Year: 1868




The Clerkenwen Explosion Murder Trials
The Feuian Prisoners Arraisned at the Old
Bailey.


LONDON. April 20, 1868.
The trial of the Fenan prisoners -Desmonds, Eng
lish, OKeefe, Barrett and Ann Justce-who are
cused OF having caused the Clerkenwell explosion,
came on this morning at the Old Bailey, before Lord
Chief Justice Cockburn and Judge Bramwell, of the
Court of Queens Bench The prosecution win be
conducted by the Attorney and Solicitor General,
assisted by Mr. Clifford.


The following gentlemen will appear for the
prisoners- Sleigh aud Straight for Timothy
Desmonds, Keogh for English, Green for Barrett, M.
Williams for O'Keefe and Ann Justice.


All the prisoners will be tried together. The jury
has been sworn and the trial is now noon pro-
ceedng.


The court room and approaches thereto are densey
crowded with people, who manifest great interest in
the proceedings. Many policemen present to
preserve order and the authorities have taken other
extraordinary precautions.


Burke and his fellow prisoners will be tried imme-
diately the conclusion Of the trial proceed
ing probably on Friday next.


The Crown Case and Testimony.


LONDON, April 20--Evening.
The Attorney General opened the case for the prose-
cuton. He said he expected to prove that the crime
OF murder had been committed upon the person OF
a woman, one Of the victims OF the explosion at the
Clerkenwell House of Detention; that the explosion
was directly brought about by the prisoners at
the bar, four of whom, the testimony would show,
were members Of Fenian organization; that the
said explosion was part OF plot to facilitate the
cape Of Burke, Fenian leader confined in the said
House of Detention that in the confusion incident
the explosion Burke was to make his escape;
that fund OF money was raised at
Fenian meeting in Hoborn to provide
for the expenses Of the conspiracy; that all the prs
oners in the court were Immediately concerned in
the atrocious attempt, except perhaps the woman
Ann Justice; but that the prisoners Barrett and
Murphy joined at late date in the conspiracy; that
man named Falon, who had not yet been arrested.
was known to have bought the powder for the use
OF the conspirators


The Attorney General continued. The execution
of the plot was fixed for the 18th of December.
Burke to be warned Of the lighting Of the fuse
outside by a ball which was to be thrown over the
wall into the prison yard, where it was expected he
would be taking exercise with the other prisoners
But the attempt failed on that day. On
the following day the fuse lighted by
Barret himself, and the conspirators succeeded In
producing the unfortunate explosion which caused
the murder for which they are now on trial short
time before this event the woman Ann Justice
seen talking with the DesmOnds and she was
arrested after the explosion, while flying from
the scene, in their com pany. The learned
counsel concluded his speech by announcing that
Vaughn and Mullaney, accOmplices in the crime, had
become Queens evidence and would give their testi-
mony before the court but he warned the jury
against accepting their evidence conclusive unless
sustained by the other witnesses produced by the
Crown.


The witnesses for the prosecution were then called.
Formal testimony was taken to the nature Of
the wounds received by the deceased.


The informer Mulaney was then called to the wit
ness bar and sworn. He testified that all the male
prisoners were regular members Of the Fenian Or
ganizaton; that Barret was a Fenan Centre that
he held frequent consultations with Murphy, who
was an active agent In the affair; that all the
prisoners at the bar were well acquainted with
the plot in all its details and that Bar
ret had boasted Of being the man who had fired
the train. In the course OF his testimony the witness
referred TO important letter, written In 'invsi-
ble' ink and addressed to Murphy.


Inspector Thompson took the stand and swore
that the said Murphy could not be found, but that
the letter spoken Of was from Burke and contained
details Of the plan to erect his release.


At the conclusion OF the testimony OF Inspector
Thompson the court adjourned until tomorrow
morning.


The court room was crowded with spectators until
the adjournment. Most intense interest is taken in
the trial by the people, especially by the Inhabitants
Of Clerkepwel