New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-27
1900 2 PARTS g PAGES WITH
IRISH EX-CONVICTS HERE.
DETAINED AT ELLIS ISLAND UNTIL M
MIGRATION OFFICIALS DECIDE
ABOUT THEIR ADMISSION.


Joseph Mullet and James Ftzharris, alias
Skin the Goat" the Irish ex-convicts who
were convicted Of completely in the murder of
Sir Frederick Cavendish and Mr.. Burke in
Phoenix Park, Dublin. in 1882, arrived here yes
terday in the steerage of the Lucania. Both
men sentenced to life Imprisonment for
their completely in the crime. but they received
pardons few months ago. They have no
money of their own and say they have
friends here, but they have come to this coun-
try to earn some money by giving lectures.
The question OF their admission to the country
has not been decided yet.
The two ex-convicts had an interesting voy-
age, for their pronounced views on Irish politics
kept them in trouble with the rest of the steer
age passengers from the minute the ship left
Queenstown. The trouble eliminated a few
days ago. when Tom Carmen, young Irish
man in the steerage, who is something of
athlete, took the two Fenians by the neck and
shook them into silence.
You ought to be dumped" he said "for talk
ing about England that way an English
ship"
Mullet and Fitzharris talked freely while the
steamer coming up the Bay, and both
avowed their intention of making some money
over here and then returning to Ireland. They
came across borrowed money and what cash
emily of their prison experiences. "Skin-the
goat" alleged cruel treatment in Chatham
prison.
Neither of the Irishmen had any idea that
they might be excluded from this country. This
matter will not be decided until to-day and
possibly not until later. The men were taken
to the Barge Office with the rest of the Lu-
canias immigrants yesterday afternoon, and
after being registered sent to Ellis Island
for the night, 1T then late in the day
This morning the Board of Special Inquiry will
decide whether the men are to be admitted or
not The statute excludes from this country
immigrants "who have been convicted of
felony or other Infamous crime misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude." Mullet and Fitz
harris have been so convicted but they have
been pardoned and there is decision on record
which holds pardoned convicts not to be within
the prohibition of the law. So this question is
perhaps not settled
There is consderabl BILE feeling against allowing
the men to be admitted, however, and they may
be barred out on other grounds An immigrant
who is "a pauper likely TO become a puDic
charge" cannot be admitted, and as the TWO
men have by their own admissions only a small
amount of cash. all of which is borrowed, and
have apparently no prospects, they may be held
to fall under the latter portion of the statute
1t is not thought that the numbering of Sir
Frederick Cavendish and Mr.. Burke will be held
to have been a political crime, for the commits
sion of which immigrants are not in general
excluded. The general opinion seems to be that
the crime should be considered ordinary
murder and that If all other arguments fail the
should not be admitted on the ground that
their crime political one. If it is decided
to exclude the men they have the right of ap-
peal to the Treasury Department. Neither Com
laiseioner Of Indignation Fitchie ATyisi ant
Commissioners McSweeny has given any mixing
of how the will be decided
The assassination of Lord Cavendish was the
result of plot of the 'Invincibes' to murder
'Buckshot' Forster Chief Secretary of Ireland,
on account of his obnoxious enforcement of the
Coercion act. When Forster learned that a Sc
cret tribunal had decreed his death he fed. He
was succeeded by Lord Cavendish, who essayed
the part of peacemaker. Lord Cavendish and
his secretary, MI Burke, walking in
Phoenix Park when several men drove rapidly
up in a jaunting and a cab, jumped out and
in a twinkling stabbed the two to death
with surgeons knives. They drove away, and
the crime remained mystery for time.
Then one of the murderers 'peached,' and the
criminals were brought to justice. Some We're
hanged and the rest were imprisoned Fitzharris
was believed to have been the who drove
the cab Mullet made a ferocous attempt to
murder Judge Lawrence and Foreman Field of
the Grand Jury investigating the tragedy. The
brutal and coWardly nature of the murders
aroused the Indignation of the world at the
time.
There were Irshmen at the pier yesterday
to meet Mulet and F'itzharris. O'Donovan
Rosa, of The United Irshman." tried to see
the men while they at the Barge Office, but
was not allowed to do