Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1883-05-05 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CONSPIRACY TO MURDER.  TRUE BILLS AGAINST WALSH, TYNAN, & SHERIDAN  HANLON SENTENCED TO PENAL SERVITUDE FOR LIFE.  DUBLIN, Thursday. The trials in Green-street entered upon a new phase to-day, when both the city and county grand juries attended to find the remaining bills. Mr Justice O'Brien observed on the , unavoidable inconvenience caused by requiring their attendance for the purpose of finding five bills of indictment. Referring obviously to Fitzharris, he said one of the bills would be for the charge known in the language of the law as an " accessor after the fact." There would also be a bill against eleven prisoners on the charge of conspiracy to murder public officials—judicial and executive. The frequent attempts on the life of Mr Forster had produced not only a feeling of deep indignation, but also of extreme surprise in revealing the stratum of criminal design. Adverting to the attempt on the late Viceroy, his lordship described Earl Cowper as an estimable nobleman who had given no offence to anyone, but was selected to be murdered solely because he was the representative of Her Majesty in this country. The Judge alluded to the attempt on the life of Judge Lawson, and in referring to the attempt on the life of Supt. Mallon his lordship paid a compliment to that officer as a man whose intelligence at this crisis had rendered invaluable service to the whole community. For the first time in the history of crime in this country it was determined to murder unrewarded jurors,. merely because in obedience to the law they had faithfully done their duty. There was a long interval, the Court waiting for bills to be found. The galleries were well filled with special jurors, several of whom read the newspapers to beguile the time. It was understood that the first bill sent up was in reference to the attempt on the life of Mr Field, for which the Crown had arranged to try Lawrence Hanlon. At length the city Grand Jury came out, and handed down a true bill against Lawrence Hanlon, JamesMullett,Joseph Mullett, George Smith, and Daniel Delaney. His lordship then intimated that indictments would be sent up for the Phcenix Park murders against Edward McCaffi ey and Edward O'Brien, and he wound up with the surprise that indictments for murder would be submitted against Tynan, Walsh, and Sheridan. The grand juries then retired to their respective rooms. Among the witnesses examined before them were Mr Field and Mr Barrett, tie special jurors whose lives were conspired against, and Joe Hanlon, the last of the informers. Soon afterwards the county grand jury enteredl their box with true bills against James Mullett, Edward McCaffrey, Joseph Mullett, Edward O'Brien, Lawrence Hanlon, Joseph Hanlon, Peter Doyle, William Moroney, Daniel Delaney, George Smith, Jas. Fitzharris, and Thomas Doyle on eight counts for conspiracy to murder Mr Forster, Earl Cowper, Mr Burke, Mr Field, Mr William C. Barrett, Judge Lawson, and Superintendent Mallon, and certain Government officials whose names are not disclosed. They seemed inclined to ignore the bill against Thomas Marten, a printer, but the Judge sent them back to reconsider it, observing that the information distinctly pointed him out. The Grand Jury once more retired, but after a brief absence they ignored the bill. This slight reverse was directly followed by a more surprising triumph. James Mullett, one of the members of the directorate against whom the bill for conspiracy had just been found, was put forward, and with a smile on his face pleaded guilty. He was immediately put back. Then William Morroney came to the front, looking wholly unkempt as ever. He pleaded guilty "to the charge of conspiracy." Judge O'Brien, to make the admission explicit, emphasised the words, " Conspiracy to murder certain Government officials and others," and the prisoner said he was guilty. The Judge directed that he should be put back for the present. Then young Lawrence Hanlon was placed at the bar, and indicted for the attempted murder of Mr Field. In a clear firm voice he pleaded not guilty, and said he was quite ready to take his trial. Mr Gerald Byrne, solicitor, appeared on his behalf, and forthwith the. Clerk of the Crown called the jury panel. Of the 200 special jurors 116 answered. Mr Bodkin then appeared as counsel for the prisoner. In empanelling the jury the prisoner challenged six his full number and ' the Crown ordered several to stand aside. ' When the jury were sworn, the C mrt adjour..ed for lunch. On resuming, the County Grand Jury brought in TRUE BILLS against