Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1882-09-30 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE PMENIX PARK MURDERS.  WESTGATE'S CONFESSION.  Tho arrival in Plymouth Sound of the Royal Mail steamship Nile, Captain Braddon, on Friday afternoon had been anxiously awaited, owing to the belief that she had on board the man Westgate, who had confessed at Venezuela to complicity in the assassination of Lord F. Cavendish and Mr Burke. On reaching the mail steamer the members of the Press who had gone out in the steamer ascertained that the selfaccused assassin was not on board the Niles He was brought to Port Royal from Ceram on the 11th inst. in H.M.S. Fantome Commander Karelake and Lieutenant Ainger, with an escort, had travelled some distanae into the interior, and there had the prisoner handed over to their custody by the British Consul. On the passage to Port Royal Westgate was under she surveillance of the ship's police, and was also guarded while he lay with one leg in irons by a Marine sentry. •Ehe prisoner conversed in a most rational manner on all subjects except the Dublin crime. Whenever allusion was made to the murders of the Chief and Under Secretaries, Westgate would exclaim that he would say no more than he had already confessed until his arrival in England. On reaching Port Royal the prisoner was placed on board the Dido, screw corvette, Captain G. E. Domville, and be was still there at the time of the Nile leaving Jamales on the 14th inst. There is ! a strong /elle', writes °lir Plymouth correspondent, amongst reside i nta n the West Indies, who have seen the man and read the description of one of the assassins that Westgate is not speaking ustruthfully when he says he was one of those engaged in committing the fearful crime of May last The prisoner would have come home in the Nile had the Dublin detectives sent for him been able to complete the necessary formalities for his transfer to their custody. He is expected to reach England by the next homeward bound boat, the Para, which is expected in Plymouth Sound a fortnight hence. All those who have seen Westgate declare that he displays not the slightest evidence of mental derangement. The passengers by the Nile clear up a doubtful point as to Westgate's nationality. They say he is undoubtedly an Irishman, his accent being very pronounced, and that since he has been in custody be has written a letter to his father, who lives in the South of Ireland. The statement is general that Westgate was arrested in consequence of statements he made to the cook of the merchantman in which he asserts he worked his passage out from Cardiff after getting across to that town from Dublin. Upon these incriminating stories reaching the captain of the vessel Westgate was placed in irons, and was subsequently handed over to the Venezuelan authorities. The intimation of the arrest was forwarded to the British authorities, and the captain of Fantome, after considerable difficulty, succeeded in obtaining Westgate's extradition. Pending his extradition, Westgate was treated with great severity, and presented a miserable appearance on arriving on board the Fantome. Regarding the theory that Westgate concocted the story in order to get a passage home, it is pointed out that he worked his passage out, and could not have had necessity to resort to such a device to obtain & return passage. Since he has been in custody of the British authorities Westgate has exhibited acute mental excitement. Ile confesses to having returned before leaving in the car, and to having given Lord Frederick Cavendish a stab in the back. He is also reported to have revealed the names of his accomplices in the crime, but the authorities at Kingston, Jamaica, are naturally very reticent upon this particular point. It is mentioned as a peculiar incident that whilst looking through an old copy of the Sunday at Mmte Westgate came across an article headed " Tb& Assassination of Lord Mayo," and that he was thrown into a state of great nervous excitement. No one is permitted to see him iu gaol. In his confession Westgate says that he was induced to commit the murder by someone he did not know, but whom he should instantly recognise. This person offered £2O to each of the four assassins, who were to post ttem• selves in certain places, and he himself would point out be victims. This plan was carried into execution. The individual in question posted himself with the assassins, and pointed out Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr Burke as they approached. After the murders they drove rapidly away to a certain house, where the money was paid, and Westgate immediately fled the country.  No fewer than six new journals are about to be started in Paris.