Page:Life of John Boyle O'Reilly.djvu/61

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HIS LIFE, POEMS AND SPEECHES.
27

O'Reilly that night. I afterwards, in the same month, went with prisoner to Bergin's, James's Street; remained there from half-past eight to quarter-past nine; did not know any persons present, they were all strangers; there were four infantry soldiers, one of them, I think, of the Fifty-third. Prisoner was there the whole time; there was no conversation between prisoner and those present. There was singing.

President. No conversation !

Witness. None.

President. Public houses must be mortal slow places according to your account.

Witness. Singing was in presence and hearing of prisoner. Prisoner did not join in the singing; he was sitting down; we were both drinking some beer. Some civilians asked us to drink, but we treated ourselves. Prisoner told me that he belonged to the Fenian brotherhood in Cahir. He told me so in conversation as we were coming down from Island Bridge Barracks, in April, twelve months ago.

Cross-examined by Prisoner:

At Pilsworth's there were three or four sitting at the same table with us and Devoy. When I said there was no conversation between me and the prisoner at Fortune's I meant no conversation about Fenianism. When Devoy asked me to go to Doyle's, prisoner might not have heard him do so. We went upstairs at Barclay's. When I said I had no conversation with the prisoner at Hoey's, I meant none about Fenianism. I think I saw Corporal Fitzgerald at Hoey's one night, but I can't tell the date. I never was in company with Fitzgerald at Hoey's public house; it is over twelve months and more since the Tenth Hussars were quartered in Cahir; I had no conversation with prisoner in Pilsworth's about Fenianism. Strange civilians often asked me to take a drink in public houses. I never was a Fenian. The Tenth Hussars were quartered in Cahir for nine months.

To the Court:

The prisoner told me who Devoy was in Pilsworth's. I have known the prisoner since he enlisted, three years ago. It was in Pilsworth's I met the man called Davis, that was in January; I never saw him before or since. I cannot recollect the subjects of which we talked in the various public houses.

To the Prisoner:

Was not in Hoey's when Fitzgerald was there. I cannot tell prisoner's motive in asking me to go to the various public houses with him. In Fortune's there were civilians present. We left it to go to Doyle's, as we did not like to talk before them. There was nobody in the room at Doyle's when we went in. There were seven or eight of us came from Fortune's to Doyle's. I do not know who the civilians were that were left behind.