THE EVIDENCE OF A GOVERNMENT SPY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5777, 22 January 1897, Page 1

THE EVID ENC E OF A GOVERNMENT SPY.

A DRAMATIC SCENE. Inferring to the preliminary proceedings against Bell, the Daily News of Nov. 24 says: — A totally unexpected and highly dramatic turn was given to the dynamite case at Bow Street when the American, Edward J. Ivory, or Bell, was brought up for final examination before committal, i Thoße who had followed the case from the J first had expected thatthe day'ij l.r_6eedii_gs would be formal and -uninteresting. Mr Gill, who ftpputed for the Treasury, had, hoW-VGl*, not only reserved hi_ best ■witness until last, but had kept the secret co well that the appearance of an informer in .the pay of the Government came* as a complete surprise to the prisoner's advisers. . The story told by the mysterious "Mr Jones" — whose true name was only made known to the Treasury officials, the magistrate, Mr Vaughan, and the clerk, Mr Cavendish — was one of surprises ; a long one it is true, for what with the reading of extracts from official document?, and a detailed exposition of the signs and passwords by which members of the Clan-na-Gael and allied secret societies of Irish origin in America obtain admission to "camps," it took close upon five hours to tell. During the whole of this time "Mr Jones" stood in the witness-box, a singular specimen of complacent humanity, and when he left it, just before six in the evoning, he was apparently as little distressed as -when he entered upon his task early in the afternoon. .From -t purely spectacular point of view lie was an entire success, No theatrical star could have wished for a better entry than. Mr Gill, secured for him. There was an air of mystery about the ■whole proceeding which added, zest to the disclosures he had to make; At the very, outset the posse of artists representing the illustrated papers were directed by the magistrate to put sketch pad and pencil aside, and as description is the handmaiden of art, the reporters of papers not illustrated were requested .to abstain from lending their aid to those in America who would be only too anxious to elucidate the " Jones " mystery. It is for this reason that no attempt is now made to depict the appearance of a witness who speedily established a claim to be included oh the list of those necessary but somewhat repulsive servants of the Crown, at the head of which stands the name of Major Le Caron, whose disclosures were one of the features of the Parnell Commission. It was almost amusing to note the rigour with which this novel imposition of magisterial authority was enforced. Later on in the day an innocent newspaper man, who had not been present when the injunction was first pronounced, standing in the well of the court, took from hia pocket a letter and began hastily to jot down a few impressions of . the scene. Naturally the scene was not complete without some reference to "Mr Jones." From the witness-box, "Mr Jones" watched the operation, and finally complained to Mr Vaughan. First, an assurance was given that it contained no descriptive matter. Next, a burly inspector to whom the incriminating document was referred, announced that it did refer to the informer. Then a difficulty arose. The back of the letter on which it was pencilled was of a private nature, and the offending journalist refused to part with it. Finally, he offered to hand it to Mr Gill, but counsel, having apparently a greater knowledge of the law governing property than others in Court, refused to accept it, and finally it was returned to the pocket of its original possessor. Tothe end "Mr Jones" remained an enigma. ! No harm can be done and no breach of confidence committed in stating thathe did not in the least resemble Major Le Caron except in the keen flash of his eye and the cool and almost cynical manner in which he gave his evidence. He claimed to be an Irishman, but betrayed no brogue. _ A casual observer might have taken him for a Scotchman. He was never at a loss for an answer. His memory was encyclopedic. His nerve, too, appeared to be of iron, and, when with the singular smile he often employed he made a last appeal for anonymity on the ground of personal safety, one could not resist the feeling that he was sporting with his hearers as he had sported for years with the secrets of the Irish American societies.