New-York tribune., 1901-03-30

James Stephens was born in County Kilkenny.
Ireland in 1923, and after leaving school he con-
tinued his studies and became a civil engineer
He was identified with the "'4S' movement in
Ireland. but it not until the Fenian rising
from 1865 TO 1867 that his name became prominent
in Irish political circles. In 1855 his title in the
Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood was c. o. l. r..
which meant Central Organizer of the Irish Re-
public" Stephens popularity known
among Irishmen as the Head Centre" On Sat
urday November H. 1865 Stephens arrested at
his home. Fairfield House Sandymount. Dublin.
The arrest took place about o'clock in the morn
ing. Stephens being awakened by the detectives
knocking at the door. He made no resistance and
when arragned in court said that he had no law
yer and did not intend to get one. that would
be recognizing English sovereignty in Ireland On
the same day Charles j. Kickham. Hugh Brophy
and Edward Duffy We're arrested. and about f2OOO
in money. together with several documents
nected with the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood,
was captured by the police Stephens was COM
mtted. as were the other prisoners. to Richmond
Colonel rom Kelly, who 8as % Stephens Chief
officer. together with a locksmith, stood outside
morning Of November "a Just two Weeks after ter
stephens had been arrested Inside OF the prison
lin, the hospital steward. both Fenians. having
his CELL and. with the aid Of the men on the out
side and a knotted rope. stephens was soon in the
hour after the prisoner had escaped. and when 1t
became known the government officials were
there Were no marks left by the men and all the
doors which they had opened were securely locked
again: The Lord Lieutenant at that time offered
very large rewards not alone for the recapture of
stephens, but for any information as 10 how his
release was effected. stephens remained in hiding
in Dublin for several months. but through the in
genuity of Colonel Kelly and John Flood all three
boarded little sailing vessel in the Ringsend
Basin and made good their escape from Dublin
Bay
They spent the following night in Belfast LOugh.
and twenty-four hours later all three landed at
ktlmarnOck, Scotland They We're disguised
fishermen, but having changed their seafaring
clothes and replacing them with ordinary street
tire, they took train for London, and reached
Paris fOrty-eight hours later. going by way Of
Dover. The boldness Of this plan insured their
safety. and. besides, il generally understood
that Stephens had made his way to America at
least six or eight weeks previously Neither Byrne
nor Breslin. who aided the Head Centre to
escape, were punished, but both found II
venient 10 come to the United States "A few months
later
stephens assumed rather dictatoraI manner in
his management of the Fenian movement. and at
times his actions led many to believe that he was
cOwardly. Many Of the rank and file of the Fenau
movement accused him of cOwardice, and pointed
to the fact that he made resistance at the time
of his arrest BY the majority. however. Stephens
believed to be perfectly sincere, and the worst
thing that he accused of by those who be-
Heved In him his uncalled for prOCrasttna ton.
OF recent years stephens had been living fund
which had been collected for him by Patrick Ford,
of The Irish World, and Michael Davitt.