THIS WEEK'S GREAT MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

THIS WEEK'S GREAT MAN.

DANIEL O'CONNELL, "THE LIBERATOR." 1775 - 1847. BORN AUGUST 8, 1 775.

Daniel O'Connell, called to the bar in 1798, early set himself to work for the repeal of the civil disabilities of the Catholics. The Emancipation Act of 1829 was due largely to his agitation and organisation. As a result of his political agitation he was sentenced to a year's imprisonment, but the judgment was reversed by the House of Lords. His health was undermined by his strenuous labours, and he died on May 15, 1847. O'Connell was a master of popular eloquence and was idolised by the people of Ireland as their "Liberator." Rightly or wrongly O'Connell has been fathered with the mixed metaphor: "1 smell a rat, I see it floating in the air before me; I will nip it in the bud." As an instance of his skill as an advocate, the following story may be related: O'Connell was defending, on a charge of murder, a prisoner whose hat was found near the place where the murder was committed. A witness had sworn that the hat belonged to the prisoner, whose name was James. "Now," said O'Connell to this witness, "you are quite sure about that?" "I am," was the reply. "Let me look at it again, said O'Connell, taking the hat' and examining it. He looked inside and spelled "J-a-m-e-s. Now do you mean to tell me and the Court that this name was inside the hat found it?" "I do, on my oath," replied the witness. Did you see the name?" "I did." "This is the same hat? his hat." "Now you may go down," said O Connell. My Lord, there is an end of this case; there is no name inside the hat." • The result was a prompt acquittal of the prisoner.

(Compiled by A. H. EEED, Dnnedln.)