The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-19
Appears to Be In Good
Physical Condition.
II Is Strongly Believed, How
ever, He Is Insane.
Released Prisoner Was Given Hearty
Welcome at New York.

New York. Sept. 19.-John Murphy.
who. under the name of George Albert
Whitehead has served l3 years I'm
English prisons, having been convicted
OF having dynamite in his possession.
and who was released some weeks ago.
arrived here on the steamship Lucania
yesterday afternoon. He was accom-
panied on the voyage by his brother.
James Murphy, who was sent over to
look for him after his disappearance
from his native place, Skibbereen. on
the day following his release.
The Cunard steamship pier was
crowded with foumer friends and pres
ent sympathizers of the ex-prisoner. who
cheered him to the echo the moment he
appeared at the gangplank. He was at
once taken in charge by Ne committee
of "a. which was organized to receive
and care for the prisoner as soon as
he would arrive. A cab was called.
and Murphy or Whitehead. was at once
driven to an uptown hotel There he
will be examined by experts on insanity,
and if they deem it advisable ne will be
sent 10 a sanitarium. Among those who
were at the pier to receive him were his
sister, who lives in Jersey city and Mrs.
Connolly. the sister OF DR.. Thomas Gal
lagher, who was released few weeks
ago and who is now in an asylum.
Murphy's friends were surprised as
we'll as delighted at the appearance he
presented. lie does not seem to have
aged much. From a physical stand
point, he could not be I'm better condi-
ton. He is of low stature. with a rypi-
cal Celtic cast Of countenance, eyes
bright and keen, and he wake with an
elastic step. His brother is authority
for the statement. that the ex-prisoner
Is perfectly sane.
on the voyage over here, the two hod
many conferences. The prisoner eK-
planned his sudden disc ppearance from
Skibbereen. by the statement that he
was afraid OF too much excitement. 1t
appears that his friends I'm Ireland
wanted To get up demonstration in his
honor that he did not want. In order TO
avoid that, as well as all confusion and
excitement ne disappeared during the
first night of his visit TO his home. He
said that he found employment on a
farm a short distance away, and worked
for eight days, when he made his way
to Cork, where his friends found him
wandering almlessly around.
In spite OF the brothers statements a.
20 the sanity Of the ex-prisoner the ply
sicians. who were among the number
on the pier TO meet him, had no hesita-
ton in pronouncing the man insane. He
seemed to have lost all recollection of
old friends, and refused to shake hands
or to greet any of them. He seemed TO
be under a constant fear that he was
being watched and that there were spies
ell around him. Neither could he tell
the place where he had formerly lived
in this city and he positively refused to
say a single word about his prison ex
perience.
The only person whom he seemed to
recognize was his sister, who drove of
in the cab with him. He had no recollec-
ton of General James r. O'Beirne, the
chairman OF the committee of "a. nor of
William Lyman, the president of the
Irish National alliance, when they
greeted him.
Murphy. according TO his relatives. Is
at present only "a years Of age. AS q
matter OF fact, he looks all OF 40, yet
there is not a gray hair In his head. and
on certain subjects he can talk quite
sensibly. His condition Is in marked
contrast to that OF DR.. Gallagher.
Arrangements are being made for a
series OF meetings In this vicinity that
will have for their object the bringing
about of reforms in the prison system of
England. 1t is said that John DAILY
and three of the released men will ar
rive here within two weeks.