The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-05-19
THE OLD WORLD.
Burton and Cunningham, the Lon
don DYnamiters
Found Guilty and Sentenced to Penal
Seryitude for Life.
A Suggestion of Further Difficult
ties with Russia.
Victor Hugo, the Neted French Novelist,
Dying.
THE OLD WORLD.

LONDON, May 1S.-The trial OF Cunningham
and Burton at the Old Bailey was brought to
conclusion to-day. The court room was crowd
ed with people and among the notabilities
present were the Lord Mayor and q. s. Minis
ter Phelps. There were also MANY ladies' in
the room. The prisoners wore an anxious
look and followed Judge Hewins charge with
intense interest. The drift of the charge was
clearly against the prisoners. He analyzed the
evidence calling the jury's attention to the
fact that Burton's statement was not made un-
der oath, and therefore entitled to very little
evidence. II there was any truth in bis state
ment said the judge, it was astounding that
no witness was called to support it. The Judge
then drew attention likewise to the fact that
cunningham and Burton had frequently been
seen together and dwelt upon their connection
with the trunk, what they had told their land
ladies concerning it and the unsatisfactory ex-
PLANTATION Cunningham had since made of
his relations thereto. The Jury then retired.
They remained out not longer than fifteen
minutes and returned with verdict OF guilty
against both prisoners. The court at once
sentenced both men to penal servitude for life
and the announcement of the sentence was re-
celyed Dy the spectators with applause which
the court suppressed. Cunningham maintain
ed his self composure, but Burton broke down
and soebed when the sentence was read, When
the prisoners were asked If they had ANYTHING
TO say why the sentence of the law should not
ne passed upon them Cunningh am protested
10 accept penal servitude for life, but they
could not touch his soul. Burton simply de-
clared he was innocent.
Burton in protesting his innocense said that
the whole power of England and the United
States has been brought to bear against him
and ne hoped the day would come when he
would receive justice. Cunningham main
tanned that he knew nothing about the
detonator and that somebody must have
placed 1t in his box.
Russia and England.
suggestion of further difficulties with
Russia is furnished by report which is to the
effect that the Russian government has de-
manded and obtained from Persia the release
OF Ayoub Khan. This veteran intriguer and
fofmer Ameer of Afghanistan was arrested
early last month by the Shah at the solicita-
ton OF the British consul at Teheran, who had
information that Ayoub was about to be en-
pioyed by Russia to ferment rising against
the Ameer AbdurrahMan, with the view that
ne 1Ayoubl should ultimately occupy the
tnrone as Russian tool. Ayoub has been de-
tsined as semi-prisoner at Teheran since
April llth, notwithstanding one or two mild
protests by Russia. This latest report indicates
In at Russia is tired Of protesting and that, be-
Ing satisfied that England's complacence will
stretch to any limit, she has altered her tone
70 one OF command. If it be true that the
Shah has released Ayoub upon Russa's de-
mand it is significant as proving that British
prestige among the Asiatics is crumbling.
The Hindoo Patriot, published at Calcutta,
describes the PeDjdeh affair as an insult that
England would never have tolerated from any
otner power than Russia, except perhaps Ger
many or America. Other English and native
indian papers deplore England's surrender to
An Englishman in Calcuttai learns that
1akoob Khan considers the cession of Peni-
Gen TO Russia as fatal error on the part of
England and the Ameer.