No. 123.
Mr. Lowell
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
London, May 3, 1882.
(Received May 18.)
No. 349.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that since my last
dispatch on the subject of the persons claiming to be naturalized citizens
of the United
[Page 235]
States now
Imprisoned in Ireland, I bad an interview, by appointment, with Mr. Forster
on Friday, 21st April, the results of which I have already communicated in
substance by telegram. I assented that he should try the experiment of
offering their release to all the so-called American suspects on condition
of their going back within a reasonable time to the country they claim to
have adopted, but I distinctly informed him that I was not authorized by my
government to accept anything less than unconditional liberation, On my part
I promised to have the prisoners informed, on my own responsibility alone,
that “in case they should be released” forty pounds sterling should be at
the disposal of each to pay his passage across the Atlantic. I accordingly
instructed Messrs. Barrows and Wood, consuls respectively at Dublin and at
Belfast; and Mr. Tinsly, consular agent at Limerick, to visit the prisoners
and make known to them the offer. Two of them, McInerny and Slattery, were
allowed three days to consider whether they would accept or not; the others,
O’Mahoney, Gannon, and McSweeney, refused to be liberated on any terms
whatever. Under whose advice or orders they were acting is a matter of very
probable conjecture.
Meanwhile it is nearly certain that all the suspects, except those charged
with crimes of violence, will be very shortly set at liberty, thus rendering
nugatory the most effective argument in favor of disorder and resistance to
the law. * * *
I inclose a copy of the correspondence.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 349.]
Mr. Lowell to Mr.
Barrows.
Legation of the. United States,
London, April 21,
1882.
Sir: You will please see without delay William
Brophy, a suspect claiming to be art American citizen, confined in Naas
jail, and say to him that “in case he should be liberated you have
authority to pay him forty pounds sterling for his passage to the United
States” for which sum you may draw upon me at sight.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 349]
Mr. Lowell to Mr.
Wood.
Legation of the United States,
London, April 21,
1882.
Sir: You will please see without delay Henry
O’Mahoney, who is confined in Monaghan jail, and Daniel McSweeney, who
is confined in Dundalk jail, both of whom claim to be American citizens,
and say to each of them that “in case he should be liberated you have
authority to pay him forty pounds sterling for his passage to the United
States,” for which sum you may draw upon me at sight.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 349.]
Mr. Lowell to Mr.
Tinsly.
Legation of the United States,
London, April 21,
1882.
Sir: You will please see without delay John
McInerny and Patrick Slattery, suspects claiming to be American citizens
and confined in Limerick jail, and say to each
[Page 236]
of them that “in case he should be liberated you
have authority to pay him forty pounds sterling for his passage to the
United States” for which sum you may draw upon me at sight.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 4 in No. 349.]
Mr. Tinsly to Mr.
Lowell.
Consular Agency of the United States,
Limerick, April 22, 1882.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
your letter of the 21st instant. In accordance with your instructions I
called without delay at the county jail, and had. an interview with John
McInerny and Patrick Slattery separately. I informed each of them that I
had, as consular agent of the United States at-Limerick, received
authority to pay him forty pounds sterling for his passage to the United
States, in case he should be liberated. Each of them asked if the
payment was to be conditional upon his leaving this country for America,
to which I replied that I presumed it was. But to satisfy them I read
the exact words from your letter without informing them from whom I
received the letter or the instructions, as you marked your letter
confidential. Neither of them would give a decided reply, but said they
would think it over and give me their reply on Thursday next. It would
be well to let me have clear instructions on that point as to
conditions, and also a draft form of the receipt I am to take from them,
or either of them in case they consent.
I remain, &c.,
JOHN R TINSLY,
United States Consular
Agent.
[Inclosure 5 in No. 349.]
Mr. Lowell to Mr.
Tinsly.
Legation of the United States,
London, April 24,
1882.
Confidential.]
Sir: I have your letter of the 22d. It must be
distinctly understood that this money is not offered to the prisoners to
induce them to leave Ireland.
