The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-11-27

witnesses they would certainly have
been severely punished for an act that
has rendered their names glorious in
the eyes Of Americans.
The three men hanged at Manches-
ter were plain, unassuming Irishmea
whose names were unknown except to
their families and associates on the
day they helped to rescue Col Kelly
and Capt. Deasy from the police van,
which was vending it's way to Stafford
Jail on the outskirts of Manchester,
with Sergeant Brett in charge of the
manacled prisoners. The guard &C
companying the van fled in terror
when 1t was attacked by few deter
mined men. The two Americans were
released and escaped, and were nevor
captured from that day to this. The
rescuers Ned, but the whole detective
force of the city started. in pursuit of
the fugitives and in few hours ar
rested 80 1rishmen on the charge of
assisting in the attack on the van.
Before next morning, sixty of the
hated Irish were lying chained within
the prison cells. They were brought
into court in chains, and, contrary 10
British law, were regarded guilty I'M
til they proved themselves innocen,.
Among them We're Allen, Larkin,
OBrien, Mcguire and Condor.
After a trial of which any court
would be ashamed, these Ave men were
found guilty of the killing of Sergeant
Brett and condemned to die on thu
galloWs. All the court reporters Pc
titioned the British authorities to par
don Mcguire. who was not at all pres
ent at the rescue, and he got his FREQ
dom. The sentence on Condor was
committed to imprisonment, as he was
an American citizen, and as the same
lndlvlsible verdict was given by the
jury in the case Of the five men, their
attorneys demanded a new trial, and
the artisans of London cried out for
justice to the noble three, but without
avail. England was resolved on the
execution Of the Irishmen, whether in
nocent or guilty. Each and all de-
clared with solemnity that they had
nothing to do with the accidental
shooting of the police sergeant. O'Briea
said he never fired shot in his life
and was not present when the van was
attacked. Allen and Larkin admit
ted they were present, but had no hand
In the shooting as testified to by false
witnesses.
The day of execution arrived and
the three Of them were launched into
eternity. They died bravely for their
country, for had their offense been
non-political they would not have suf-
fered such an ignominous death. Their
execution was meSnt to inspire Irish
men with terror for daring to mutter
for liberty. The feelings of, hatred be-
tween Celt and Saxon engendered by
the execution of the Manchester may-
tyrs can be but family appreciated
by this generation. England was
scared by the armed Irish revolution
lists of that day, and the rescuins 81
two American soldiers in one of its
largest cities by a handful of Irish
men caused her to lose all sense IF
justice. The Irish across the channe,
held public funerals and prayers for
the murdered dead were offered uy
from the affairs of the land. John
Martin and A. NJ. Sullivan delivered
speeches in condemnation of their
martyrdom and were prosecuted 70,
their utterances, but acquitted by a
Dublin jury. From that time to this
the tragedy at Manchester is kept
green in the memories of Irishmen
the world over on the 23rd of Novem-
Der Of every recurring year. and the
words of the poet are likely to be-
come truet
Never till the latest day
Shall the memory pass away
or the gallant lives thus given for
our land;
But on the cause must go,
Amidst joy, or veal or woe,
Till we've made our isle nation froe
and grand.