The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-16
PHELAN AND HIS FOE.
THEY MEET IN COURT, sUT NEVER
SPEAK.
The Captains Gun" Goes Along in
Charge of an Ofticer-Story of the
Stabbing Retold- Questioned by
Shorts Counsel.

New YORK, Feb. l6 The courtroom
Of the Tombs was we'll filed at 10 o'clock
Saturday morning, the hour set for the ex-
animation of witnesses in the Short Phelan
assault case. Capt Phelan walked into the
court promptly at 10, and took his seat within
the railing. His arm still hangs in a sling.
Sergt Granger, of the Tombs squad,
took charge of the captains big revolver,
1t was fully 1880 before the prisoner came
in accompanied by his counsel He looked
tritie pale, and glanced around the court
room until his eyes fell upon Phean. After
looking at his victim for a moment he turned
to his counsel and spoke a few words. As.
sistant District Attorney Purdy called Capt
Phalen to the stand and after being sworn
he testified:
My name is Thomas Phelau, and | live in
Kansas City. On the 9th of January | was
sitting in O'Donovan Rossa's office with my
left side to the table and my back to the
door. Richard Short entered shortly after
with long knife in his hand and upon see
ing me exclaimed Now, I've got YOUR
Then he plunged his knife into me several
times. BIT this, two men who were sitting
in the room ran out, and tried to escape
finally managed to get out of the room and
ran into the street | became acquainted
with Short last July
Capt. Phean was then taken in hand by
Shorts lawyer, who closely cross examined
him In the course of his examination
Phelan stated that he took a three months
trip abroad in 1888; was never in the employ
of the British government; never made the
acquaintance of any English official, had
conversation with British detective but
not know at the time who the man was.
At this point NJ. Purdy, the assistant
district attorney objecCed TO such course
of questioning. Ee thought counsel should
connne himself to the circumstances OF the
assault After some discussion, during
which counsel for the de9eEce stated that he
wished to prove that Capt Phelsn's word
was not to be depended or, Judge Patterson
ruled that the examination must he confined
to the assault.
Shorts counsel then handed the witness
copy Of The New York Tribune Of January
10, containing the famous interview, repro
duced from The Kansas City journal, and
asked him If it was correct.
Counsel for prosecution objected, but
PAelan was allowed to answer, ami said that
the interview was not correct
Witness wont on to state that his visit to
New York was for the purpose of visiting
his sister at Northampton, Mass, and to ex-
plain to certain persons the article in The
Kansas City Journal; that when he won't to
Rossa's office, on the day Of the assault he
had his little boy revolver with him; did
not know whether it was loaded or not;
had been arrested twice in Kansas City, once
for tearing down on St. Patrick's Day a
picture III IA store representing lrlshmen as
apes and the second time for carrying con
cesied weapons, was charged once with stab
bng man; the article in the Kansas City
Journal charged with giving
information that dynamite was
concealed in the steamer Queen; did
give that information would do it again
| under similar circumstances. In answer to
the question, is it true that an English de-
tective got into your confidence, Capt Phe-
Ian stated: Il told him what my name was; !;
where l came from, and whittier | Yves
going"
Shorts counsel then returned to the
Kansas City journal article. Capt Phclan
obtained permission to read the same and
did so aloud, correcting the report as hs went
along.
| Policeman Levy, who arrested Short, was
the next witness. He went over the story Of
the arrest and testified as to what he saw
in connection with the assault on the side
walk in front of Ro5sa's Office His story
did not differ materially from that already
| published.
Itwas finally decided that the case should
go over to Saturday on condition that it
should be finished on that day After the
adjournment of the court, Capt PteIan
stated to United Press reporter that he
thought this putting off of the case was an
outrage While | remain in New York, "
ho said, Il am under heavy expense, and
my business interests are suffering at home. .