It is to be given them simply as an act of kindness to enable them, in
case of their release without funds, to return to America.
I inclose the form of a receipt which you desire.
I am, & c.,
[Inclosure.]
Received from J. R. Tinsly. esq., forty pounds sterling to enable me to
pay my necessary expenses in reaching my home in the United States.
£40.
[Inclosure 6 in No. 349.]
Mr. Barrows to Mr.
Lowell.
Consulate of the United States,
Dublin, April 25,
1882.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
yours of the 21st. In obedience to your instructions to “see William
Brophy” I called upon the under secretary and asked, for an order
directed to the governor of Naas jail which would allow me to see Brophy
privately. The courtesy was at once accorded me, and on yesterday I
proceeded to Naas. Governor Gildea gave me a private room, where I saw
Brophy, who, in the course of conversation, remarked that if released he
could not undertake to leave under three or four months; that his
mother-in-law died last May intestate, and that he and the other
relatives are unable to agree on executors or administrators; that he
came to Dublin from New York in 1877; returned to America once for about
six months; does not deny that he was a Fenian in 1867, but declares
positively that
[Page 237]
lie is not
concerned in the present movement in any way whatever, nor does he
belong to any society or organization; that he has five children, the
youngest only five weeks old, his wife a delicate woman and unable to
travel. He stated, finally, that he had no desire or intention of
remaining in Ireland after the settlement of his private affairs, but he
refused absolutely to accept release on the condition of his leaving for
America.
His decision is emphasized by inclosed telegram, which I received from
him this morning, wherein, you will observe, he refuses anything but
unconditional release.
Awaiting your further instructions, I have the honor, &c.,
B. H. BARROWS,
United States
Consul.
[Inclosure 7 in No. 349.]
Copy of telegram from William Brophy to American
consul.
Naas
Jail, County Kildare, Ireland,
April 24, 1882.
Will accept my release unconditionally; not otherwise.
[Inclosure 8 in No. 349.]
Mr. Tinsly to Mr.
Lowell.
Consular Agency of the United States,
Limerick, April 25, 1882.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
your letter of the 24th instant. In compliance with a request from the
prisoners John McInerny and Patrick Slattery, to call at the jail
to-day, I did so, and had an interview with them. They said as it was to
benefit their health they came to Ireland, and neither of them feeling
well, they would not be disposed at present to return to the United
States even if they were to be liberated from prison.
I distinctly informed them that I held out no inducement to them to leave
Ireland, but if they were liberated and wished to return to America, I
was authorized, as an act of kindness, to pay to each of them the amount
I previously named to pay their passage and other expenses, as they may
not have funds to enable them to do so. The matter now stands as I have
stated.
I remain, &c.,
JOHN R. TINSLY,
United States Consular
Agent.
[Inclosure 9 in No. 349.]
Mr. Wood to Mr.
Lowell.
American Consulate,
Belfast, April 26,
1882.
Sir: I have the honor to report the proceedings
taken under the instructions of your letter of the 21st instant, in
respect of the communication to be made to Henry O’Mahoney and Daniel
McSweeney, now confined respectively in Her Majesty’s prisons at
Monaghan and Dundalk. The letter was received by me at so late an hour
on Saturday, the 22d instant, as made it impracticable to reach either
of the two places on that day, and no communication was available on
Sunday. I was not able to go in person. Mr. Samuel P. Brown, a consular
clerk, holding the commission of the President, and now on duty at this
consulate, was accordingly delegated by me, under suitable instructions,
to perform the service. He left Belfast on Monday morning, the 24th
instant, and returned last evening. A copy of the report of his
proceedings is herewith submitted. I have every reason to believe that
the object of your instructions was most discreetly and faithfully
accomplished.
In the event that either O’Mahoney or McSweeney should be liberated, I
shall make the payment (on application therefor) of the sum named in
your letter, unless I shall be otherwise instructed.
I am. &c.,
[Page 238]
[Inclosore 10 in No. 349.]
