DohoVan ko5Sa'S paper on The interview pub
liShed here. and left for New York city with the
intention, IL is stated, OF asking explanation or
retraction or them"
WHAT IS KNOWN OF PHELAS HERE.
Capt. Phclan Is well remembered by many people
at the Capitol and about town. He attained some
prominence III local politics at Kansas City, his
home, and when Franklin became u member from
tIiae alstrict he secured place for Phelan as
lieutenant OF the Capitol police, dsplacing Lieut..
Giliat Phelhn held THIS place for TWO or three
years When The Kansas City district became re-
publican, owing TO 4 spit among the democrats,
Jonn b. Clark, OF Missouri, secured Pneian5 place
for one OF his prOteges. Phelan remained about
washington for some time. endeavorlug i'll vain to
get something to 90. Finally ne got so hard I'D
that number OF MS friends, members OF Congress
aEd others, got money enough together to send
MN pack 10 Kansas Ctty. where he reentered poll
ties. Since he left WaShin tOu. IunOrS have from
time 10 time reached here letting HIM with
the dynamters. 1t was at on time said that he
had gone 10 England on a dynamite expedition,
ana this Is the trip To when he referred In his in
leryieW published in the Kansas City Times
Phelan IS typical Irishman In nanrer and ap-
pearance and talks with d pronounced brogue.
/ FOND OF A SENSATION.
Phelan was appointed lieutenant OF the Capitol
police force in 1885, AMI was discharged when the
officers OF the House were changed in 1879. Mem
berS OF the force. who served with him. say that he
was always getting them IN trouble. On several
occasions he entered complaints against the
captain and others OF the force, and ill.,
stlgate1 Investigations by the House. and
seemed, they say, 20 delight in making
a sensation. He had the reputation OF
being the best shot on the force, ana AT one time it
was reported that he was the man wno shot the in
former Carey, Tor whose murder O'Donneu was
hanged.