A LIFE GIVEN UP FOR IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 16, 16 August 1895, Page 15

A LIFE GIVEN UP FOR IRELAND.

(Weekly Freeman, June 29, Mb Jameb Francis Xavikb O'Bkten is a native of Cork. He was born in 1832, and is now in his sixty-third year. At twenty-five years of age he went to America, and lived in the United States from 1867 until towards the close of tbe year 1862. In those five years, residence in the Great Btpublic he had attained to no little distinc. tion, and on tbe 10th March, 1862, he received the commission in th c Louisiana Begiment as assistant surgeon with the rank of captain la the following September he returned to his native land. He had acquired a considerable amount of knowledge of military matters in tbe American army, and when the Irish Republican Brotherhood was started hia known devotion to his country, coupled with his military experience, soon gave him prominence in the movement. From 1862 until the night before he entered the field at the head of his regiment in the Fenian Army, James O'Brien was in the employment of Messrs Oleary and Sons, tea merchant?, and had a silary from them of £300 a year. He possessed the full confidence of his employers, and had made hosts of friends in the city for hid many admirable qualities of head and heart. On the night of the sth of March, 1867, Mr O'Brieu, then called Colonel O'Brien, took the he d at ihe head cf his legiment in tbe Irish Republic known as "tbe second division of the Cork infantry." That consisted of what was more popularly kniwn as the Rathduff or Bally knockane fore js, and acti-d with a good deal of heroism at Midleton, Carrignavar, and Ballykncckane. They compelled the surrender of police and even of a military party, took possession of their arms, and captured a police barrack. They com. pelled the Government forces to surrender, and, restrained by military, like discipline, committed n^ excesses, sparing tha lives of those whom they made prisoners. When in one case, that of the assault on and seizure of the Ballyknockane police barrack, the police stated that some women and children were within, the Fenians stopped the attack and helped the weak ones out of the oarrack. They then resumed the attack uutil thjy compelled tha surrender of its defenders. This force c nsisted mostly of citizens of Cork. They assembled on the night of the sth March in a house in Bishop street) and marched thence at midnight along tha College road at the back o! the County Gaol, armed wiih rifles, revolvers, pikes, and swords, to the rallying point at Prayer Hill, where another armed party met them. They numbered in all between 1,500 and2,000 men, all voder the command of James F. X. O'Brien as colonel in command. They marched past Blarney towards Mallow, and having taken arms from the house Mr Francis Wyae at Birdhill and some hay pikes they continued their march. They went on to Kathduff, where, having destroyed the points of the railway and broken the telegraph poles and cut the wires, they made [an attack upon Ballyknockane Police Barracks. The insurgents were well officered— tbe unarmed men being kept out of range, and the riflemen advancing Colonel O'Brien went up to the gate and called upon the police lo surrender in the name of the Irish Republic. Xbe Sergeant refused. Tbe riflemen were ordered to fire. The police returned the fire but wert overpowered, and the party breaking in tbe windows gained admittance and threathaned to burn the housa unless the constables upstairs surrendered. During this interval a little girl, who was upstairs, was assisted out by the insurgents at the request of the police sergeant, Then the attack waa renewdd. Sergeant Browa eventually surrendering the police came diwu by a ladder provided by tbe imurgenti. The arms, clothes, etc, were seized by the victorious party.

Tbe Fenians continued their march, and were some time afterwards attacked when mustering on the top of Bottle Hill. The military overpowered them. Flying colum s were then sent out over tbe country, and while a p-irty of cavalry and police weie on patrol near Hospital, in the county Limerick, one of tha advance guard seeing two saspcious-looking men cresting the road nni enter a cabin, they called up the troops an J had the place searched when O'Brien was arrested. The arrest took place on March 31st, 1867. Sjveral mugis-tf-rial investigations were held in priva»e in Cork Gaol, and eventually Mr O'Brien was committed for trial to tht Special Commission appointed for the trial of the Fonian pris mars in Cork. Chief Just cc Moiaaan Judge Keogb, and Jjdge George were tha speci il comoiusioners who tried the priaone s. fhe trial opene lon S nurdav, Mmy 25, 1867, in the Cork C nrtbouse, and on Monday, the 27t\ at 4 o'clock it concluded. At a quar er to 5 that evening th> jury r,tuin> d a verdict of guilty, a Ut^e majority of the jury recjomnn line; the prisoner *o mercy in consideration of hiq anxiety to savo life «t B Ulyknockanc. As to Mr J. F X O'Brien 's anxieiy to re9traiu t v ie nuvement within the bounds of discipline and to prevent a' y excels, Judge Keogh said — " Ido not think the jury could have come to any oth.r conclusion whatever. lam sati-fiel th-\t they c ime to that conclusion with reluctance, because although tho criminal complic.ty was proved home to you on the evidence there was that in your conduct which must have raised many impressions in your favour. I think it would be entirely out of placa now to address to a man of your extraordinary intelligence any observations with a view to the dreadful resnlts that must have followed had your struggle been crowned with success even for a single day ; nor shall I say either to the people in this court or not of this court the dreadful consequences of the conspiracy with which you have been proved to have been connected. You had — I speak from my belief— joined ia the attack on Ballyknockane Barrack. You had accomplices with you determined by might and main to get possessioa of the arms of the policemen. You had resolved to accomplish that object by every means in your power. You did accomplish that object by this means—dreadful means, endangering the lives of every human being who was there. But though you did accomplish that design I'll never let it out of my mind while treating your case — ll.e jury have not let it out of their minds — you did all in your Dower to save the lives of the men who were then at your mercy. You did express (md it was proved by two witnesses, by Brown and another) in that trying moment heartily express the wish to save human life. Whatever shall happen to you that wish shall be a consolation to you, and that effort will be recognised by a merciful tribunal."