IRISH MARTYRS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6491, 10 April 1908, Page 5

IRISH MARTYRS.

(To- the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) trust, in justice to a muchmaligned country, and in justice to the memory of three brave men, you will see your way to publish this contradiction or yonr account of the occurrences in Manchester in 1867, which you publish in your notice of Colonel Kelly's death, in your issue of to-day (April 7th). The truth is as follows Colonel Kelly and his communion. Captain Deasy, were being driven in the prison van, on Wednesday, September 18th, 1867, to the county gaol at Salford, when a party of thirty rushed at the van with revolvers and shot one of the horses., The polio© being unarmed, fled. Having failed to brtHk open the door of the van, the attacking party calied on the policeman inside. Sergeant Brett, to hand out the keys through the ventilator, and, when he refused, a pistol was placed against the lock to blow it open; the bullet passed through Brett’s body, mortally wounding him, and the keys were taken ont of his pocket and handed out by a female prisoner. Kelly and Deasv escaped aid were never recaptured. A crowd having gathered, some of the resouing party were seized and almost lynched; one of them, Allen, was almost stoned to death. Soon afterwards lire men, Allen, Larkin, Maguire, O’Brien, and Condon were tried, convicted of murder, and condemned. A few days Alter Mavnire, who was tried on the same evidence, identified by the same witnesses, convicted and sentenced by the same judges as the others, was released unconditionally, as the evidence against him was proved to be absolutely ftilse. The others all solemnly declared that

they had not intended to hurt Sergeant Brett, and Condon used a phrase tnat has become historic: ‘'l have nothing," he sAiid, "to regret or to take back. 1 can only say, 'God save Ireland/" His companions advanced to the front of the dock and, raising their hands, repeated tho cry, "God save Ireland I" Condon v.*u3 subsequently reprieved, but, in spite of perjured evidence, the authorities determined to hang the other, throe, and on November 23rd, 1867, Allen, Larkin, and O'Brien were hanged in front of Salford gaol. Is it any wonder they are remembered to-day in Ireland tus "The Manchester Martyrs." You will see from the above recital of facts that your account is grossly, though I am sure unintentionally, wrong. There no volley fired into the van; tho police were not beaten off, thev ran; Brett w ns not shot through the ventilator; his death was unpremeditated, unwished-for, and accidental. There is surely little need to talk of i*nyloesne.?© in Ireland when tho law itaelf can descend to such judicial miirder as the hanging of three men convicted on admittedly perjured evidence; but, alas, English administration in IreAmd is full of eucfl travesties of justice, and they will be remembered when much else is forgotten, when Macauley's New Zealander at last finds himeelf, in hLs predicted solitude, on the broken arches of London Bridge,—l am, etc.. b AN IRISHMAN. April Bth.