Attempt to Murder a Commission Witness.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 239, 25 December 1888, Page 3

Attempt to Murder a Commission Witness.

London, Nov. 2. A startling incident, but one to which no special significance is attached by the police, occurred yesterday evening shortly after the adjournment of the sitting of the Parnell Commission. Two men, named respectively Joseph Kavanagh and Patrick Lane, who are witnesses in attendance at the Law Courts on behalf of the Times in order to support certain material points in the charges and allegations under inve ’igation, went into the George Tavern, which almost immediately faces the law buildings. Kavanagh, whose age ia thirty, is generally described as coming “ from Ireland,” and Lane is a bootmaker, living at 64, Drury lane. They have been known to each other for the last five weeks, and were apparently upon good terms. While they were in the public house a third person, who was known to Lane, entered the bar. The latter subsequently went out of the house for a few minutes with the new arrival. Kavanagh seems to have taken a dislike to the person with whom Lane was associating, and it is also said that he entertained a suspicion that Lane went outside in order to tell his acquaintance something about his (Kavanagh’s) connection with the Parnell Commission. When Lane returned a quarrel suddenly occurred between him and Kavanagh. After a brief exchange of hasty words, Kavanagh knocked down Lane, and the latter retaliated by striking his assailant with a glass, and immediately ran out of the house into the Strand. Kavanagh appeared to be greatly incensed, and proceeded as far as the street door in pursuit, uttering words which attracted the attention of Ford, the barman, who endeavored to interpose to prevent farther mischief ; but by this time Kavanagh had thrown open the door, and, drawing a revolver from his trousers pocket, j took deliberate aim at the retreating form of ■Ulis quondam friend and fellow witness, back at the moment. Lane observed

that he was ** covered ” by the revolver, and dodged so effectively that the discharge passed over him, and, so far as is known, did not hit any one, although the Strand was crowded with pedestrians and vehicular traffic. A man named George Ready, one of the officials at the Law Courts, who was in the bar. had watched Kavanagh’s movements, and knocked up his arm as he discharged the revolver, seizing him at the same time, and holding him until Police-constable E 282 had arrived, when the perpetrator of the outrage was removed in custody to Bow street police station. The revolver found upon the accused was loaded in four out of six chambers. So far as the police information goes, Kavanagh has given no explanation as to his carrying such a weapon about with him ; and the official view of the occurrence is that it was simply a brawl, both men apparently having been drinking. There was considerable excitement in the neighbourhood for some time, and a large crowd collected, amongst whom there were sinister rumours of a deliberately planned assassination concocted in order to Intercept possible revelations before the Commissioners. The facts disclosed discredit any such theories. Kavanagh, concerning whose antecedents the police are making enquiries, will be brought up at the Bow-street Police-court to day. Lane’s account of the affair is as follows :— •* On our return to the George, Kavanagh ac cused me of backbiting him. I denied it, and he then made a blow at me, which I dodged. Knowing that he carried a revolver, and fearful of my life, I struck him on the side of the head with the glass which I had In my hand. The manager and the barman then jumped over the counter, and we were separated. At the request of the manager I left the bar, while Kavanagh was held in the comer by some persons. He broke away and followed me. On reaching the d oor he pulled a revolver oiiu of his p eket and aimed at my bead. I ducked and heard the report of a pistol, but was net hurt, I ran into the Strand, saw a policeman, and told him what Lad happened. He apprehended the prisoner and at the station I charged him. I know nothing about the man at all, except that I have heard that he is going to give evidence for the Times in the Parnell Commission inquiry. I was told that he carried a revolver, and was under police protection because he was going to be a witness.