The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-07
Great | rials of History.
TRIAL OF WILLIAM onn.


tho most popular and influential OF
tho United lr!shmen, during the latter
half OF the eighteenth century. excited
the Irish patriots AZ no other OF tho
many official injustlces OF the period.
II Was nothing less than judicial
murder tho execution OF Orr, and as
such IT is recognized at the present
time by tho English cyclopaedists.
"Kcmcnhcr Orr" became a watchword.
and was chalkcd on tho walls In many
places. At q public dinner held in
London 10 celebrate Fox's birthday.
the Duke Of Norfolk. Lord Oxford.
Erskinc. SIR +. Burdctt. Horne Tooko
and others being present. two OF the
toasts We're: The memory q. o,r.
basely murdered" and May the exc
cuticn Of Orr provide places for the
Cabinet OF ST. James At tho castle"
William Orr was tho first OF the
martyrs to tho cause OF the United
Irishmcn. He was tho son OF farmer
of the County OF Antrim. When he
WAS thirty-one years Of age no WAS
arra!encd. tried and convicted at Car
r'ckfcrgus on a charge OF having ad-
Iniuisiercd the United Irishmans oath
to Il soldier named Whcatly. Tho
whole history OF the operations of
the British law courts contains moth
ing more infamous than tho record OF
this trial
Whcutly was bad character. and
1T was afterwards admitted that at tho
trial nc had given false evidence
against Orr. II was william Mckeevcr
who administered the oath and not
Orr. and the British government knew
this fact. but they wanted Orr as a
victim. The government, had decrecd
his death even before he was apprc-
heudcd.
Orr was kept In prison for about
year previous TO his trial, to the In
tense Indignation OF tho inhabitants OF
the place. who were so friendly 10
him that the people left tho place dur
ing tho proceedings as protest.
judge at the trial. and Arthur Wolfe,
afterwards Lord Wllwardcn, was
prosecuting counsel They were both
humane men. but both concurred in
the verdict of guilty as pronounced al
ter some delay. by the jury.
When the jury retired TO consider
their verdict, they were supplied with
supper by the crown officials. "A liberal
supply of liquors being included In
the refreshments. In their sober state
several OF the jurymen. including the
foreman, had refused to agree 10 a
verdict OF guilty. 1t was otherwise,
however, when the decantcrs were
enptlcd. and when threats of violence
were added to the bewildcr!ng effects
dulgcd Even when the jury returned
the following morning, after their
nights debauch. most Of them were
so under the influence OF liquor that
they could not sit up in their places.
When Lord Yclverton concluded his
death sentence. II is said that he
burst into tears. y motion was made
by Curran in arrest OF Judgment.
chiefly on the grounds OF the drunk,
iIrrN h,,f
FUSED to entertain the objection. a
short respite was granted the prisoner,
ana orrs brother obtained on tho
representation that he had confessed
his guilt, several influential signatures
to petition for pardon. Orr appar-
eehtiy signed a confession. but his
brother afterward declared that he
himsclf had concoctcd it without the
prisoners knowledge and Orr strenu-
ously denied responsibility for II.
Hardly had sentence OF death been
passed when computations seemed to
seize upon those who had aided in Sc
curing the result. Wheatly, who sub
scquently became insane and is be-
licved To have died by his own hand,
made an affidavit before a magistrate
acknowledging that he had sworn
falsely against Orr. Two of tho Jury
made dispositions that they had been
induced TO join In the verdict while
under the influence OF liquor, and two
others swore that they had been terri
tied into the same course by threats Of
violence.
These depositlons were laid before
the Viceroy, but Lord Camden, the then
lord lieutenant, was deaf to all ap-
peals. Well might Orr cxclaim within
his dungeon that the government had
laid down system having for Its OBJ
ject murder and devaStation."
Orr was hanged on October Il, 1897,
and 1t is related that on that day, as
on the day OF his trial, the inhabitants
OF the town quilted 1t 10 express their
sympathy with the patriot who was
being murdered by law, and to MARI
their adherence of the conduct of the
government toward him. His fate es-
cited the deepest indignation, and it
was commented on in words Of fro by
tho national writer's OF the period, and
through many an after year tho
watchword and rallying cry of the
United Irishmen was: Thermometer
Orr"
Had Some Foundation.
"IClimination of Hnarfo r1oeI.