The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-18

OF KANSAS CITY, HACKED NEARLY TO DEATH
BY AN ALLEGED DYNAMITE IN
o'DoSovAN RossA's OFFICE.
Particulars OF the attempted assassination
of Captain Thomas Phelan, of Kansas CITY,
by man giving his name rs Richard Short,
and his residence New York, in the Office Of
ODonovan Rosss. in tnat city, have Ssen
fully reported in this iournai. The
latest accounts shpw that Phe-
Ian is rapidly recovering from
the injuries he received, and the probability
that sensational EatteS WIN be ELECTED in
the trial of Short. This person lies in the
Toombs, the city prison of New York, and
stubbornly refuses to communicate with the
press. O'Donovan Rossa also keeps his lips
clcsed against reporters. Captain Pheisn
promises to anticipate the expected reveis-
tions of the trial by the publication of an
account Of Rosss's doings, which, il is said,
will drive this notorious person out Of the
dynamite business. He says that he has
documents in his possession which win clear
him of all suspicion of double dealing. and
at the same time expose Rosa and his asso-
ciates.
Captain Phelan has long been identified
with the men who are conepiring to liberato
Ireland from Its connection with the British
Empire. he is an Irishman by birth, hsvs
ing been born in the County Tipperary, De-
cember %, 1886. As an inmate of profni-
nent Irish family named De Ia Pouer, ho
received good education.
! in his twenty-second year he sailed for
the New World, and, after spending Q few
months East, went TO Missouri. in which
! State he has ever since resided, with the ex.
ception of three years spent in Washington.
/ Early in his life in Missouri he received q
pistol wound of which ne still bears traces,
| from man with whom he bad a quarrel and
] who shot him in the left hand.
This misfortune did no. interf<re how.
ever, with bis eligibility to serve his adopteA
country and he was enlisted in the Unio1
Army at the beginning of the war n
! first position OF any prominence was recuit-
! ing sergeant in Kansas City, Afterward, in
active service, he proved TO be q brave and
| capable soldier, and rose to the rank of Cap
tain. During most Of this time he was In
the command of General Logan.
He was married at Independence, No., in
the year 1864. Seven children have bsen
born to the couple, Of whom four are living.
| The eldest a daughter, is now with her
mother assisting in the care OF the father
and husband, who lies At the New York Hos
| p:tal.
Captain Phelan was elected Register Of
Jackson County, Missouri, in 1880. Two
years later he VAS elected Criminal Clerk of
the same county. Having served out his
| term IN this car acity, he travelled with an
| other expert. showing his skill in shooting.
| His employments in Washington were hr6t
es doOrkeeper in the House Of Representa-
tives, and then as Lieutenant of the Capitol
/ police. He afterwards returned to Kansas
! City with his family and began an Ice busi-
ness. In the spring of 1884 he was made Su-
perintendent of the Workhouse q position
| OF which be is still the incumbent
Nothing Was supposed OF his connection
with the most pronounced Irish conspira-
tors until after be suddenly left Kanoes
City in April, 1888. When in August Of tie
same year news was received that James
Carey, informer ia the Phoenix Park, Dub
lin, murder cases, had been assAssipated.
Pbelan was widely supposed to be the o Con-
! nell who had shot him. This proved TO BE- 3
mistake, but brought Phelan into great
| prominence a. an Irish leader, the tact that
be was 30 being no longer concealed. 1t
| appeared after his return that his businoos
III Europe was TO procure information which
would prevent extradition OF 2. ]. 6heridam
He is said to have procured evidence that
Sheridan was in Paris at the time of the
murders in Phoenix Park, and to have -
cured two witnesses who would prove this
| in case the British Government eersisted in
its demand for the extrsdition OF Sheridan.
The demand was withdraw, and Phesan's
services as stated were consequently not re-
7 quired.
No authentic Information has been made
public, as yet, as TO how far Captain Phelan
vas made privy to the designs OF the dyno-
! miters. A few days after be had given In
formation to Kansas City paper respecting
an alleged attempt 20 blow up the "Britioh
| Queen" steamer, he went TO New York, - II
is thought, to clear up any difficulty which
might have arisen with 0'Donovan RoG101
| and his fellow conspirators, in consequene1l
of this publication. While in the omce e.
the United Irishmen. that attempt on he.
life was made which has given him world
wide notoriety.