The Irish standard., 1897-11-06

EMMY assuring him and all the world
with my dying breath that that informer
was foresworn. The law under which
suffer is severe one. May the makers
and promoters of 1t be justified in the
integrity of their motives and the purity
OF their own lives. BY that law I am
stamped felon, but my heart disdains
the imputation. My comfortable lot
and industrious course of life best refute
the charge Of being an adyenturer for
plumber, but If to have loved my coun-
try. to have known It's wrongs, to have
felt the injuries of the prosecuted Cath
olics, to have united with them and
all other religious persuasions In the
most orderly and least sanguinary
means of procuring redress-if these he
felonies am felon. but not otherwise.
Had my counsel (Mr. Curran), to whose
honorable exertions am indebted, pre-
vailed in the motion to have me tried
for high treason rather than under the
insurrection law, l should have been
entitled then to full defense, and my
actions have been better indicated, bul
that was refused, and l must now sub
init to what has passed. To the gener-
GUS protection of my country 1 leave q
beloved wife, who has been constant
and true to me. and whose grief for my
fate has already nearly occasioned her
death. leave five living children who
have been my delight; may they love
their country as l have done, and die
for 1t If needful Lastly, false and UNI
generous publication having appeared
In a newspaper stating certain alleged
confessions of guilt on my part, and
thus striking at my reputation, which
1s dearer to me than life, | take this
solemn method of contradicting the cal
jimmy. l was applied to by the high
sheriff and Rev. William Brlstow, SOW
ereign of Belfast, to make confession
OF guilt. who used entreaties to that eff
feet; this l peremptorily refused. If I
thought myself guilty, l should be free
to confess it, but on the contrary
glory in my innocence.
II trust that all my virtuous country
men will bear me in their kind remem-
brance and continue true and faithful
to each other. as l have been to all of
them. With this last wish of my heart
nothing doubling Of the success of that
cause for which l suffer. and hoping
Tor Gods merciful forgiveness of such
offense as my frail nature may have
at any time betrayed me into, I die in
peace and charity for all mankind.
.,.- WILLIAM ORR"
The false and ungenerous publication
to which Mr.. William Orr in his diving
moments referred, is thus disposed of
In the following document from the pen
of his brother. Mr.. James Orr, written
three days after his death:
"To the Public: In consequence of
seeing paragraph in the Belfast news
paper signed by G. Skefilngton. ESQ,
high sheriff. and Rev. William Bristow.
sovereign of Belfast, relative to the dec
laration of my late brother, am there
fore, in justice to the character of my
brother and myself. to lay the whole
OF that transaction before the public. a
lew days after my brother was found
guilty and sentenced to death, l went to
Belfast. and applied to many gentlemen
for the purpose of using their interest
for having the punishment of my BROTH
er mitigated. and In the presence of Mr..
James Dickey. Of Randalstown, and Mr..
Thomas l.. Stewart, of Belfast, l APP
piled to Mr.. Staples, a member of Par
lament for this county, and Hon. Will
liam John Skeffington, for the above
purpose, who proposed If would get
written confession" OF guilt from my
brother that they would sign a mem-
0rial for the purpose Of obtaining his
pardon: and Hon. w. j. Skeffiington
said he would go round the gentlemen Of
the grand jury. who were then mostly
in Belfast. and get the memorial signed
by them. In consequence of which I
got a written confession prepared before
l left Belfast and produced it to Hon.
w. J. Skeflington and asked him if it
was full enough. to which he agreed. |
accordingly went to Currickfergus anu
applied to my brother to sign the con-
fession, which | produced to him, tell
ing him If he would sign 1t the above
gentlemen would sign a memorial to
obtain his pardon and get the rest Of
the grand jury to do So On his reading
the written confession he declared he
never would consent to sign paper
acknowledging his guilt and the justice
of his sentence, as he was not guilty
of the crime he was charged with l
not being able to induce him to consent
to the above. left him, and conceiving
It would be of very material use and be
the means of saving his life-for this
purpose and through that view, l signed
in his name the confession of guilt
without the prlvity or consent of my
brother and Immediately returned 70
Belfast and handed it to Hon. w. j.
Skefangton, as the act of my brother,
with which, l believe, he went rounu
the above gentlemen in order to obtain
their RfpnatIIras tO the mnmcrio1 ,rb al,