The Weekly Gazette for Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Cleveland District. — 1883-05-05 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

PWENIX PARK MURDERS.  1 [UAL OF MICHAEL FAGAN.  SENTENCE OF DEATH.  DrTemx. Friday.  - The last of the Pagan trial scene was enacted to-day. Appropriate, indeed, were the stirroundings of the dramatis pen:amnia within the Court the blue and gold of the lAlasar uniform, the bright scarlet of the infantry, the Marine in plain clothes, the big and bulky policeman in dark blue were the object that met the eye, manifesting the majesty of the law; without the strong body of police at the various approaches, the sky vested in gloom, and the ceaseless downpour of rain complete 4 the grim, depressing picture. Young Micuael-Fitgan, the prisoner, sat in the corner of the dock with folded arms, his face wearing an expression of melancholy fortitude. Departing from ancient usage, Judge O'Brien dispensed with conventional prefaces about the magnitude of the case, the solemn and important functions of the jury, etc. He straightway told them the charge against the accused, and with firm, rapid delivery reviewed the evidence, reading some of it in full, and bringing into prominence the points pro and cos. Adverting to the part played by the informers, he reminded the jury that there was hardly a great crime arising out of conspiracy in which some aid was not derived by the law from the information given by persons connected with it. In fact, it was the very security of society that %quit formed the great danger of those conspiracies at the same time provided the mode of their discovery. Not so much by the independent action of the law, not ,b information that the Crown could I directly obtain, but by the result of treachery in those conspiracies were they finally discovered and destroyed. The fudge demon. trated that there was no need of James Darcy except as to one point—vie., to prove that the prisoner, who was admittedly in the Park at six o'clock, was there when be was there at • quarter - past seven. Raving analysed the alibi, his lordship emphasised the tremendous difficulty of the prisoner in endeavouring to fit his presence in D'Olier-street to the very point of time when the crime was committed. There was not merely • limit of time before him that be must keep clear of, but there was a limit of time behind. Starting from the scene of the crime 'Amide o'clock, he must have proceeded with extraordinary rapidity to be in D'Olierstreet at the time stated. It would take him from twenty-five minutes to half an hour by the quickest way he could walk. Then tbei e wsetheevidenceof Mrs McMahon,a respectable. looking old lady, and her daughter, Mrs Forrester, that he was in their house at the south side of the city at betwoeu fourteen to fifteen minutes after seven. Their evi donee brought to light startling facts. The Judge laid marked emphasis on the arrest of Mrs McMahon' s husband in Joe 11.dullett's house, the arrest of Forrester at one time for having arms, on his hasty departure from Dublin when the Castle enquiry opened, the 'refusal to give his address, and to the fact that he was now a fugitive from justice. With great vehemence he said the result of the cross-examination justified him in making observations as to the means taken to endeavour to defeat justice, and it showed that another root had been touched of this wicked conspiracy. In the same style in which he opened he closed his charge. If the jury had any reasonable doubt the prisoner had a right to it, even by the law he was said to have conspired to overthrow, but he put it to them whether there was any reasonable account of him except that given by the prosecution. At fifteen minutes to twelve o'clock the jury retired, and in thirty. five minutes they returned into Court with • verdict of guilty. The Clerk of the Crown asked Fagan what he had to say why sentence of death shonld not : be passed upon him. Without quailing in the least, be said lie was not guilty, ' but he was a Fenian, and he would die one.. Judge O'Brien, concurring in the verdict of , the prisoner's gnilt, which was proved to demonstration, so that no reasonable man could have a doubt of it, hoped his fate would be • warning to young men of this country of the terrible danger they incurred in joining secret societies. , His lordship then assumed the black cap, and sentenced prisoner to be executed on the 28th of May. The Court then adjourned until Mon. day next. The prisoner, together with Thomas Caffrey, Joe Hanlon, and the six approvers, were conveyed back to Hilmainharn under an escort of dragoons and mounted police.