The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1868-02-07 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE OLERKENWELL HYSTEBY EXPLAINED.  Further light was thrown upon the Fenian plot yesterday by John Patrick Milllany, who, instead of standing in the dock at Bow-street beside the accused, appealed in court as a witness for the Crown (says the Telegraph of Wednesday). Probably his former comrades were more surprised than the public at this unexpected incident ; for it is easy to conceive what mnisternation repeated defections from the ranks of the conspirators must have upon the morale of the whole body. The cool observer is less amazed, because nothing is mere clearly attested by history than the fact that where numbers are engaged in a nefarious design one or more are almost certain to lose courage in the face of danger. The statements made by Mullany have been forced from him under the influence of fear. He was Included among the batch charged with the crime of wilful murder ; his apprentice bad already furnished testimony which, unless it were effectually contra. dieted. would implicate him with the other prisoners ; aud his confessions, whether they are true or false, must be ascribed to a desire for immunity from extreme punishment. His story may be summed up thus. He had been for nearly a year one of the Fenian Brotherhood, the object of which is to esstablish a republic in Irelaud. In his capacity as a head centre he had known General Halpin, General Burke, Captain M'Cafferty, and other notorious Fenians. He had attended meetings held by the conspirators during the autumn and whiter at which Barrett, Enghell, Desmond, and others were present Barrett had arms, and, after Burke was arrested, Barrett actually went to Bow. street with another man in order to shoot Corydon. About a week before the outrage in Clerkenwell the conspirators held meetings, and were much troubled to find a suitable place. They encountered more difficulties in raising money, and at first it was not easy to obtain powder; but at length they succeeded. One mau brought a barrel, another secured a truck, a third furnished a tin dish—to serve as a case for the fuse. At these meettogs, Barrett, English, and Desmond were present as active participators in the proceedings. The munitions and materials of assassination were picked up here and there, a day or two before the explosion, and were kept at different places in the neighbourhood of Oxford-street, and the principal confederates seem to have been well provided with revolvers. Se far we have only fragmentary statements showing the preparations, and, except in one case, no direct assertion by the witness that the gun. powder was to be used for the purpose of blowing up the prison and liberating the captives. The single direct reference to the object in view is Mullany's report of what passed when he saw Barrett on the night preceding the explosion. Barrett then said the attempt had failed, but that "they would light it to-morrow, and send them to hell." Thus much we have of the alleged transactions before the crime was perpetrated. But Mullany has more to tell. Although, according to his own account, he was not at Clerkenwall, yet he saw Barrett fresh from the scene of action on the evening when the petard was fired. Barrett had taken off his whiskers and changed his coat, and, being " chaffed " about the loss of his hair, he replied that he had got rid of his whiskers because, having lighted the fuse, he feared identification if he kept them on. Mullany also saw the man— name uamentioned, but not unknown who assisted in firing the barrel, and who was wounded In the ear. Beyond this point, at present, the informer's evidence does not go ; but he boasts of knowing "• great deal more about the case;" and no doubt his knowledge will be available for what it is worth when we need it Testimony of this kind has always been regarded with suspicion in an English Court of Justice, and, before it can be admitted to have weight with • judge or jury, it must be corroborated in the most amp!, fashion.  AT THE MIDDLESEX SESSTONS on Wednesday, the young woman named Emma Minnie, charged with stealing a sealnkin jacket aud other valuable articles of apparel, from a house in Westmorland-place was brought to trial, and found 'Guilty' upon that and other like indictments. She was sentenced to seven years penal servitude.