The times., 1900-12-30
o'coNNELL's LAST CASE.
The Great Lawyers Defence of Al
legged Conspirators.

(Erom Youths Compauion.)
Daniel O'Connell, the great Irish agiIa
tor, was in his lifetime scarcely less IA
nous in law than in politics. He was
a marvellous advocate, but he was justly
accused of using unfair means to procure
verdicts. He would blarney or bully as
the case seemed to require; he would
mimic he would declaim, he would de-
nounce, he would resort to dramatic sur
prise5 and clever traps-enything to sue
ceed. His excuse was his warm heart and
the terrible severity of the times. which
made him desperately anxious to save his
clients from punishment, and often
scarcely less so when he himself believed
them guilty than when they were inno-
cent. It was the day of little discrimina-
tion, less mercy, and much hanging and
transportation; and O'Connell disapprov-
ed capital punishment. A recent article
by Michael MacDonagh gives thrilling
account of Counselor O'Connelfs last
case-that of the "Doneraile conspiracy"
An unpopular Irish magistrate had tcen
murdered, and the resulting investigation
unearthed conspiracy to kill several op-
pressive local magistrates. One hundred
and fifty persons were indicted and were
to be tried in three patches.
In the defence of the first batch
O'Connell was not engaged. and they were
all convicted and sentenced. lads and aged
men together, to execution within the
week The remaining prisoners and their
friends. seized with panic, sent an ur-
gent message from Cork to Darrynane,
ninety miles away, and O'ConIell hast
ened TO the rescue.
There was not a moment to spare, as
the judge had refused to delay the open
ing OF the second trial for his arrival
Travelling in q light gig with relays of
fr.,- -acFr
food. O'ConneI traversed the frightful
Kerry roads at full speed, and at length
arrived in the courthouse square fogging
his exhausted horse, which dropped dead
between the shafts as he descended,
hailed by a crowd of thousands with wild
shouts Hes come. He's comet"
Amid a frantic uproad of cheers. he
was swept into the courtroom, where the
opposing lawyer, MIR. Doherty, was ad-
dressing the jury.
The solicitor general turned white The
cloud of despair lifted from the faces
OF the prisoners in the dock. O'ConnelI
at once bowed to the judges, and apol-
ogized for not appearing in wig and gown.
He also craved permission to refresh him
self in court A bowl OF bread and milk
was brought, and as he ate, young bar
rister on either side of him poured into
done, and how the case stood.
1t was a contrast. the big, massive
counselor snatching his hasty breakfast,
and the graceful. aristocratic Mr.. Doh
erty talking in the most refined way to
the court. AS he laid down 4 doctrine OF
law. O'Connell. with marked contempt,
cried out with his mouth full of bread
and milk. That's not law"
Again and again he interrupted. but al
ways the decision of the judges upheld
him and affirmed the error Of his antag-
onist He was still more successful when
the witnesses fell into his hands for cross
examination. They told, or tried to tell.
the same story upon which the former
prisoners had been convicted, but O'Con-
nell so badgered, tripped. and terrified
them that their evidence went helplessiy
to pieces.
"Wisha. thin," cried one OF them hys-
terically. visibly trembling, God knows
'tis little I thought I'd meet you here
this day, Counselor O'Connell May the
Lord save me from yOu!"
The jury could not agree. although lock
ed up and starved for Il day and half.
Nor were the accused tried again, for
the third batch having received mean
while full acquittal. the Government
despaired of conviction. and they were
discharged. while the sentence of the
unfortuaates already condemned to be
hanged was c1r3mutcd 20 transportation.