The Portland daily press., 1885-01-10
A DOZEN STABs.
O'Donovan Rossa's Office the
Scene of a Brutal Assault,
an ALLEGED TRAITOR SET UPON
BY DYNAMHTERs.

New YORK, j an. 9.-Thos Phelan, said to
be superintendent of the Kansas City work.
house, was stabbed and probably fatally
wounded in the Office of O'Donovan Rosa to-
day BY man named Barry. The men quar-
relied presumably in relation to Irish national
affairs. Barry was locked up and Phalen was
removed to Chambers street hospital where it
is thought he will die
II is learned that Phelan was regarded as a
traitor by the dynamiters, and that q letter
was sent him at Kansas City to decey him to
New York. 1t was believed that he had be-
trayed their secrets by having them published
IN the form of an interview. When Phelan
reached New York he was met bv John f.
Kearney and escorted to Rossa's Office where
Immediately upon his arrival he was attacked.
he rushed bleeding from many wounds into
the street. He was pursued by q man who was
arrested by officer Levy while the officer held
the prisoner 80 Phelan could identity him as
nls assalIant. Phelan suddenly drew a revolt
yer and fired at the prisoner, but missed him.
at the station house the prisoner gave the
name Of Richard Short Butcher. The wound
by the pistol shot fred by Phelan was found to
30 sshgnt: The prisoner was locked up.
meanwhile Phelan lay on the sidewalk. Fire
man Cattrell asked him if he should get a
priest or minister. mo replied Phelan "I
want nobody: belong to no religion" An
ambulance took the wounded man to the
Chambers street hospital. His clothing was
cut in several places under which there was no
wound
The four stsbs in the back were slight. but
the two just below either shoulder were two
inches deep; a seventh cut was in the right
side OF The neck, and another penetrated the
chest, while each arm had received thrust.
The right arm was almost severed at the
shoulder.
An ante-mortem statement was obtained
from Pheisn by coroner at the hospital. Phe-
Ian declares that the man who assaulted him
was named Barker, and Kearney and two 9TH
Vitnpegad ho fafr
UDonovon Rosa, when questioned, pre-
tendeolto De ignorant, but he has disappeared.
rLATER.l
O'Donovan Rosa lives jim the outskirts of
Brooklyn, but rings at his door bell tonight
brought no response. A friend of his said he
had lately heard talk of ''treachery'' among
certain parties, but he was surprised that the
men should SO far forget themselves as to fight
He was sure Rosa knew nothing about the
affair, and II Rosa had been present the stab
ping would have been prevented. At late
hour tonight Phelan's condition had not i'm
proved, and it is believed by physicians that
he will die.
The attempted assassination of Phelan has
caused great sensation. The interview in
winch Phelan was supposed to have BETRAYED
the secrets of the dynamiters, and which was
published in the Kansas City Journal contain
ea statement frem Phelan in which he told
ABOUT the attempt to blow mp the steamer
Queen at her Liverpool dock, also about an at.
tempt to blow up the Caledonian railway sta
tlon at Glasgow, and mentioned the Dames of
the men who were concerned in those Jobs.
Kesrney's name was mentioned as the chief
projectors. Phelan went to England shortly
after Cary was made infamous on an informer
and 1t was for sometime supposed that as he is
crack shot with the rife and pistol he had
gone there to execute vengence on Cary and
the name OF O'Donnel was believed to be the
alias for Phelsn, Phelsn came near to being
transported for life when in England, and es-
capped to America in disguise.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Jan. 9.-News of the
stabbing of Capt. Thos. Phean in New York
created quite stir IN this city. Only few
friends were aware Of his visit to New York.
Phelsn took exception to comments in O'Dono-
van Rossa's paper upon the interview publish
ed here and left for New York Tuesday night
withthe intention it is stated of asking retrac-
tion Of them. He has been a resident here
since 1864. He served in the Federal army
during the war and has figured conspicuously
in local politics. He has always been an ardent
supporter of the Irish cause and a man OF
violent temper.
NEW YORK, Jan. 9.-At o'clock this morn
ing the surgeons ct the hospital said they en-
tertained hopes of Phelan's recovery. They
discovered three additional wounds in the
patients head, making u in all.