Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-25
PIGGOTT.s EARLY CAREER.
His Connection with the Futile Fenisu
Movement In 1040.

New York Special 10 the Philadelphia Press.
The early exploits Of Richard Piggott, the
vendor and suspected forgsr Of the Parnell
letters, form IN interesting chapter in the.story
Of his career. In youth he was careless fel-
low, drifting about the city Of Dublin, intent
upon pleasure and excitement. His father was
one Of the chief barons Of the exchsquer and
was one Of the Arst Catholic judges Ireland
had. His fathers position gained for him ad-
mission into the best circles, where his ram
pant talk against the foes Of Ireland made him
appear to be . man willing 10 sacrihcs every
thing for the sake Of his country.
Piggott was on friendly terms with number
Of the men interested in the Young Ireland
party, and when the party separated in ls47
and the Moral Force party was organised in
its stead Piggott became prominent in the
councils OF the latter. He was one Of the
twenty-one delegates to the council Of the
Irish confederation. Among the others were
Francis Meegher, Thomas Darcy Mcdee and
William Smith OBrien. Piggott was promi-
nent figure in the meetings OF the council and
talked . great deal about the necessity Of
bloodshed and other terrible things. II was a.
much due TO Piggott's inhammatory speeches
vention in D'Olisr street, Dublin, in july 1s4S,
it was resolved to attempt to raise the peas.
antry OF Tipperary to insurrection.
Pisgott grew hystesieally happy over this
project, and demanded that he be assigned to .
post Of danger and difficulty. The council sent
Richard OGorman, Thos. Meagher. and Morris
Leyne, nephew Of Daniel O'Connell, to diff
ferent cities. John Lawless, q solicitor; Patrick
O'Donohue, Col. OByrne and Piggott were
stationed in the counties Of wicklow and Kill
dare. They were to meet and arrange for q
division Of their work. All were on hand at
the appointed time except Piggott. After
dreary wait it became evident that Piggott
would not appear, and O'Donohue declared that
he must have betrayed them.
The result of this attempt to rouse and arm
a month had passed before O'Donohue, Meag-
her and O'Byrne were arrested and lodged in
prison. Piggott had mysteriously disappeared
1t was rumored that efforts were making to ar
rest him, but when at last he reappeared he was
permitted to strut around unmolested The
three prisoners were hurriedly tried and con-
victed. They were sentenced to be hanged,
drawn and quartered The sentence was COM
muted to transportation to Van Dieman's land
The men were taken there, but all eventually
succeeded in escaping.
1T The people we're awed BY the prompt convic.
men who were captured This emboldened
Plggott TO appear again in Dublin and try
once more to lead Irish patriots into trouble.
For time he was recognized as an agent of
the English government. whose plan was to be-
tray men into expressions of ill-will against the
pose Of resisting it, and then to deliver them
up to the prisons and the gallows. Later he
became editor Of the Fenian organs, the IRISH
man and Flag Of Ireland, in Dublin; was a
trusted leader in the Fenian movement, and,
according to his own admission on the witness
stand, was all the time in correspondence with
the English authorities endeavoring to sell the
secrets Of his friends