O'FARRELL'S CONFESSION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 108, 8 May 1868, Page 2

O'FARRELL'S CONFESSION.

The following letter, which is-an exact counterpart of the one forwarded to the Government of New South Wales by O'Farrell, was read in the Legislative Assembly by Mr Macleay on the day following the execution: — Being now about to appear before my Creator, I feel it my duty to give expression to my heartfelt sorrow L for the grievous crime I have committed. From the very bottom of my heart do I grieve for what I have dove. I have hitherto said that • I was one of many who were prepared to do the deed, had I not done it. I had not the slightest foundation for such a statement. I was never connected with any man, or any body of men, who had for their object the taking of the life of the Duke of Edinburgh. Neither was I in any other than in an indirect manner connected with that organisation in Ireland and elsewhere which is known by the name of the Fenian organisation. I wish, moreover, distinctly to assert that there was nofc a human being in existence who had the slightest idea of the object I had in view when I meditated on — and, through the merciful Providence of God, failed in carrying into effect — the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. I have written to the Printers of two Irish periodicals an address to the people of Ireland. So certain was I of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, that I stated therein that which I believed would be the fact j and I think I have more than implied that I was but oue of an organisation to carry the same into effect. I need but say that the truth of the latter portion rests upon a slighter foundation than the former ; in fact, that unless from mere heresay, I had no foundation for stating that there was a Fenian organisation in New South Wales. From continually thinking and talking of what I may still be allowed to call ' the wrongs of Ireland,' I became excited and filled with enthusiasm on the subject, and it was when under the influence of those feelings that I attempted to perpetrate the deed for which I am now justly called upon to«uffer. H. J. O'Fakrell.