The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-11-22
DANIEL o'CoNNELL's LAST CASE
How He Set Free the "Doneralle Con-
spirators.
snirat TORS"

How He Set Free the "Doneralle Con-
spirators.
spirators."
tator was in his lifetime scarcely less
famous in law than in politics He was
a marvellous advocate, but he was just
ly accused of using unfair means to
procure verdcts. He would blarney or
bully as the case seemed to require; he
would mimic, he would declaim, he
would denounce, and he would resort
to dramatic surprises and clever traps
anything to succeed. His excuse was
his warm heart and the terrible severi-
\ ty Of the times, which made him des-
perately anxious to save his clients
from punishment, and often scarcely
less so when he himself believed them
guilty than when they were innocent.
1t was the day Of little discrimination,
less mercy and much hanging and
transportation; and O'Connell disap-
proved capital punishment. A recent
article by Michael MacDonagh gives
thrilling account of Counselor O'Con-
nelrs last case-that of the "Doneraile
conspiracy"
An unpopular Irish magistrate had
beer murdered, and the resulting in
vestigation unearthed a conspiracy to
kill a number of oppressive local mag
mates. One hundred and fifty persons
were indicted, and were to be tried in
three patches.
| In the defense 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 pris-
oners and their friends, seized with
panic, sent an urgent messenger from
Cork to Darrynnane, ninety miles away
and OConnel fastened to the rescue.
There was not moment to spare, as
the judge had refused to delay the
opening of the second trial for his ar
rival. Travelling with a light gig with
relays of horses, and scarcely stopping
for rest or food, OConnell traversed the
frightful Kerry roads at full speed, and
at length arrived in the courthouse
square flogging his exhausted horse,
which dropped dead between the shafts
as he descended, hailed by crowd of
thousands with wild shouts He's
comet
Amid frantic uproar OF cheers, he
was swept into the court room, where
the opposing lawyer, Mr.. Doherty, was
addressing the jury.
The solicitor general turned white
The cloud OF despair lifted from the
faces of the prisoners in the dock
O'Connell at once bowed to the judges
and appologized for not appearing in
wig and gown. He also craved per-
70 ~, A
bowl of bread and milk was brought.
and as he ate, young barrister on
either side of him poured into each ear
an account of all that had been done,
and of how the case stood
1t was a contrast, the big, massive |
counselor snatching his hasty break |
fast and the graceful arstocratic Mr.. |
Doherty talking in the most refined |
way to the court AS he laid down a |
doctrine of law, O'Connell, with mark
ed contempt, cried out with his mouth
full of bread and milk, That's not |
lawl'
Again and again he interrupted. but |
always the decision of the Judge up
held him and affirmed the errors of his
He was still more success
full when the witness fell into his hands
for cross-examination. They told. or
tried to tell, the same story upon which
the former prisoner had been convict
ed; but OConnell so badgered trlpped
and terrified them that their evidence
went hopelessly to pieces.
"Wisha, thin" cried one of them hys-
Ierically, visibly trembling, God knows
It's little | thought I'd meet you here
This day, Counselor O'Connell! May the
Lord save me from you'll"
The jury could not agree, although
ocked up and starved for a day and a
lalf. Nor were the accused tried again.
For the third batch having received
meanwhile full acquittal, the govern
nent despaired of conviction, and they
We're discharged while the sentence of
he unfortunates already condemned to
oe hanged was committed to TRANSPORT
ation.-Youth's Companion