The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-12-27
SERGEANT SHERIDAN.
The Irish Hireling Whose Name |!
DeleSleu at Home.

The correspondent of the Chicago
Tribune in Ireland has the following
to say of the notorious Sergeant Sher-
dan, whom the British government
saved from prosecution for his rascal
y acts in Sligo:
Sheridan was one OF the honor
wearers among the scrgeants of the
Royal Irish Constabulary He was
stationed ut various times in n,lmer-
GUS parishes throughout Ireland, and
the usual result of his arrival in any
parish, in some wonderful way, was
an Immediate outbreak of crime and
the conviction of the alleged lawbreak-
ers.
y few years ago Dan McGoollan
was brought before Il Sligo jury. lie
was charged With making war on the
holders of grazing ranches, denounced
now by shouting peasants in every
public meeting in the west of Ire
land, by cutting off the tails of their
cattle. McGoohan was Il Catholic, ana
about sixty venircmcn of that faith
were ordered to stand aside"
Sheridan WAS the star witness. The
julymcn We're told in SO many words
by the judge on the bench that if the
prisoner was not convicted Sheridan
would stand in the light of Il pcriurer.
McGoohan was sentenced to penal ser
vitude for two years. Then Con Bray
WAS brought to trial, charged with set
ting fire to Il lnyStack. He was sell
fenced to three years. \ donkey be-
longing to Patrick Creg:ln was killed.
Patrick Murphy was charged with the
deed. Sheridan was the leading prose-
cutting witness in each case: He was
gaining much glory, and was the envy
of the force. 10 escape with IL light
sentence Murphy entered IL plea of
guilty.
There was Il fourth case, and again
Sheridan came to the front, this time
prosecuting IL tramp named Ryan for
aifiXing threatening notice to a gate.
But here Slleridans evidence fell
through. 1t was practically proven
that his statements were not correct,
and the tramp was discharged. Then
trouble began for Sheridan. 1t ended
in his being removed from the force
and he was charged with being the
real pcrpctlntor OF all these crimes.
"Ryan," admitted Chief Secretary
for Ireland Wyndlmn, was IL poor old
tramp, about G5 years of age, tottcr-
ing, dcbilitatcd. and nearly blind
Sheridan arrested him upon Il charge
of aiiiNing Il threatening notice on Il
gate. Sheri,lnn's evidence, as given on
deposition, broke down, and it was
clear from an inspection of the report
that he could not have seen the actions
that he stated he had seen from the
place from which he said h" had OBJ
served them"
1t was n short time later that Nc
Goollan received $500 as compensation
for his sentence. Bray was released
from Jail to die shortly afterward, and
his aged mother receives 500 weekly.
Murphy received Sl25 from the gov
eminent.
but what the Irish N;,tiomlists
have demanded" said VIM. O'Brien
NJ. F.. in discussing this case at West
port, lis that the men who testified
in these cases be prosecuted. Shcri-
dan, we have shown, and the govern
mcnt has not denied it, was the author
of all these crimes. Two men who
aided him We're allowed to retire
One Of them, Constable Keegan, re-
ceived $1,000 when he stepped out of
his uniform. The other constable.
Reid, was given Il commissioned al
lowance' of $3.50. We insist that these
men be prosecuted and that Sheridan,
who is in the United States, be brought
back and made to face these charges"
In Sligo the truth of these accusa-
tons is admitted. Even Secretary
Wyndham does not deny them. "Sheri-
dan," he admitted in discussing the
case, "A clever detective officer, be-
came Il villain in exercising his pro-
fession. He influenced and dazzled
some young men by the force of his
character and ability"
Mr.. Wyndham contends, however.
that 1t would be difficult to secure
evidence sufficient to convict" though
such men as Sir William Harcourt. Sir
Robert Reid and others have demand
cd that the case be thrashed out in
the courts.
Sheridan had a pull and influence
lie went to London when the charges
practically admitted by the govern
ment by the payment of indcmnities
were hanging over his head. and vir-
tually detled the officials to make an
inquiry. He "knew too much" IL is
asserted.
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