New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-06
SECRETARY BAYARDS PLEA.
4 STRANGE DOCUMENT INA STATE CASE.
AN AFFECT APPEAL TO HER MAJEsTfs eovhHs-
MENr--A REPORT TO THE HOUSE ON THE JOE"
crrDTtx KFNT CASE,
CURTIN KENT CASE.


MENT-A REPORT TO The hoo'N "" Al" ~
CURTIN KENT CASE.
nv rElEGnArrr To THE TnIprNE
wasb,ncton. July 5-The Foreign Affairs Com
nIttee of the House will report tomorrow 'no rcSui
Of its investigation into the case OF 'ohn or'n n'h
who with DIR. Thomas Gallagher ana Cpa'ioS "nao"
was charged and convicted in June, 1900 III E"saiu
of having cOnsplrcd TO murder Dy inc uso Vi " ~.
ucreons unknown. lie Is now serving OUT hio
o,onco a. tho Chatham prison. His conviction was
II IA thought. brought about by tho testimony Vi
detective Who according TO Kents statcmch' " W"
sul General walter testified that "a pfo'hor u ~
Gallagher told him in Glasgow that anothor o'o''o'
~ Dr Gallagher told him that he would hot uo ="
Iondon what I KENT wanted him 10 no. A"'
Committee after careful investigation mus
The facts established against Curtin on the trai VIZ.
that he was acquainted with Thomhs oaiae n,,
country. that he took letter Of Introduction "on o
,o,hor IN one Glltcather in Glasgow Scotland VINO PRIV
ued for him brief employment as machnis' OH one OF o
Government war vessels then In course Oh eole~ g.,
the ship yard OF Messrs Napier. Glasgow; TINT ""''e
Glasgow Curtin received . letter from Oaagher " :.
him five pounds and invited him TO come 70 h'n''
he went to London and sent letter 10 Gaaghers no
nformluo Gallagher OF his arrival and where ne was W
IN no found which letter led to his own arrest Uaas
being already in custody when 1t was wrt,c" anu 10
there was found upon him paper written Oy o'e's '.
directing him how TO find tho warships'" upon 'no VI
which he had been employed ~, 49,.
This was all the evidence against him. NO oyn"
mite was found upon Curtin, or In any place whcro
ba had lived Curtin's explanation OF his reiauohs
with Gallagher is that he made his acquaintance as
musician that his own journey 10 EUROPE wac "'a'
without any knowledge that Gallagher also h.onuou
conc and was undertaken for tho benefit OF his heah
and n Visit relatives That he did pay such VISITS
was established His apparent alias Is expiaihoo W
his friends who say that Curtin was his nothers
that # is ouite common In Irish families to call men
bv their mothers name distinguish them from reia-
tlves Of the same Christian surname. Ehghsh or'"n
nal jurisprudence docs not permit an accusco Pcieon
TO testify in his own behalf The fact that Curuh
was naturallzed citizen Of the United States was NOT
made known in any way at tho trai Oh INC oa'' ~"
tin explains this as follows;
did not apply to the United States Legation for the
reason that an American lawyer. Tracy Gould whom
sunnosed was attached to legation came to see me-
and advised about my L wrote Unioed ot''eS
Minister Lowell stating my case received an
answer Mr.. Hoppin Secretary OF the Legation, sa
ing that nIr. Lowell absent on leave, ana lnsI IL
vos not in his power to case unless under
instructions from the State Department NO one from
the Legation to see me- beneVe II my case i'u
been taken up by the United States representative a
could have proven who was where haa ii'ea III lo
rncd States and my character the reason Tor my
coming to England. and thereby have secured my acq'
ents case was first brought to the attention OF the
state Department by KeDts relatives In this country
The committee havo been furnished with the original
certificate of naturalization OF Curtin Tor KENT cohnrm
Ing his statements as his citizenship 1t bears date
October 49, 1880, and Is signed by W. p Boese, clerk
of tho Superior Court OF the city Of New-York
The strangest document however, submitted TO tho
committee IS letter by Secretary Bayafd to Minstor
Phelps. 1t is not too much to say tina moro hu-
initiating bringing and abIect letter was never penned
by an American Secretary OF State. 1t is in striking
J,a (,ttf
Mexico 1t Is now mado public, it IS understood. at
tho express desire Of Mr. Bayard, who considers It
very manly dgnifcd and selfres pee ting State paper
Department Of State,
Washington. March II, 1887.
Sir: The President informs that he has been earn
esty appealed to by number Of worthy and inuoenuai
citizens OF Brooklyn among them the Mayor OF the city,
to procure II possible exercise OF Royal clemency IN
the case Of Dr. Thomas Gallagher naturaiEed ciiIeh Oh
the United States formerly and for many years resi-
dent OF Brooklyn, but who Is now undergoing Iuoica'
sentence England imposed some years ago ior u"
pdence political In its character .
Tho prisoner is represented to be man OF excsiiens
standing in profession as physician ana IN nus no.
nestle life to endeared himself to large crcie oy
his personal virtues
An aged mother and invalid sister dependent upon
him for their sole means support and his case thus
presents many features that appeal to natural sympathy
have no information that would justify any sugges.
ton OF doubt as the fairness Of his trial or justice OF
sentence, but as this 10 inc year VI sr"co I'M '
in which generosity and charity VIII HI inc hearts ..
British subjects and their Queen-I feel that may yieo
10 the importantly Of the prisoners friends ana FAMILY
and bring the case to your attention unofically
IT, by DIR. Gallaghers pardon, anger should DO les
sened and hostility to Her Maiesty's Governments as
armed we should all be gratined; and when 10 that 10
superaddei the Joy the wide circle OF his personal
friends and relatives here, 1t would seem that the act
would indeed be twice blessed and that In giving liberty
to this captive no danger could rush upon tho stae
H. therefore, uno1iciay you could ind proper oeca
sion to suggest general purport Of this note to Her
Maestys Minister for Foreign Affairs, hope you VIII
not lose the opportunity for the act Of cemency woua
believe bear good fruit. Yours very truly.
T. +. BAYARD
Edward j. Phelps, esq -, A..
The committee expresses its deep sympathy FOL
Kent and its belief that had the facts OF his citizen
shin and other facts narrated above hecn presented