PIATT, United States Consul to Charles R. Lowell, April 7, 1883

Mr. Piatt to Mr. Lowell.

Sir: Referring to my note of the 6th instant, I have now to report that T. Featherstone, as he is known here to the police and public, was arrested at Cork with two others on the evening of March 29, charged with complicity in an alleged conspiracy to murder certain persons, and to destroy Government buildings with dynamite or oth e explosives. These arrests followed immediately after, and were presumed to be the result of the arrest at Liverpool, the day previous, of one Dennis Deasy, on his arrival by steamer from Cork with two so-called infernal machines. On Friday, March 30,, Featherstone, with the other prisoner, was put forward at the police office, and at the request of the subinspector in charge of the case—who wished to gain time to make other arrests and secure further evidence—was remanded for eight days, bail having been refused. Yesterday, at a private hearing at the county jail, a similar request was made by the subinspector, and another remand of eight days was granted. No evidence was produced on either occasion. These facts, which I had already learned from the local journals—extracts from which I inclose—were repeated to me to-day by resident magistrate A. M. Mitchell, to whom, after consulting the mayor of Cork. I applied for authentic information as to the charge against Featherstone and the nature of the evidence to support it. He said that he did not himself certainly know what evidence there might be, it having been withheld for apparently good reasons-under the circumstances; but that it was considered very strong and amply sufficient for the detention of Featherstone and the other prisoners; adding, however, that there was no disposition to postpone public examination any longer than should be necessary.

In my note of yesterday I suggested a doubt as to the true name of the person arrested as T. Featherstone. The signature of a letter then just received from him, a copy of which is inclosed, and in which he demands protection as a citizen of the United States, will explain and justify my doubt. I called on the prisoner this afternoon at the Cork Male Prison, and had a private interview with him. He told me he was a native of Ireland, born in Cork .twenty-eight or thirty years ago, his mother still living at Mitchellstown, but had gone to the United States about nine years ago, and he had resided for nearly seven years at Freeport, Ill., where he took out naturalization papers. These papers, however, he told me, were left at the house of a brother-in-law, Dennis Sullivan, 150 Franklin street, New Haven, and the only additional proof of his citizenship was in the clerk’s office of the circuit court at Free-port.

I spoke of his letter to me, and inquired if the signature gave his real name. He answered without hesitation that it did not; and then informed me that his name was Edmund O’B. Kennedy. He said he had been accustomed to write for newspapers, using the signature “T. Featherstone,” and admitted that it was the name under which he had been traveling in Great Britain. The pseudonym, however, was not used by him, he said, from any motive of secrecy

I asked him how long it had been since he left the United States. He answered that he had been about eight months in Great Britain, at Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Dublin and Cork. I inquired as to his business here. He told me that he came partly as a correspondent, mentioning two papers, the Freeport Bulletin and the Missouri Banner, to which he contributed letters. He asserted that he had not been associated with the Land League and other organizations, but said that he had written freely what he thought about political and other matters. This he seemed to think the right of an American citizen anywhere. I told him I had seen it stated, as a report, that he was supposed to be some kind of an agent for Mr. O’Donovan Rossa. This he said was not true— “I don’t know the fellow at all.” But, incidentally, he mentioned that one of his associates and friends, Mr. McDermott (whom he had known only while here in Cork), was a correspondent of Rossa’s paper. He further explained his sojourn in Ireland—perhaps he meant Great Britain—by saying that he been engaged in teaching both in Illinois and Missouri, and had wished to study the method of public instruction in this country, with the object, as I inferred, of assisting to improve that at home.

The prisoner professed himself at a loss to know why he should have been arrested, but understood his arrest was in consequence of that mentioned above, at Liverpool, of Dennis Deasy, whom he said he did not know. He told me, however, that there were two papers found on his person—and these seemed to give him uneasiness, I thought—one of which came into his hands accidentally, having been picked up by him at the Imperial Hotel at Cork, and, unfortunately, preserved. He said he did not know its contents, but gave me the impression it had some chemical reference. The other paper was, he said, an order on one of the manufacturing chemists at Glasgow for a quantity of sulphuric acid. I must understand, he told me, that there was no printing ink manufactured at Cork; in consequence, he, with another of the men arrested, had concluded it might be a profitable enterprise to undertake its manufacture there, and the sulphuric acid was intended for experiments in that direction. He had been on the point of going back to the United States for the purpose of learning the method of cheaply manufacturing printing ink, after which he had expected to return to Cork and apply the knowledge. The manufacture of ordinary ink, disinfectants and artificial manure was to be combined with that of the article first named.

I noted down in his presence what the prisoner said. I believe I have not misinterpreted his private statements, which he understood I meant to report to you. Although he can show no proof of his citizenship, I do not think there need be any doubt of his assertions in that respect. But until proof is manifest, could the fact be taken for granted? Mr. McDermott knows regarding this matter only what Featherstone (that is Kennedy) has told him. Even if proof of citizenship were furnished I do not see that there would be necessity for any present action.

I am, &c.,