Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1894-04-06 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

DEATH OF MAJOR LE CARON.  A REMARKABLE CAREER.  Major Henri he Caron, the famous witness against the Nationalisto at the Parnell Commission, died on Sunday last, at London. Thomas Beach. for such was his proper name, was born at Colchester. in 1841, and after wanderings in France and England, went to America and entered the service of the Northern Army, assuming then the name of Le Caron. At the close of the war he wag a major. In 1865, while in America, he wag brought into contact with Fenianism and its workings. The designs of the American Fenians against Canada came to his ears, and these designs he mentioned in letters to his father in England. Mr. Beach, without reference to his son, took the letters to the member for Colchester. who in turn communicated them to the Government of the day. The Home Secretary requested Mr. Beach to arrange with his son for farther information. he Caron accepted I the commission without hesitation. He was se' tuated throughout. as he ban explained in his book, by intense resentment against the plotters of treason to his native country. For several years at a time while he was supplying the Government with information, he expenchal, as he affirmed, more money in prosuring it and keeping up communicate-nog with the conspirators than he received from the Government. He claims, apparently with reason, that the information which he, in virtue of his high rank in the Fenian Brotherhood, was enabled to supply, led to the dismal failure of the so-called invasion of Canada. The British and Canadian Governments were thoroughly prepared, and the rebels were checkmated at all points. After the Canadian fiasco came a lull. In 1873 wag started the new organisation of the the cipher name for " Irish United Brotherhood." In 1875 he joined this organisation, and from 1879 until he left America to give evidence before the Commission, he attended its meetings, forwarded home in cipher circulars, and kept sacces4ive Liberal and Conservative Governments fully informed of its machinations. No witness was produced to prove that he had in isrepreRented matters: and Sir Charles Russell's powers of cross-examination were exerted upon him in vain. With respect to one highly important point of his evidence---the interview he stated to have taken place with Mr. Parnell, in the course of which the latter spoke eympathetically of the prospects of an armed revolution in Ireland --the judges excepted his statement and diner;warded Mr. Parnell's disavowal. Throughout his 25 years of service as a military spy he carried his life in his hand. Had he nodded for a moment. had a single letter miscarried. had a post-office official betrayed him, he would have perished inevitably. This deadly peril, nevertheless, lie faced successfully for a quarter of a century. There is something almost superhuman in this spectacle of a man who could devote his life to BO terrible a duty, keeping his secret locked up from all companions except his devoted wife. The selfsuppression which enabled him togs through such a life-long ordeal wonld alone entitle him to respect. It must not be forgotten that the risks he ran were not ended by his return to this conntry. From the moment he took his place in the witnees-box he was liable to besname tbe object of a murderous eo.piracy, and the danger arising from this cause could only be evaded by a further life of secrecy. Whatever may be the verdict of posterity upon his life, he Caron was in every sense a remarkable man. And if the exigencies of the public service require the services of a spy to track down those who are plotting murder against innocent people, by a parity of reasoning it is difficult to maintain that snch a career as Le Caron's is not justified. He was a " military spy" who deliberately and conscientiously took op the vocation and carried it out with astonishing courage, perseverance, and suceese.