Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1898-11-26
Larken and O'Brien, Who
Were Executed at Man
chester.
Their Memory Being COmmem-
Grated Throughout the
Country.
No Human Being Can Say 1t
Was Just to Hang Them on
the Evidence.
THEIR TRIAL SHOWN TO BA A FARCE

In many cities in both this country and
Ireland anniversary celebrations are being
held in memory of the Manchester mar.
tyrs, Allen, Larkin and O'Brien. From
the Irish World we extract the following
graphic description of their execution:
The judicial murder of the Irish pa
triots, Allen, Larkin and O'Brien, at Man.
chester, England, on November %, 1867;
was on a par of infamv with any of the
executions ordered upon the patriots of
one hundred years ago.
Our readers are familiar with the story
of the famous rescue of the Fenian pris-
oners, Kelly and Deasey, from the prison
van in Manchester in 1867, and the trial
and conviction of Allen, Larkin, O'Brien,
Mcguire and Condor for participation in
the daring achievement, and the acct
dental shooting of Sergeant Brett through
the door of the van.
1t will be remembered that the fact was
made so completely manifest, notwith-
standing the perjured testimony of the
trial, that Mcguire was not ON the scene
OF the occurrence and knew nothing
whatever of it, that strong public senti-
ment was aroused against the judicial
murder decreed against him.
By philosophy of alleged law, posi-
BILE only under British administration,
when it was made evident to all after the
trial that the evidence against him was
perjured, and that he was entirely inno-
cent of any knowledge of the crime, Ma
guire was ''pardoned," and the other
prisoners, convicted on the same evidence,
were still held guilty.
"The pardoning of Mcguire" said the
London Star at the time, twas not merely
Just-it was absolutely unavoidable. Ger
tainly it is acknowledged by every one
that the evidence as to his identification
has undergone such contradictions as to
render it impossible to found on il even
sentence of months Imprisonment.
Obviously, to hang Mcguire would
have been, under any circumstances, a
monstrous crime. He never ought to have
been convicted. But now arises ques-
ton of yet graver moment-a question
involving not merely the life of one man,
but the lives of four men.
at is admitted that the evidence which
identified Mcguire cannot be relied upon.
Can we forget that the same evidence
likewise identified Allen, Larkin, O'Brien |
and Condon1 Every single witness who
swore to Mcguire swore also to one or all |
OF the men who now lie under sentence
of death.
Withdraw from the case the testimony
OF the witnesses who are now admitted
to have been mistaken in the case of Ma
guire, and what remains? No human
being can say it would be right to hang
men on such evidence"
Condon, who was an American citizen.
presented to the British Government a
new difficulty when the pardon" of Ma
guire was announced. The pardon showed
the trial to have been a farce, and Con-
don's execution, on the strength of testi-
mony shown to have been perjured,
might cause serious consequences. So
Capt Condor was sentenced to life inn
prisonment, and the remaining three, AL
len, Larkin and O'Brien, were led to the
scaffold on the same repudiated and false
testimony.
They met their deaths like true Christ
ian patriots on November 90. At 7:45 in
the morning the solemn procession was
formed, leading by long staircase from
the prison wall to the scaffold in the yard.
A line was formed in the Jail court. The
'entries on duty ceased their walk, mag
strates and reporters stood aside, and a
dead silence prevailed for moment. At
1903 O'Clock the solemn service of the
priests repeating the litany of the church
was heard, and the head of the procession
became visible about thirty yards from
he foot of the staircase. :
Allen and O'Brien and their attendants {
having reached the top of the stairway, I
waited on the inner platform until Larkin ]
md the officials came up. Then the door
vas flung open and the boy martyr was {
irst led out upon the drop. His face, q
which was pale, appeared working with {
he effects of strong mental agony. The Z
nigh priest of English rule over Irish 7
men, Calcrsft, came forward and placed
he moose over Aliens neck, pulled a |
white cap over his face and then tied his a
eet. The pinioning of the arms allowed t
lis hands from the elbow downward suf- !
icient freedom to clasp on his breast a I
'rucifx, which, ever and anon, as he I
poke "loud the responses of the litany,
he poor young fellow seemed to press V
loser and closer to his heart. t
Next O'Brien was led forth. On his c
inc, manly face the closest scrutiny could t
lot detect trace of weakness. He looked
;almly and sadly around; then, stepping
Up to where Allen Stood capped and pin
oned, he clasped him by the hand and !
Kissed him affectionately on the cheek, c
L.. L..