The Irish standard., 1902-12-13

ing conspirator, that in tent at the
fair at Rathclare he produced paper
or agreement, for signature by all who
consented to murder Admiral Evans,
Mr.. Low and Greagh. Several signed
the paper and consented to shoot the
three
The witnesses for the defense were
chiefly gentlemen of responsibility, re-
siding In the neighborhood of Doner-
allie. Their evidence went to discredit
the crown witnesses as persons un-
worthy of belief; but the crown law.
yer tried to make it appear that one
of the witnesses, II gentleman Of high
position, Harold Barry Esq, Of Bally-
vonere, was himself "Whiteboy,"
and in league with the prisoners. Tho
case having closed on both sides, Bar.
on Pcnncfnthcr proceeded to address
the jury. The prisoners evidently felt
the Importance Of the judges ad-
dress. Lcary looked composed us he
stood with folded arms and erect head.
firm, yet listening attentively. The
learned Karon's charge was minute and
rather tedious. 1t was considered to
incline against the prisoners. The old
man said John Leary's witnesses
were not examined" and it was plain
| the prisoners were not satisfied with
their counsel, for Shine exclaimed,
"Our counsellOrs have been bribed."
The jury, after deliberating for five
minutes, brought in their verdict. They
found oil the prisoners guilty. Judge
Torrcns put OH the black cap, dread
| symbol Of death. He sentenced the
four to be hanged, and spoke of the
justice Of their sentence ooh, my
/ Lord" cried one Of the convicts, "there
is no justice for us, we know nothing
! but vengeance"
1t would he difficult to magnify the
terror which seized the relatives of
! the men yet untred, when the fate
| Of the first batch of the prisoners was
thus sealed. They were aware of the
Infamous character of the spies and in
formers, and knew that no scruples Of
conscience would restrain these hard
ened caitiffs from what they called
| Swearing up to the marl"-so as to
obtain convictions for the crown There
| was only one resource for the relatives
only one barrier between the remain
ing prisoners and the halter; this was
the skill and legal acumcn Of the great
est criminal lawyer on the Munster
circuit Daniel O'COnncll. Fortunately
he was at Derrynane, his country
seat i'm the county of Kerry, but that
was ninety miles away, and there he
was advertised TO attend a meeting Of
the people of Kerry, in Tralee, respect
ing the sub-lctting acts, on Tuesday.
But his advocacy was the only one
chance for the untricd men, and on the
Saturday the judges did not go into
court until late hour. The solicitor
| general, considering that the trial Of
the next batch of prisoners would ell
cronch OH the Sunday, proposed to ad-
jOurn over until Monday morning.
Mr.. Mccarthy endeavored to ascertain
the names of the prisoners who would
be tried next, but this the solicitor.
general could not, or would not, dis
close. The crown, he said, had deter
mined to try every one of the prison.
ers, and as the same evidence which
already procured the conviction of the
four was applicable to all, the fears
of the prisoners and their friends were
naturally at the greatest height. I'm
der these circumstances a young farm
er named Burke, a brother of one Of
the prisoners, resolved to ride to Der
rynane and request O'Connell to come
off, at once, to Cork, so as to act for
the defense on the ensuing Monday.
He undertook to be at Derrynane ear
ly on the next morning, and at five
o'clock on that Saturday afternoon,
mounted on strong horse Of powerful
action and singular endurance, he
started on his errand for life or death.
On he sped, needless Of the coming