, 1893-06-07

drift OF the multitude which Ghronged the
t~horoughfares was towards the centre OF the
city there was q rush. towards the -Four
Courts where, according to the early rumour
which subsequently, proved to pc correct, the
outrage had occurred. The quays were by
this time lined by squads Of the Metropolitan
Police Force, in whose wake the throng
followed. There was present to every mind
the recollection that the anniversary was that
of the Phoenix Park murders, when, eleven
years ago, Lord Fred lex Cavendish aud Mr..
Burke were foully aSsassinated within view
Of the Vioeregal Lodge. The Four Courts
were soon surrounded by a vast number of
excited people and they were with difficulty
kept back by the police.
The courts are situated on the North aide
of the Liffey, at Inns Quay, and the sxplo-
siys substance appears to have been thrown
into the area Immediately behind what is
known as the Queens Bench Court, No. 2.
This court llies to the left of a quadrangle,
which is bounded on the southern side by
ratings, which Ont it off from the quay, on
the northern side by the Queens Bench and
other Offices, andthe Land Commission Court,
on the eastern side by the Masters Offices,
and on the western side by the two courts,
Nos. / and 9 of, the Queens Bench Division.
The latter was known some years ago as tbs
Court of Common Pleas, but the Common
Pleas was abolished as a distinct division un-
der the Judicature Act, and the functions
which it discharged have since been affiliated
with those Of the Queens Bench.
To distinguish the old Common Pleas
Court from what used to be known az the
Court Of Queens Bench it has been designa.
ted Queens Bench CourtNo.2. 1t star ds be-
tween Queen Tsach G, urt Mol and the Quay,
and may be entered by passing through the
quadrangle lefel red to from the Quay. A
passage runs from the quadrangle into the
.'Ha,I' separating Queens Bench Court No.
| ON the right from Queens Court Bench
No: , on the left, The first door on the
left after entering the hall through this
passage opens into Court No. 2: at the rear
Of which he explosion occurred.
The history Of the outrage, 80 far rs it
can now be inferred from the facts, is simple.
Some person or persons passing he ratings,
which are TOO high to scale, flung the explo-
sile compound or Internal machine omr
yards forward into the quadrangle with, as
it is believed, a lighted fuse attached, and
then speedily 0ecamped. A close watch
must have been kept on the police patrol,
and q NOM mt chosen when the othoorS
were # guard. The dim light of the gas
lamps III ZIP the scene Of CONSERVATION and
terror: the crowd swayed to anil fro and III
the first access If excitement it was thought
that the great central hall OF the courts had
been VT ecked. The police were kept on
duty al night. The detectives in Exchange
Court wore on>the spot a few minutes after
the occur renee, under detective officer Mont
gomery and a number # his bro her officers.
The members Of the Winetavern street De-
p6t of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade were
soon on the scole.
At first it Was a matter of some difficulty
to locate the ,xrct fpot where the explos on
took place. That it was not a gas explosion
was apparent from the fact that the gas
lamI $ in the courtyards one and all continued
burning stcidily, and in addition there was
10 smell of gas to be discovered. There
was tIcm'tl e fiji st no doubt that tbs explo-
SION was one Of dynamite, or some such sub
stance as was rsed in the Exchange court
outrage. It was soon discerned that none of
the heavy masonry in the quadrangle was
injured. But as the detectives and police
pl oceeded around the square the constant
crash of brOkenaglass was heard, every foot of
the enclosure was covered with this wreck
age, and it was evident that every frame Of
glass and much wood work had been des.
troyed by the concussiOn. The search con-
tinued all night, and the spot at which the
explosive was placed was soon accurately
fixed A descent into the area, into which
Ice the windows of the barristers' robing
roums, disclosed the fact that the Gags OF the
area had heau unroofad and IN xha corner