BROOKS, Consul, &c to Samuel B. Badeau, June 22, 1881

Mr. Brooks to Mr. Badeau.

Sir: In the matter of the application of Henry O’Mahoney, political prisoner, now in Her Majesty’s jail at Limerick, in this consular district, for assistance or protection based upon the claim that he is a citizen of the United States, I have to report the following additional facts:

On Tuesday, the 21st instant, with the permission of F. McG, Eager, esq., governor of the prison, I had a very lengthy interview with O’Mahoney in the governor’s office. I had previously intimated in a personal way to Mr. Macarthy, president magistrate at Limerick, the time and purpose of this interview, and had invited him to be present at it as a representative of Her Majesty’s Government. He was not present, however, until the interview had been nearly concluded.

The purport of O’Mahoney’s statements was, in brief, as follows:

He was discharged from the United States Navy in the fall of 1865, and had lost his discharge papers. Subsequent to his discharge he remained in the United States, living in Kansas, Missouri, and the Mississippi Valley until 1874, when he returned to Ireland. During this period, in 1866, he made application to the county court, Caddo Parish, Shreveport, La., for his naturalization papers, basing his application upon his service in the Navy. The papers were not issued; the reason for which failure to issue he did not state.

His return to Ireland in 1874 was occasioned by the “hard times” then prevailing in the United States, and because he had lost money by bank failures as well as failures of contractors for whom he had worked as a subcontractor in the erection of saw-mills. He remained in Ireland two years, and returned again to the United States in 1876, but returned to Ireland soon after. He was married in Ireland in 1875, and in October of that year obtained a license under the local laws to keep a “public house;” i. e.,, as a retailer of liquors, spirits, &c., &c. This house and license his wife has kept and used at Ballydehob ever since, and still keeps and enjoys the same. In 1879 he returned to the United States and went to Lockport, N. Y., and from thence to Buffalo.

In February, 1880, he applied for and obtained naturalization papers in Lockport, a copy of the certificate of which was forwarded inclosed in my dispatch to you under date of June 15 instant.

In January, 1881, he returned to Ireland, for the purpose, as he most emphatically declared, of disposing of his property in Ballydehob and going with his family back to Lockport, where, he says, he now owns a small property. After his last arrival at Ballydehob he took part in the then prevailing political agitation, and being a ratepayer (tax-payer and voter), was urged by his neighbors to stand as a candidate for poor law guardian. He objected to this, but was finally duly nominated, elected, and qualified, after which he entered upon and discharged the duties of his office up to the time of his arrest and incarceration.

He added that he knew the orifice of poor law guardian was one of important trust if not of emolument, and that the discharge of its duties involved the assessment and levy of taxes (striking rates), and the practical administration or execution of the laws of this country.

To the qnestion, “What demand or claim do you wish to prefer or ask of the United States Government?” he answered, “I demand and claim protection the same as the British Government gave to its subjects in New York during the draft riots in the late war. I am an American citizen, and want to get out of this country. I want a fair trial; I want justice and a speedy trial, and I want the protection of the American Government to secure these things to me.”

To the further question, “Suppose the British Government were to permit your release from prison upon condition of your immediate return to the United States, would you accept such terms?” he replied. “I cannot promise that, for it would take a year to close up my affairs here and sell out my property; but I do not want to stay in this country, and am willing and anxious to leave it as soon as I can.”

O’Mahoney further explained that the foregoing statement of dates or years may not be technically correct, and that he gave it from memory, to the best of his recollection and belief.

In conclusion he repeated his request for the immediate interference of the United States authorities in his behalf.

To conclude the record in O’Mahoney’s case it is necessary to state that he stands committed under the so-called “coercion act” as a suspect, on suspicion of having been implicated in an assault with fire-arms, with intent to kill, upon Mr. George Henry Swanton, justice of the peace, Gortnagrough, Ballydehob.

I have to add that before I left the prison I was informed that two or more prisoners were anxious to see me for the purpose of preferring claims similar to those of O’Mahoney’s. In response to this information, I declared my willingness to take cognizance of their cases upon proper application in due form.

As I have received no instructions up to date in O’Mahoney’s case from the legation or other source, I shall, unless otherwise directed, permit the matter to drop here.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,