The Irish standard., 1904-12-03
MANCHESTER MARTYRS.

exist no longer, except in Alaska.
MANCHESTER MARTYRS.
Story of the Murder, as Told by A.
M. Sullivan.
In a recent number of A. M. Sulli-
vans 'New Ireland" is an interest
ing account of the trial and execution
Of the Manchester martyrs, Allen,
Larkin and O'Brien. Among other
things the writer says:
On Monday, October %, 1867, Will
liam Philip Allen, Michael Larkin,
Thomas Mcguire, Michael O'Brien
(alias Could, and Edward Condor
(alias Shore) We're arraigned for the
wilful murder of Sergeant Brett. The
evidence on the trial, especially as to
identification, was of wild and reck-
less character, as the government af-
terwards discovered. The five men
were nevertheless found guilty. They
hSIC ulu Il1Cu lOSCluGI Ou
the one Indictment, and We're convict
ed on the one trial, in the one verdict;
point upon which much subsequent
ly turned. They We're arraigned and
tried together on the 23d Of November.
Before sentence they each addressed
the court. They all deplored earnest
ly the death of Brett. Some Of them
vehemently denied that they We're
even present at the affray. "No man
in this court" said Allen, "regrets the
death of Sergeant Brett more than
do, and 1 positively say in the pres
ence Of the Almighty and everything
God that 1 am innocent-aye, as in
nocent as any man in this court.
don't say this for the sake of mercy;
7 want no mercy-I'll have no mercy.
I'll die as many thousands have died,
for the sake of my beloved land and
in defense of it,"
CcnaG:l Wa& the last to speak. He
solcnnly protested, as Il dying man,
that lie war ut even present at the
rescue. 81 =, not accuse the jury"
he said, "but I believe they were pre-
JUDGED. don't accuse them of will
fully wishing to convict, but prejudice
has induced them to convict when
they otherwise would not have done.
We have been found guilty, and, as
a matter of course, we accept our
death. We are not afraid to die-at
least I am not.'' "Nor l." "Nor L."
broke from the others all. He went
OH:
II only trust that those who are to
be tried after us will have a fair trial,
and that our blood will satisfy the
craving which 1 understand exists.
You will soon send us before God, and
1 am perfectly prepared to so. I have
nothing to regret, or to retract, or to
take back. 1 can only say, God save
Ireland"
AS he spoke these words his COM
panions, with one step, Simultaneous
ly ADVANCED to the front Of the dock,
and, lifting their faces and extending
their hands upward, cried out
earnestly, "God save Ireland!' That
exclamation has since been made a
national watchword in Ireland.
Before many days had followed the
trial feeling began to be entertained
in England that it was Of dubious
character, and that the correctness of
the verdict was open to grave ques-
ton. After some days spent in in
quiry, the government admitted the
truth Of this startling impeachment,
and pardoned Mcguire. Friends Of
humanity and Justice among the Eng
lish people now took courage and
spoke out. T hey said that on evidence
and verdict thus confessed to be
tainted and untenable, it would be
monstrous to take human life. Let
the prisoners, they said, be punished
as heavily as may be, short Of taking
life, impossible Of being restored If
hereafter error be discovered. Soon
news was published that Condor was
reprieved pending further considera-
ton. The general conviction now
spread that a like announcement was
on hand as to the others; a result at
tributable to the exertions of courage
Gus and philanthropic Englishmen in
Manchester and London. In Ireland,
where the whole proceedings were fol-
lowed with absorbing interest, a like
conclusion was very widely entertain
ed. Still it was evident that a power
full section of English public opinion
g