The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-14
THE ATTACK ON PHELAy.
The Real Motive of the Murder0us Assault
Still Enyeloped in Mystery.


and more evident that the real motive for the
| murderous attack on Capt Phelan, in ODono-
4 van Rossas Office, last Friday, has not yet been
published great deal more lightcan be shed
on the case by those interested than has been or
! ever will be so far as the public is concerned.
| One only needs to talk for moment with any of
| the Rosa crowd to become convinced that they
| know more than they dare to tell, even If they
felt inclined to. There is little probability of
their having an inclination that way in view of
the fact, of which there is no attempt to conceal,
that the mar who tells more than ne ought would
stand good chance of sharing the fate of Capt
| Phelan.
| 1t is the general impression now that Shorts
attack on Phelan was premeditated, although
there were probably less than half dozen
people who knew about it before 1T happened.
1t was said to- day that Short was selected to
make the attack ON Phean because he being
an expert butcher, would know just where and
how to strike in order TO kill According to the
published account of the battle in Rossas room.
Shorts first blow with the dirk was aimed
directly at Capt. Pheans heart, and would have
been effectual had not the latter, who was sit
ting down, warded it off with his left arm.
which received the cut instead. Phean being
th6 biggest and stronger man of the two, he. of
course, did not allow his assailant to get another
such opportunity, and thus escaped
Rumors of new and startling Developments in
the case have been freely circulated to-day. and
it was at one time stated that the police intended
arresting Kearney, Rocky Mountain" O Brien
and the others who were in the room. Both In
spector ThOrne and Captain Webb disavowed
any such purpose to night. The only move
worthy Of note which has been made to-day was
the removal of Captain Phelan from the ward
which he has occupied in Chambersstreet Hos
pltal to another one further up stairs and the
detailing of policeman to guard him. DR.. Bull,
the house surgeon, thought that such precau-
t0nary measure ought to be taken, as he re-
garded it quite possible for some blood thirsty
dyramiter, in the guise of friend to gain ad-
mission to Phelan and finish the work which
Short commenced. Cigars or delicacies in the
shape of food that may be sent in to Captain
Phelan are to be carefully inspected to prevent
any possible attemptthat might be entertained
to poison the wounded dynamter.
The following editorial which ODonovan
Rosa prints in to-days issue of the United
Irishman is attracting no little attention.
We do not want to PREJUDICE the case of Phe-
Ian. but if what is stated in the press of New
York be true regarding interviews had with him
by the reporters, we have no alternative of
judgment in the matter but to come to the con-
cluSiOn that he is second McDermott. We ask
every man who reads our words not to PREJUDICE
the case. We have nothing to fear in the mat
ter. and we desire to do no wrong to anyone,
but we tell the truth and say what we think,
gafuteSS Or the threat LflaE captain fnelan Will
make sleeves with his bullets of those fellows
that are denouucing him.
We do not denounce him yet. He will, we
hope recover from his recent condition. He
can have any fair inquiry he likes-before
whom be likes-to clear his character from the
suspicion, which is now very strong, that he is
one of Engands agents in America to put up
and ''catch" dynamite conspiracies To make
sieves with his bullets" of us is not the thing
that will clear him from, this suspicion; ito make
wi IF ne 10 q hat IN
land would pay very large amount of money
for and we do not want the work done.
From interviews" had with John r. Kearney
and others that we read in the papers. we see
that Mr. Phelan, on his way to our Office, was
threatening Ito blow out bains il we
doubted him" He came to our Office with knife
and pistol in his possession. He had better not
come into our Office again till he goes through
that inquiry we speak of above, and that inquiry
he can have before any three, or four five
friends of his in the Clan Ma Geal Society in
New York. Chicago or Kansas City--a society
to which he belonged at his first introduction
to uS.
We desire to be just; but we fear not Our
conscience is clear. and clear in anything we do
or have done in this fight for Irish liberty
against English tyranny. We may die in that
fight, but don't like to die by the dog of
England's choosing. 1t has been said by Eng
lands editors in New York that we lured Cap
tain Phean to New York and to our office, and
those English editors of the New York press are
a pack OF liars. This is the letter that we wrote
to Captain Phelan on Jan. 2.
NEW YORK. Jan. 2, 1SS5.-Dear Capt Phelan:
Here is that list of Kansas City subscribers you asked
me for when you were in New York. don't like to
be asking my friends for money but think of writing
to you now. the papers talking OF nterpiew
of yours in Kansas City journal. am thinking of
printing the interview. want you to send it to me.
Scratch out any part of it you do not recognize as
coming from you. The enemy is in pretty good
fright at present and if could brighten her of
Ireland by threatening her with Irish fairies, would
have the Irish people, through the Irish fairies at her.
Yonr interview will add her fright and will pub
ish it. Perhaps subscribers in the inclo, ed list
are paid up already. know Denis Whaley has
me money q couple of times Yours much the same as
ever. JER. O'DONOVAN ROSA.
'capt Thomas Phelan.'
1t has been said that O'Donovan Rosa and
Patrick Joyce Intentionally out of the Office
of the United Irishman on the day Capt. Phelan
came there that is another lie. Patrick joyce
was not in the Office all that day. He was rot
in the office since Christmas eve only one day;
he had been i'll. He had business to do out of
the Office that day.