The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-15
CAPTAIN PHELAN IN COURT.
He Appears Against Short andTelis the Story
Of the Assault in ROsSa's Office.

NEW YORK Feb 1.-The examination in the
Short-Phelan case began to-day before Justice
Patterson, at the Tombs Police Court The court
was filed with spectators Captain Phelan's
arm still HING in a sling. A police sergeant
took charge of the captains large revolver,
which Phelan carried i'll his pocket Short
came in later accompanied by his counsel.
He looked trife pale. The prosecution called
Phelan TO the witness stand After being sworn,
he said in response to the questions Of his
counsel: my name is Thomas Phelan. and
live in Kansas City. On the 9th of January 1
was sitting in ODonoran Rossa's Office, with my
left side to table and my back to the
door. Richard Short came in with a
long knife in his hand, and said, Now,
1 have got you-now. / have got your Then
he plunged the knife into my breast. He
pulled it out and stuck it into my neck / tried
to get away from him by runniDg around the
table, but he managed to strike me three times.
Two men who were in the room ran out and
tried to escape got out at length and made
my way to the street became acquainted with
Snort last July
On cross examination, Phelan said: II have
resided in Kansas City twenty eight years, with
three years / lived in Washington. l took q
three months trip abroad 1883. l visited Ire
land. England and Wales. landed at Queens
town, and from there | went to Cork. did not
meet any persons l knew at either of these
places / never was in the employ of the British
government never made the acquaintance of
any government officers while abroad. had a
conversation with British detective, bat ] did
not know he was a British detective until after
he left my hotel"
At this point counsel for the prosecution OBJ
jected to the scope of the cross examination, and
suggested that it be confined only to the assault.
The court decided that the examination must
be confined to the evidence Of the defense. The
witnesses cross examination was continued, and
he said:
II came to New York last january, for two
purposes-one. to visit my sister, Mrs. Levy, at
Northampton, Mass, and to explain to certain
person an article in the Kansas City Journal.
had a talk with Kearney about the article and
my purpose in coming here. He had told me
the boys down at the Office were angry with me
for talking to reporters in the way the article
represented | did He also said some
thing about article in ODonovan
Rossa's paper. / told him no man could publish
lie about without my bringing him to &C
count for it. When l went down to Rossas
Office. had my little boys revolver with me;
placed it in my overcoat pocket | don't know
whether it was loaded OF not I had been ar
rested twice in Kansas City, once for tearing
down. on st. Patrick's Day. picture in store
representing Irishmen as apes, and a second
time for carrying concealed weapons. | was
charged with stabbing man named
Trout Norton; 1 did not boast about
this affair or say L would do 1t
again if anybody insulted me. The article in the
Kansas City Journal did not call me an in
former; it said gave information that dynamite
was concealed in the steamer Queen. gave
that information, and would do it again under
similar circumstances. 1t is true, to a certain
extent. that the English detective got into my
confidence. told him my name where came
from, and where | was going. The reason
had said and done, was because he openly boosted
of what he had done in England.
The defense then asked adjournment until
Saturday next. and the request was granted.
Captain Phelan afterwards denounced the adj
journment as unjust saying that it cost him loss
of time and money.