The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-06
PHOENIX PARK CASE
History of It Is Recalled by
the Release
OF THE LAST PRISONER
Convicted of the Crime Seven
teen Years Ago.

of the Phoenix Park" prisoners and has
released ames Fitzharris, alias Skin the
Goat" who was serving life sentence
as an accompAce in the assassination OF
Lord Frederick Cavendish, chief secre-
tary for ireland, and Of Thomas Henry
Burke. permanent under secretary, in
Phoenix Park, Dublin, In 1852.
On the evening of Saturday, the 6th of
May in that year, just before sunset.
Lord Frederick Cavendlsh and Thomas
Henry Burke, while walking together
across Phoenix Park, in Dublin, sfere
suddenly set upon and stabbed to death
by a band of unknown men who as sud
denly. disappeared.
The deed was shock to the civilized
world hardly less severe than that Of
the assassination of our own President
Garfield the year previous. And yet pub
lie opinion was divided as to whether it
was a political act or mere murder.
The British government dealt with 1t as
a mere murder, but the French republic
refused extradition to a refugee charged
with participation in IL, and the United
States took the same view in the case
of several other who escaped to this
country. British justice had its way
with those whom 1t caught and tried.
Five of them were hanged IN the execu-
ton yard OF Klmainham Jail. Three,
who have recently been released, received
sentences of penal servitude for life; five
received sentences of ten years. Three
turned informers.
ALI of those who were punished were
men in humble life, the agents Of men
higher up, who planned the deed and who
escaped ats consequences. With the re-
mission Of the last of the life sentences
Great Britain declares that justice has
been satisfied and that the account Is
closed of the Phoenix Park tragedy of
1882
II modern journalism had been in vogue
In that year the New York Sunday pa
pers Of May and the evening papers Of
the day before would have had sensa-
tion worthy Of their best efforts. Extra
upon extra and headline upon headline
would have been needed to tell the story
of the murder on that Saturday after
noon in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
It was in the days of eoercion-and Of
rerisals. Foster the had and front Of the
coercion olicy, had dropped his office in
disgust-and in fear Of his life. His MUIR
der had been planned. and the tradition
runs that the train which carried him
from Dublin was searched lin vain by
armed Invincibles anxious to get shot
at him.
"Buckshot" Foster was safely out Of
ireland, and Cancellation, represented by
Lord Frederick Cavendish. had replaced
him. Against Lord Frederick there was
no grievance. nor was his death intended
But Burke had been sentenced by a Sec
ret tribunal; his executioners had been
selected; 1t was mere accident that In
volved Lord Frederick Cavendish in the
doom.
After his installation as chief secretary
ne had started to return on foot through
Phoenix Park to the viceregal lodge. and
Secretary Burke, seeing him walking, had
dismissed his cab and Joined him. 1t was
drawing near sunset of a beautiful day
in May. The park was almost deserted.
An Irish car driven by Miles Kavanaugh
and having four occupants, Joe Brady.
a stone cutter; Tim Kelly, a coach build
er; Pat Delaney and Tom Caffery was
driving slowly up and down the path.
followed by the cab of Fitzharris (Skin
the Goat)
In the cab were Dan Curley, Michael
Pagan and Joe Hanlon. all armed with
revolvers and entrusted with the work of
rescue IL it were needed.
whose duty 1t was to signal the presence
OF the victim. and Joseph Smith. who
alone of all the party knew Secretary
Burke by sight
The four occupants OF the car who had
been selected to do the deed were armed
with surgeons knives grought over from
France. Brady, who was a Hercules in
strength. was their leader.
As the victims approached the car the
signal was given from the coAdside by
Carey. The four leaped down and ran to
ed and gashed by the sharp knives of at
least two of his assailants, Brady and
Kelly. Lord Frederick Cavendish might
have been let go unhurt. but his manly
instinct prompted him 10 resist. II IL was
only with his umbrella, and a knife
thrust in his heart ended his lie.
Not less sudden than the deed was the
fight and the escape. Within a minute af-
ter the murder every one of the s.levn had
disappeared as completely as IL the earth
had swallowed them up. Carey and
Smith turned and went away as soon as
the signal was given. Fizharris started
back with his cab before a blow was
struck. The four jumped hack on the car
and Kavanaugh WHIPPED up his little red
mare and kept her at full spes,aon a race
around the city OF Dublin. driving out
by ChapelIzad. keepin outside Of the city
until he re-entereI by the south side. He
might as well have driven right straight
home. No one thought his carload was
anything more than an ordinary drunken
Saturday frolic.
From a window OF the siceregal lodge
Earl Spencer saw in the distance what he
thought was a sou Q and spoke OF it. One
person who witnessed the crime from
nearer at hand was so overcome BIZ IL
that he was unable to identify the per
petrators. A telegraph clerk riding by on
his wheel saw the bodies and reported TO
the police. and then the news spread.
The government acted with p.omptness
and vigcr A reward OF sIO coo for the az
rest Of the assassins and EI.eoJ for any
information about them was offered. and
all the detective resources OF England
and Ireland alike were set 20 work. but
all in vain. No enemy OF Ireland was In
the secret and no friend OF ireland would
betray It. Suspicious were rife-and &C
cuurate-and arrests were made. but In
the absence Of evidence the suspects had