Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1883-05-18 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

TRIAL OF JOE MULLETT.  VERDICT AND SENTENCE.  DUBLIN, Thursrlay.  There was an air of languor about the proceedings in Green-street to-day which not even the str nage revelations which the Attorney-Gonrit, in bis opening statement of the case against Joseph Mullett, unfolded could dissipate. The truth is that judge, counsel, and jurors are not unnaturally weary of the whole business. Joe Mullett, who was arraigned to-day on the charge of attempting to murder Mr. Field, is a man of small stature and misshapen form, not eo much hunchbacked as what may be described as chicken-breasted. The extracts that were read to-day from his diary p-oved his mind to be no strangsly assorted as his body. The diary was full of pious expressions and pioua resolutions, altern sting with references of a political character and comments on passing events—especially on the noun:bre that took place in Dublin during the year 1882—the murder in Tighe-street, the murder of Baily, the informer, in Skipper's-alley, and the murders in the Piimnix-park—the peculiarity about the entry in the latter case being that it bore internal evidence that it had not been written until a considersble time after the dote under which it was entered —the 6th of May. The prisoner, on brine c oiled upon to plead, refused to do as, and wanted to give the grounds of his refusal. He was proceeding to do so when Judge O'Brien stopped him, and the Attorney-General proceeded with his opening. Hobert Farrell was tie first witness called. His evidence pointed to the prisoner as th man who on the evening of the 27th of November gave the order for the attack on Mi.. Field, which was carped out, and the attack on Mr. Barrett, which failed in consequence of that gentleman's absence from town. Tao Prisoner, who conducted his own GAM cross-examined Farrell and the other witnesses who are approvers, not on any point touching on the case, but merely• as to the oaths they had taken to the Fenian organiz azion and to the Invincible.' organization, insinuating that as they had  not kept those, their oath on the table should have no weight. The charge against the p,isoner of having been the prime instigator of the outrage on Mr. Field having been clearly proved, the case for the Crown c'oied, and Mullett was asked if be had anything to say to tho jury or any evidence to offer. Ile said he would now, if he were allowed, say what he intmidld to have said at the commencement of the trial, and accordMal/ he proceeded to say that "our case " hid b en prejudged by English public opinion, by the Press, and in the Senate. and was about to quo• 33 something said by Sir William Harcourt on the subject, when Mr. Justice O'Brie I mremptarily stoppA him, and said he would allow no rethmtions on any one out-ide the case. Mullett, after one or two attempts to continue, subsided, and his lord-11:p summed up the evidence briefly. There was a general impression that the jury would not leave their b .x, but they did retire, talciu4 with them the documents gumn in evict, nee. They returned inn quarter of an hour, wth a verdict of Guilty, and as the judge began to pace sentence. the prisoner, who probably thought that litre men convicted of a capltal crime he would be asked it he had anything to say why sent ince should not be passed upon bum, interrupleil his lordship with a request to bo allowed to Blake a few remarks. " Net at presei.t," said Mr. Justice O'Brien, and in a few forcible words proceeded tu pass eentenre of penal servitude for life. As the misouer was being removed he made a last effort to give utterance to his pent-up eloquenc-, but was quickly cut short by the attentions of the warders.