Mr. Brown to Mr.
Wood.
Belfast, Ireland, April 26, 1882.
Sir: In compliance with your instructions, I
left Belfast at 9 a. m., on Monday, the 24th instant, for Monaghan, and
arrived there about 12 m. I at once proceeded to Her Majesty’s prison
and requested an interview with the prisoner Henry O’Mahoney. The warden
of the prison received me with courtesy, and at once sent for Mahoney. I
then communicated to the latter the statement of Mr. Lowell’s letter.
Mahoney seemed undecided whether he would accept the terms implied in
that communication as to his departure for America. It did not appear
that he had any information that he had been or was to be pardoned.
On leaving Monaghan I was obliged, in order to reach Dundalk that
evening, to drive to Clones. On reaching Dundalk it was too late for an
interview with the prisoner Daniel McSweeney, but I was able to arrange
for an interview on the following morning. This took place about 11
o’clock a. m. Before making Mr. Lowell’s communication to McSweeney, he
at once said that he would not accept his liberation on the condition of
returning to the United States.
In both these cases the prisoners observed that the departure for the
United States was a condition of their liberation, although no
communication beyond the words of Mr. Lowell’s letter was made. The
warder at Dundalk gave me a copy of a letter, dated the 24th instant,
from Dublin Castle (which is hereto appended), advising him of the
liberation of McSweeney on condition of his leaving Ireland for the
United States. I was advised that it had not, at the time of my
interview, been made known to McSweeney.
In view of the indecision of O’Mahoney and the declaration of McSweeney
as to the acceptance of liberation on the condition of proceeding to the
United States, I informed them, agreeably to your instructions, that the
consul at Belfast would carry out Mr. Lowell’s instructions as to the
payment of the money to each of them in case they were liberated by Her
Majesty’s Government, provided he should not in the mean time receive
instructions revoking his authority in this respect.
I am, &c.,
SAMUEL P. BROWN,
United States
Consular Clerk.
[Inclosure 11 in No. 349.]
Mr. Burke to the
Governor of Dundalk Jail.
Dublin
Castle, April 24,
1882.
Sir: I am directed by the lord lieutenant to
inform you that his excellency has been pleased to order the release of
Daniel McSweeney, a prisoner in your custody, under the provisions of
the protection of persons and property (Ireland) act, 1881, upon his
signing the following undertaking:
“I hereby undertake, if released from prison, that I will leave Ireland
forthwith and return to America.”
You will please inform the prisoner that if after signing this
undertaking he does not leave Ireland in such a short time as is a
reasonable interpretation of “forthwith” he will be rearrested.
You will please hand to prisoner a copy of this letter.
I am, &c.,
[lnclosure 12 in No. 349.]
Mr. Lowell to Mr.
Barrows.
Legation of the United States,
London, April 26,
1882.
Confidential.]
Sir: I have to acknowledge the reception of
your two letters of yesterday with accompanying papers.
You will understand, of course, that the money offer I instructed you to
make was not intended as an inducement for the prisoner to leave
Ireland, but simply as a provision for his expenses to America in case
he should be released by the government here.
I am, &c.,
[Page 239]
[Inclosure 13 in No. 349.]
Copy of telegram from Lowell, Minister, London, to
Barrows, United States Consul, Dublin, dated April 27,
1882.
You will of course understand that the offer mentioned in my letter of
twenty-first is now absolutely withdrawn.
[Inclosure 14 in No. 349.]
Copy of telegram from Lowell, Minister, London, to
Wood. United States Consul, Belfast, dated, April 27,
1882.
Your letter of twenty-sixth received. You will please understand that the
offer is mow withdrawn absolutely in all cases.
[Inclosure 15 in No. 349.]
Copy of telegram from Lowell. Minister, London, to
Tinsly, Consular Agent, Limerick, dated April 26, 1882.
Your letter of twenty-fifth received. You will understand, of course,
that the offer is now absolutely withdrawn.