Editor O'Brien.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 233, 17 December 1887, Page 8

Editor O'Brien.

OBrien has given warning to the Governor of Tullamore gaol that he will refuse to do menial offices, wear the prison garb, or associate with criminals. The Governor'^ instructions wore— that no discrimination muht be made. A medical committee at Tullamore adopted a resolution expressing sympathy with OBrien, and uiging the local and \ isiting justices to treat humanely the eight political prisoners in gaol, including Mr Hayden, of the JJW Mtdth Kxjiresb. In pursuance of order?, an attempt was made on Nov. 6th t to force OBrien to put on the unifor.Ti of the Tullamore gaol, but he resisted. The prison doctor then advised the Govenor to desifet, on account of the unfavourable state of O'Brien's health. Dillon spoke at Castlerea, same date, on the subject of O'Biien's incarceration. He entreated his hearers to swear with him that as long as life and liberty remained they would do everything in their power " to avenge OBrien, and to make suffer the hateful class who consigned this beloved and gifted Irishman to a felon's cell." OBrien and Mandeville wei*e put en a bread and water diet as a punishment for their ! refractoriness. On the 7th, the Governor of Tullamore gaol refused the demand of Mr Moorhead, a Catholic Magistrate, to see 0 Brien ; but on learning ,that a magistrate had a legal right to hold intercourse with a prisoner, granted the interview ; stipulating, however, that he himself should also be present. Moorhead says the atmosphere in O'Brien's cell, together with the low diet, is likely to have a fatal effect on a consumptive person. 0 Brien wa? calm, and Mandeville appeared cheerful and determined. A meeting of the Dublin Corporation was adjourned on the motion of Sexton, M.P.,on Nov. 7th, out of respect and sympathy for O'Brien. The editor was sentto theprisoninfirmaryonNov.Bth by the doctor's orders. JusticeofthePeaceEagan, who paid a visit to the prison on the 9th, says OBrien is seriously ill. OBrien told him he has not had a change of linen since he entered the gaol. The Governor, who was present, told him hecould have a change if he wished, meaning that he could have the prison clothes. OBrien wore his own elbthes until Nov. 11th. While he was in bed on thatnight, his .clothing was removed, and replaced with the ordinary prison garb. He refused to dress himself in the prison uni- | form. The annual ball given by the Lord I Mayor of Dublin on Nov. 15 was postponed this year out of sympathy for 0 Brien, who, according, , tq ,late despatches, is failing rapidly in health. .