MR O'BRIEN'S RECAPTURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 22

MR O'BRIEN'S RECAPTURE.

AN EXCITING SCENE. London, January 30. Mr W. 6'Brien addressed a meeting con- | vened by Mr Jacob Bright, of Manchester, , last night. He declared that French and. Russian dynamiters were afforded more pro-; tection in Great Britain than Irish agitators. , When tho police put in an appearance the \ audience sought to prevent Mr O'Brien's 1 arrest, and rushed the platform, but he was; eventually captured amidst a scene of great ■ excitement. Mr W. O'Brien has been sent to Dublin. He states that after escaping from the court at Carrick he drove 90 miles to Wexford, ; from which port he proceeded in a collier to Porthcawl, County Glamorgan; thence to the residence of the priest at Bridgend. From Bridgend he proceeded by train to Manchester to attend a meeting oonvaned by Mr Jacob Bright. On making his appearance on the platform he was received with groat enthusiasm. Mr O'Brien boasted that he had passed through five counties swarming with police and yet had not been bet rayed, He claimed sanctuary in England as a political refugee. , The arrest was made in the ante- room of the hall, and the prisoner was escorted to gaol by 200 police, who were followed by several thousand people. While at the meeting Mr O'Brien passed through a wild scene of congratulations. January 31. Mr W. O'Brien is imprisoned in Clonmel Gaol, Tipperary. Mr O'Brien, M P., on his confinement in Clonmel Gaol was forcibly stripped and shaved. February 1. Mr O'Brien made a desperate resistance to the attempt of the gaol authorities to strip him, and his clothes were torn to shreds. He was reduced to a fainting condition. Mr O'Brien, who was severely handled in being stripped of his clothes, is in a critical condition. He remained naked several hours in his cell, refusing to put on the prison clothes. February 4. Mr Dillon, M.P., has postponed his departure for the colonies, and returns at once to Ireland. He denounces the system of torture that has been applied to Mr William O'Brien. Immense meetings have been held in Dublin city and elsewhere, at which resolutions were carried protesting against the treatment of Mr William O'Brien. It is unlikely now that the hierarchy in Ireland will protest against the inhuman indignity offered to Mr O'Brien. Mr Balfour, speaking at Dublin, said that Mr O'Brien must himself be held auswerable if he is determined to injure his health. A trial of harvesters was held under the auspices of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, took place on Friday on the property of Mr Henry Mitchell, Parkside, near Weston. The day was fine, and there were about 300 farmers and others present. Additional interest was taken in the trial (flays the North Otago Times) on account of hillside work forming part of it. The crop was a capital one to put the machines into, and it .vas as heavy as mo&t of tho crops in the district will prove this year, the yield being reckoned at about 40 bushels to the acre. AH the machines showed alter itions on previous years, aDd farmers were desirous of seeing to what extent there were improvements or otherwise, and the association therefore decided to afford them the opportunity. Seven machines entered as follows :— M'Cormick, Hornsb3 r , Roid and Gray, Wood, Decring, Buckeye, Massey. The awards of the judges were as follows : — M'Cormick (which did nob miss a sheaf), 74 ; De.ering, 67 ; Hornsby, 66 ; Massey, 66 ; Raid and Gray, 58 ; Buckeye (elevator), 55 ; Wood (low apron), 48. Robert Home, son of Mr Home, of Purakanui, disappeared mysteriously from his home j on Sunday evening, the 3rd inst. He was last seen about 7 o'clock on Sunday evening putting j out his father's cows. He is about •23 years of '

age; height, about sft Bin; pretty stout, and inclined to be round-shouldered; light hair, and light whiskers of about a month's growth ; and very flushed in the face. He was dressed in a dark tweed hat, dark coat and vesfc, and moleskin trousers, which he had pub on over his others while milking. The district and surrounding neighbourhood have been thoroughly searched, but without any trace of him being found. His parents and friends will feel grateful for any information as U his whereabouts.