The Portland daily press., 1885-01-12
PHELAN'S WOUNDS.
Indications that the Dynamiters'
Victim will Recover.
FURTHER PARTICULARS CON.
CERNING THE ASSAULT.

/ NEW YORK, Jan. 1e.-Richard Short, the
man who stabbed Captain Phelan yesterday in
O'Donovan Rossa's office in this city, was ar
raigned in court today. The knife with which
the stabbing was done was put in evidence. II
had blade ak inches long, sharp edge and
point. and shoe string and piece of twine
wound around the handle. The prisoner, at
I the request of his counsel, wss remanded tu
await the result of Phelan's injuries. Later he
was seen in bis cell by a reporter, but refused
to say anything.
There we're very few developments In the
case today. o'Donovan Rossa was reticent on
the subject. People passing the house today
where the affray occurred stop to look at the
blood stained stairs and surroundings.
Captain Thomas Phelan is well remembered
In Washington by many people. he attained
some prominence in local politics at Kansas
City. his home. When Congressman Frank
lin became member from that district he se-
cured place for Phelan as lieutenant Of the
capitol police. Phelan held this position for
two or three years. When the Kansas City
district became Republican, owing to a split
among the Democrats, John B. Clark of Mis-
souri, secured Phelan's place for one Of his pro-
teges. Phelan remained about Washington
for some time endeavoring in vain to get some
thing to do. Finally number of his friends,
members OF Congress and others, got money
enough together to send him back to Kansas
City, where he re-entered politics. Phelan is
typical Irishman in manner and appearance
and talks with pronounced brogue.
The condition of Capt. Phelsn continues to
improve this afternoon. Mr. John s. Reilly, a
friend, had a conversation with him this after
noon. To his friend Phelsn said he came here
to explain certain matters to Rossa about the
interview in the Kansas City Journal. He
now believes he was deliberately entrapped in
Rossa's office to be murdered. aTom, - said
Reilly, "when L knew you in Kansas you were
always too qHick with your pop to be caught
on snap. Why did you let them catch you
this way?'. II didn't get time," replied Phe-
Ian, land besides the room was so small and
the attack so sudden that I couldn't get my
pistol out" Reilly said to reporter after.
wards that he knew Phelan well in Kansas
City in 1872, wh6n he once prevented him
fighting duel with man named McCaffrey.
He said that while Phelan was man of spirit
and quick to act II aroused, yet he would take
great deal of abuse before getting angry.
capt. Phelan's story of the attempt to blow
up the steamer Queen is secuted at the compa-
ny's office in this city. Mr.. Hurst, the agent,
says he has never heard of any dynamite be-
ing found on the Queen, either on this side or
at Liverpool. II anything of the kind had oc-
CURED he would have been sure to know all
about it. Mr.. Hurst considered the story was
manufactured for the purpose of deluding ig-
norant Irishmen.
The Commercial Advertiser says: The inn
preston among Irishmen. according to the
late vice president OF the Irish National Land
League, is that the attempted murder of Phe-
Ian was deliberately planned and carried out
by O'Donovan Rosa.
Patrick Joyce, one Of their followers, SAYS:
The United lrishmen has been in straits re-
Gently, subscribers have beeA falling off and
complaining that the leaders had done nothing
for the cause of Ireland in Furnishing traitors
who were resisting England by "blabbing" to
newspaper reporters in this country. One of
the oaths which members OF the extremists
are obliged to take, is that they shall not di-
vulge the plans or intentions of their leaders
under any circumstance, on pain of severe
punishment, and if the secret told is weghty
enough to interfere with any important meas
ure against England, then the person who
voices that secret shall be removed.
O'Donovan Rosa is believed to be absolute
ly dependent upon subscriptions to his publica-
tion, as are dozen or two men who are con-
stantly prowling about his office. Any effort
to interfere with their source of means would
merit, according to these men, condign pun
ishment, and subscriptions are for the "cause"
as exemplitied by Rosa. When Phelan was
interviewed by reporter on the Kansas City
Journal, he told more than his promises should
have permitted him, from dynamiter stand
psint His description of the attempt to blow
up the Qaeen was such as to carry conviction.
The story involved the safety Of Irishmen
both in this country and England, and Rosa,
1t is stated, received demands from his follow
ers that the too freely spoken Ioaptain should
be punished. Rosa, who does not care to
place his head in the lions jaws, summarily
refused to have anything to do with the matter
and consented, it is said only after he had been
compelled to write the letter to Phelan, which
eventually brought the latter to this city.
The convenient absence of Rosa and joyce
from the Office of the United Irishmen yeeter-
day while the butchery was going on is regard
ed as suggestive that those persons knew what
was about to take place. 1t is the custom of
the Office, to be double psdlocked, and all en-
try into its mysteries is impossible. The cir
cumstances that while both Rossa and joyce
were at their homes the office was crowded BY
half dozen men whom none of leaders ac-
knowledged they knew, is considered at least
as presumptive evidence that attestations of
Innocence go for naught. Rosa seldom visits
his office after O'Clock in the afternoon. His
visit yesterday at dusk and the nervousness he
displayed when questioned as to the stabbing,
was unusual.
known among Chicago followers of Rosa and
Ia warm friend of P. W. Duane, one of the
recognized leaders among Nationalists here.
81 know Phelan," said Duane. "and think
l knew kearney, II he is Jack Kearney of New
York. The assault grew out of a misappre-
hension, believe. don't think it is .possibe
that Fhelan is traitor, as is said. l know
him to be an honorable gentleman, jealous and
patriotic. know little or nothing of the in
side OF the matter. O'Donovan Rossa publish
ed 10 his paper, Kansas City interview, but
made no comments. 1 know, however, that
he did write to Phelan and asked him IL the
interview was correct, but don't think Phe-
Ian sent reply. The next heard was that
Phelan had gone on to New York. / suppose
he went there either to tell Rossa that he was
not the author Of the interview or to square
himself with Kearney."
DO you believe that he was trapped?"
That don't know. believe this however
that Capt. Phelan Is not the man to give his
brother Nationalists away in the newspapers.
He would not give them away at ALL but il he
should he could get better pay from the British
government. There is not man of as who
has not been approached by English detectives
There are some OF US that they cannot bribe
though, and Capt. Phelan is one of them. No.
1t is my opinion that Capt. Phslan was not the
anther of the interview, but the people of New
York might bave still believed he was, despite
his denial and decided to punish him. 1t is
misspprehenson in my belief, though don't
know enough about the case to form an opin-
ion."
"Who is Richard Short, who did the stab
bing2'
Il don't know him.
"He was in Chicago once"
THAT may be but don't know him: per.
haps he travelled under some other name He
couidn't have been in Chicago because I train
with all the Nationalist and 1 never heard of
him."
Several other Nationalists who were seen
either did not know him or would not admit
that they did
KANSAS CRY, Jan. 10-The wife of Captain
Phelan left here this morning for New York to
Join her husband. Phelsn is described as a
man OF remarkable courage, quick tempered
and fond of notoriety. At one time he trav-
elled about the country, giving exhibitions of
his skill as q marksman, His visit to New
York was the result of a recent interview pub
lished here, but opinions differ as to whether he
went In response to summons there or for
private purposes OF his own. 1t is generally
supposed, however, that there was some mis-
understanding regarding the interview and he
desired to clear it up.
LIVERPOOL, Jan. 1l.-It was probably the
steamer British Queen, and not the Queen,
which it is alleged Phelan and Kearney in
tended to blow up with dynamite. Several
barrels purporting to contain cement, which
were on board the British Queen in June, 1888,
were found to contain number of internal
machines.