Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1883-02-03 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

NNO4  IRELAND. THE PHCENIX PARK  MURDERS.  IMPORTANT EMENCE.  A link Which up to the present has been wanting in the chain of evidence regarding the Ph,enix Park murders has been furniahal to the detective police by a gentleman wir_ke whereabouts has been the subject of an extfaordinary advertisement which has for some time been published in the Dublin papers, and has attracted much attention. The gentlen-m, according to the advertisement, has, it appears, stated to some friends whom he met at the Vice-regal Lodge, that while he was going to a polo party in the Park on the evening of the bth of May he met a car on which were six men of the artisan class, and that in consequence of the direction in which it was driving and the hour, he took particular notice of it. He mentioned I this to a friend, and he described the appearance of the car with so much accuracy to the I police that his description was adopted and inserted in the flue and Cry. The police neglected ;to take a note of his address, and hence the I necessity for the advertisement referred to. They had almost despaired of finding him, when a few days ago some friend drew ,his attention to the advertisement. He then put himself in communication with the detective department. The descriptions published in the Hue and Cry of two of the men correspond in a remarkable manner with the appearance of two of the prisoners. The gentleman in question was taken to Kihnainham, where, from a number of unyoked cars, he selected that of Miles Kavanagh, who on Saturday last was sworn to have been the driver of the car which drove the assailants of Mr Field to and from the scene of the attack on that gentleman. Kavanagh. it may be added, was arrested at the time of the Phcenix Park murders on suspicion of being the driver. The gentlefiAn in question was also shown the pttx:mers now in cust34, and from amongst them he selected two whom he positively identified as having been on the car. These two are men whose names have been already prominently mentioned in connection with the enquiry. It is also stated that another of the twenty prisoners, who has been frequently mentioned as having taken a prominent part in the Fenian conspiracy, has become an approver; and, although he has not the means of actually telling who committed the deed, he is able to state who were detailed for the purpose. Others of the prisoners, whose evidence relates more to the Fenian conspiracy than to the assassination organization, have also profferred to give, evidence, but their evidence has been declined. Evidence will also be forthcoming to the effect that in addition to the attempt on Mr Forster's life already deposed to, a very elaborate plan was prepared for attacking him while he was travelling between Chester and Holyhead, but, whether by accident or design, the man who was to have pointed him out became too much under the influence of drink, and the plan fell through. The two men who, in additien to the two now identified, are believed to have been the occupants of the car at the time that the actual • murder of the Chief Secretary and the Under • Secretary took place, are not forthcoming. The names of both have been mentioned in the I course of the enquiry ; and as to one of them, I evidence IMO given that the question of the advisability of getting him out of the country was discussed at one of the centre"" meetings. It is believed that suspicion had fallen upon him • as likely to become an informer, and that any unsuccessful attempt to assassinate him might end in the discovery of the whole band. The - assassinations which occurred in Dublin after the murder are now confidently attributed to a fear that the victims would give information as to the perpetrators of the Phcenix Park murders.