The morning news., 1889-01-17
PHENIXPARK'S REDCL0T
AN EX- CONVICT BEFORE THE PAR
NELL COMMISSION.

Messrs. Davitt, Parnell, Biggar, Egan,
Dillon, Brennan and Harris Declared
Parties to the Murder - William
O'Brien Not Punished for the Article
in the United ireland.
LONDON, Jan. 16-Upon the resumption
! OF the session of the Parneu commission
this morning, Presiding Justice Hammer
| said William O'Brien's article in United
| ireland, for which he was summoned to
appear before the court, exceeded fair dis
| cussion Of the case under investigation, but
he admitted that there was some force in
Mr.. O'Briens arguments regarding the CON
tinued circulation of the Times pamphlet,
and said he believed no disrespect was in
tended to be shown towards the court by
the article. Therefore he would not punish
Mr.. O'Brien. He added, however, that in
the future, cases of similar nature would
be more severely treated.
Patrick Delaney, a convict in Marl-
borough prison, testified that he belonged
to the Ferians until September, 1882. The
principal leaders Of the organization were
Egan and Brennan, DIR. McAlister, John
Lavey and John Doran. About 1879, a
number of delegates, including John OCon-
nor, John Dewey and Gen. Millen, came
from America. The witness attended a
meeting in Foresters hall. in Dublin, at
which John Dewey represented the Ameri-
can council.
THE MILITARY ORGANIZATION.
Gen. Millen inspected the military organ
ization. 1t was arranged that arms should
he provided and expenses paid at another
meeting held in the Rotunda Messrs
Davitt, Parnell, Biggar, Egan, Dillon,
Ilpav aNf Ia1
meeting the witness was told that the
circles were not opposed to the league,
which would organize all the Fenians in
the country ana supply them with arms.
The witness said he had forgotten
portion of the Invincibles' OATH but the
principal part was to assassinate the viceroy
| and the whole executive of ireland. The
lnvincibles received money from the league.
Messrs. Egan, Byrne and lyman paid some
| to Daniel Delaney, Mullet and Brady. The
witness was deputed to watch the move
ments Of Mr. Foster, at that time chief sec
retary for Ireland. Brady and Timothy
Kelly were delegated TO shoot Secretary
Foster, while the witness intercepted per
sons crossing Queen street bridge while
Brady and Kelly endeavored to carry out
their purpose.
DIDN'T HELP KILL.
The witness took no part in the Phoenix
Park murders Mrs. Byrne brought over
two knives that were used In committing
those murders. At a meeting of the com
mittee of the invincibles, held after the
Phoenix Park murders, quantity of gold
and banknotes were laid on the tables.
Afterward more revolvers, daggers and
money came.
Delaney further spoke Of an attempt to
hire house on Castle hill from which the
officials of the castle could be shot with
rifles Carey failed to get a house In
1881, when Carey was candidate for the
Dublin municipal council, Nj. Egan prom
ised that all his expenses would be
paid Mr. Egan held that an invincible
ought to be lord mayor. Delaney identi-
fed letters signed by Mr.. Egan. When
questioned with regard to Mr.. Egan's let
ter, in which reference is made to the fund
Delaney said he knew nothing about such a
fund.
BAD RECORD.
On cross-examination by Sir Charles
Russell the witness admitted that when II
years old he was sentenced to penal servi-
tude for five years for highway robbery
He enrolled himself with the Feuians the
same night he left prison. When he was
accused of the Phoenix park murders he
gave the authorities all the information in
his possession. IL was his wife who, while
visiting him in prison, warned him that he
was suspected in connection with the Ph9-
nix park murders. He thereupon supplied
written statement to the prison officials
When asked how he came to give
evidence for the Times be stated that Crown
Solicitor Shannon came to the jail fort
night ago and took his sworn statement
Recurring to the Fenian organization he
declared that it was never an assassination
society except IN cases where somebody in
formed 0gaiDSt them.
DIFFERENCE OF THE ORDER.
Tho Fenians sought to fight openly and
we're very different from the Invincibles
He knew Messrs. Egan, Brennan and Byrne
to be Fenians in 1876, having met them at a
secret meeting. lie admitted that he never
met them among the Invincibles, but said
he knew that they were the leaders Of the
Invincibles through Carey and others. He
never saw any one Of them giving money
to anybody, but had seen money on a table
at which Mr.. Byrne was sitting. The wit
ness stated that he was sentenced to death
for completely in the Phoenix park mur-
ders and Lord Spencer commuted his sen
teuce to life Imprisonment, which he is now
undergoing.