The Sun. — 1868-05-19 (London, England)

TRIAL OF THE ASSASSIN.  On Friday, the 13th March, a special court was held before Mr. Voss and other magistrates, and the charge of attempt to murder was heard.  The face of the prisoner (who was attired in the prison dress of white canvas, his own clothes having been torn off him by the enraged people at Clontarf before the police could get him on board the steamer) presented a sickening sight. The left side of the face was very much swelled, and the right side cut and bruised in several places, whilst his right eye was black, protruding, and closed, and his left livid with bruises, and capable of being only partially opened. The skin down the front of his nose was abrased, and that feature was also considerably swollen. Unable to see except with difficulty, yet he was observant of the proceedings, and although he asked a few questions, he was never disturbed from the almost stolid indifference to the various statements of the manner in which his crime was committed.  On the next day Sir William Manning was examined.  The prisoner declined to ask the witness any questions, but said : " I would make a remark. If he had not come forward, I would have shot the duke a second time." The whole of the depositions having been read by Mr.  Lees,  Mr. Voss called upon the prisoner to stand up, and then asked him if he had anything to say, at the same time administering the usual caution before committal. Prisoner : I have nothing to say but that the task of executing the duke was sent out and allotted to me. The Crown Solicitor : Will you repeat what you have lust said ?  Prisoner : The task of executing the Prince was sent out to me, but I failed, and I am not very sorry that I did fail. That is all I have to say. He was then formally committed to take his trial at the Central Criminal Court, to be holden at Darlinghurst on the 26th.  On Thursday, the 26th March, O'Farrell was brought up for trial at a special sitting of the Central Criminal Court, held at Darlinghurst, his Honour Mr. Justice Cheeke presiding. Mr. Attorney-General Martin, with Mr. SolicitorGeneral Isaacs, appeared for the Crown ; prisoner was defended by Mr. Aspinall, with whom was associated Mr.  The prisoner, when placed in the dock, was very much Improved in general appearance since his committal, the liscoloration and swelling of various parts of his face Laving passed away, leaving a somewhat haggard expresion. He was neatly dressed in a suit of light tweed. The trial was postponed on the ground of the absence of a witness necessary for the defence.  The proceedings were resumed on Monday, March 30. For the defence several witnesses were called, who proved that O'Farrell suffered from epileptic fits and daipiuo. tronens, and that he had on one occasion only spoken in favour of Fenianism.  -- • The Crown called rebutting witnesses, who proved that in frequent conversations he expressed himself rationally ; also, that they had heard him defending Fenanim generally, and the Clerkenwell outrage particularly. No pro:essional witnesses were called. The jury, after a deliberation which lasted for an hourreturned a verdict of guilty. O'Farrell, when asked if be had anything to say why sentence should not be pronounced, replied, in a firm tone. •` No,•sir, nothing." His Honour then passed sentence of death in the usual form, and the prisoner was removed.