The age-herald., 1900-05-28
THE IRISHMEN41 , q.
 WERE EXCLUDED
FitzharriS and MuIIet will be
 Sent Back Hoape.
EXAMINED BY THE. BOARD
Skin the Goat" Talked Freely of the Crime for Which He Was Con- victed. But Mullet Indignantly
 Refused to Testify

New York May 27.-James Fitzharris, alias Skin the Goat" andsJoseph Mullett, the Irish invincibles, who were recently re- leased from prison in Ireland, where they were sentenced for complicity in the Phoe- nix Park murders of 1SS2 were today order ed excluded by the board of special inqui- ry at the immigration station and ordered deported.
 The exclusion was made under the inter- pretation of the law which forbids anyone being admitted to this country who has been adjudged guilty of felony crime. infamous crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude."
 The two men were recently pardoned by Earl Cadogan, lord lieutenant of Ireland, from a sentence of life imprisonment, and reached this city among the steerage pas sengers on the Lucania Saturday last. Af- ter a conference with Commissioner Fit chic the men were ordered back to Ellis island to await the action of the board of special inquiry. This board was composed of William Weihe, chairman; H. H. Moller, James A. Toner and Major Charles s. Sen sey.
 The two men were taken before the board on Ellis island this morning. The inquisi- tion was secret. The only one at the barge office to meet the two men, and who show ed any interest in their behalf, was Rocky Mountain OBrien.
 Fitzharris Told the Story
 After the meeting of the board 1t was learned that Fitzharris was the first of the two to be examined by the members. He admitted he had served nearly seventeen years in prison. After being asked the usual questions as to his age, nativity and residence, Fitzharris was asked of what crime he had been convicted, and answer ed: Treason"
 He was then questioned as to this charge and he told the board that he had been arrested about nine moths after the famous Phoenix Park murders. in com pany with twenty-three others. These twenty-three were accused of having been accessories after the fact, while Fitz- harris was charged with having been an accessory before the fact. Three months later he was brought to trial, with others of the accused. Five of them were sen- fenced to be hanged and Fitzharris was sentenced to penal servitude for life.
 While telling his story to the board Fitz- harris declared that at the time of his trial he was offered f1O,OO0 by the English government if he would turn informer against the other members of the band This he refused to do, and of his life sen- tance he served about seventeen years in the Mt. Joy, Chatham, Doawnpatrick and Maryboro prisons.
 Eight months ago he was pardoned. Fitzharris said that he and Mullet had aI1N ed this port.
 Fitzharris asserted that while he was on British soil he was compelled to report to the police every month as to his doings and whereabouts
 T came to this country" he added, "be- cause I want chance to rest and recuper- ate. I wanted to stay here about three months and then go back to my family" Mulett Indignantly refused to answer any of the questions put to him by the board. He declared he was not being ac- corded proper treatment by the govern | ment. His examination lasted only a short time, as he would not respond to ques- tions
 The men were then sent to the excluded pen"
 The case will probably be appealed to the authorities at Washington, and if not, Fitzharris and Mullett will leave this port on Saturday on the Lucania-