The Irish standard., 1901-04-13

movement west Of the Shannon. Un-
der the pillows were found four Colts
revolvers, loaded and capped. A large
sum of money-nearly 1000 pounds i'll
notes, gold and drafts-was also found
in the room. The house evidently had
been provisioned as the intended ref
uge Of several persons for some weeks.
Large quantities of bacon, flour, gro
ceries, wines, spirits, ETC., were stored
on the premises. The strong force of
police in and around the house showed
to all the captives the fruitlessness of
resistance. They quietly dressed
themselves, and long ere the neighbor-
ing dwellers We're astir, or knew of
the astonishing drama that had been
enacted amidst the parterres of Fair
field house, the whole, party We're car
ried off and secured under bolts and
bars in Dublin Castle.
1t was approaching noon before the
news got abroad. Then, indeed, the
city broke forth into excitement that
was not half terror. The dreaded G.
O. I. Il. was actually in custody. Now
might everyone sleep with easy mind.
No rising need be apprehcnded. No
lurid flame of civil war would redden
the midnight Sky. ENultation beamed
on every detectives face. 1--WE have
done it," might be read in the toss of
every pOliceman's head as he proudly
paced his beat.
On the following Tuesday the four
prisoners We're brought before the
magistrate in the lower Castle yard.
The van which conveyed them was
accompanied by Il mounted escort with
drawn sabres, and proceeded and fol
lowed by number Of cars conveying
policemen armed with cutlnss and re-
volver. Along the route the patrols
had been well strengthened, and every
precaution taken against a rescue
There was 4 great anxiety to catch a
glimpse of the celebrated Fenian chief,
who since the arrests of the 18th of
September had become for the first
time a popular hero. The police es-
corts and guards, however, prevented
anyone from approaching. Not a
glance could be exchanged with the
object of all this curiosity. \ distin-
guished party of. vicerega1 visitors or
friends, and some of the higher pxecu-
tive Notwithstanding Lord
Chelmsford. Sir Robert Peel, Colonel
Lake, Mr.. Wodehouse, private secre-
tary to the lord lieutenant, and others
were accommodated with seats in the
magistrates room, having shared the
general desire for look at "the cap
tain" Indeed, it is said the lady of
one of them successfully pleaded for
glimpse of Stephens and his col
leagues while in the prison. When
Nagle was brought in, he pcrceptbly
trembled, and avoided meeting the
gaze of the prisoners. Stephens bore
himself quite coolly, nay cavalierly.
His letter to the Clonmel "B's" was
read as evidence. When the clerk
came to the passage declaring this
should be ''the year of action" Ste
phens startled them all by loudly in
terjecting $50 must it be-"
Although he must have read in the
public newspapers of the extensive
seizure of letters and other documents
In the course of previous arrests, he
seems to have kept quite store of
like evidence at Fairfield house. There
were lists or rolls Of the American Of
fccrs; name, ranks, travelling charges
paid them, and the dates of sailing for
lrcand. There was n minute, or memo
randum, apparently of the Military
Council, settling the pay in dollars
which these officers were to receive:
Major general. monthly. $3.50: briga-
der general S4OO; colonel Especial
ARM, $24S; ditto infantry line. S23S;
lieutenant colonel special arm, 1925;
ditto infantry line, $215: major (spe-
CLAD. $500; captains of all arms, S165:
licutenants, S125; second ditto, S115.
There was list of places organized,
and of the ccnters in charge. Il sheet
of cipher-terms. and letters in great
abundance. In truth, the documents
seized on this occasion enabled tho or.
ganization to be gripped far more ex-
tensvely and effectually than was pos
sible before
The preliminary examination OK
tended over Il couple Of days. At its
close, on Wednesday, November 49,
the magistrate, previous to committing
the prisoners, asked each il he had
any observations to make. Stephens
said he had.
The Magistratc-"I shall be bound
to take it down. Stcphcns--"Ycs:
take it down."
Then rising to his feet and folding
his arms, he said, 81 have employed
no lawyer in this case, because in max
ing defense of any kind I should he
recognizing British law in Ireland.
Now, l deliberately and conscientious
ly repudiate the existence of that law
i'll 1reland-its rights or even it's exist
ence, in Ireland; and defy any pun
ishmcnt, and despisc any punishment,
1t can infict upon me. l have spok-
en- it."
What did this mean? Ten days sub
sequcntly these words were recalled,