Year: 1868

THE FENIAN TRIALS.


BI = TRIBUNE


LONDON, April 20.-The trial OF the fenlah
prisoners Desmonds English OKeefe Barrett and Ann
Justice who accused Of having caused the Cerken
well explosion came on this morning at the Old Baiey'
in the Court Of Queens Bench before Lord
Cockburn and Judge Bramwe The prosecution is 10 DO
conducted by the Attorney and SoicorGenera assseu
by Mr. Clifford. The prisoners are TO be DEFENDED uy
Nessrs Sleigh and Straight for Timothy Desmonos'
Keogh for English, Green for Barrett. NJ Williams lor
OKeefe and Ann Justice Ali the prisoners are 10 pe
tried together The jury has been sworn and the trial Is
noon proceeding The courtroom and the approaches
thereto densely crowded and the throng manfest
deep interest In the proceedings Many policemen are in
Court TO preserve Order and the authorities have taken
other extraordinary precautions Burke and his fellow
prisoners to tried Immediately te conclusion OF
the trial now proceeding probably on Friday next
The Attorney opened the for the proseeu
ton He said expected to prove that the crime OF
murder had been committed upon the person OF awo
man. one Of the victims OF the explosion at the CleKen
well House of Detenton that this explosion was dlrecty
brought about by the prisoners at the bar four OF who
the testimony would show, were members OF fenihn
organizations that the said explosion was part OF plot
to facilitate the escape Of Burke Penian leader, con-


fined in the said House Of Detention that in the confusion
produced by the explosion Burke to make his escape
that fund OF money raised at Fenian meeting III
Holborn to provide for the expenses OF the
conspiracy; that all the prisoners in the Court
were Immediately concerned In the atrocous at
tempt, except, perhaps, 1.-THE woman Ann Justice;
but that prisoners Barret and Murphy Joined at
late date in the conspiracy; that man named Faon,
who had not yet been arrested, was known TO nave
bought the powder for the Of the cOnsprators The
Attorney General continued The execution OF the POT
was fixed for the 18th Of December Burke was TO be
wa rned Of the lighting Of the fuse outside by ball
which was TO be thrown the wall into the prison
yard where 1t expected lie would be taking e1er-
else with the other prisoners But the attempt failed on
that day On the following day the fuse was lighted Dy
Barrett himself and the conspirators succeeded in pro-
ducng the unfortunate explosion which caused the
murder for which they were now on trial short ume
before this event the Ann Justice was seen tlk-
ing with the Desmonds, and she was arrested after
the explosion, while flying from the scene
in their company. The learned counsel concluded MS
speech by announcing that Vaughn and Mullaney,
accomplces III the crime, had become Queens evidence
and wouk give their testimony before the Court but he
warned the Jury against accepting their evidence as
conclusive unless sustained by the other witnesses pro-
luced by the The witnesses for the prosecution
were then called Formal testimony was taken as TO the
nature OF the wounds received by the deceased Mua
ney was then called TO the wtnessboX and sworn lie
testified that all the male prisoners were regular mem
bers OF the Fenian organization; that Barrett was
Fenan Center that he held frequent consultations with
Murphy who was an active agent In the affair." that all
the prisoners at the bar well acquainted with the
plot in all its details and that Barrett had boasted
Of being the who fired the train. In
the course OF his testimony the witness referred TO an
important letter. written in invisible ink, and addressed
to Murphy. Inspector Thompson took the stand. and
swore that Murphy could not be found but that
the letter spoken OF from Burke and contained de-
tails Of te plan effect his release. AT the conclusion
of the testimony Of Inspector Thompson the Court adj
journed until tomorrow morning The Courtroom was
crowded with spectators until the adjournment. Most
intense neres; is taken the trial by the people espec
ally by the inhabitants OF Clerkenwell.


PROCEEDINGS OF PARLIAMENT.


Parliament reassembled this evening, but, after
"A short sitting, adjourned until tomorrow.


The proceedings In both Houses unimportant