to be an Episcopalian
clergyman, from Nunda, N.Y., and John McMahon, who stated that he was a
Roman Catholic priest, from Anderson, Indiana. Lynch was first placed
in the dock, and the indictment read, to which he pleaded "not guilty."
Lumsden and McMahon were next charged, and also entered the same plea.
The prisoners not being ready to proceed with their trials, they were
remanded until October 24th, when the Court re-opened and the trials
proceeded with. The counsel for the Crown were Hon. John Hillyard
Cameron, Q.C. (Solicitor-General for Upper Canada), Messrs. Robert A.
Harrison, John McNab, James Paterson and John Paterson.

The first prisoner placed in the dock was Col. Robert B. Lynch,
who stated that he had no connection with the Fenian Army, but had
accompanied the expedition as a reporter for the Louisville _Courier_.
A large number of Canadian residents of Fort Erie and vicinity, however,
testified that they had seen him wearing a sword and in command of a
body of Fenian troops at that place. The evidence of his guilt was so
overwhelming that the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and Colonel
Lynch was sentenced to be hanged on the 13th of December. He received
the sentence with composure and was removed back to the jail.

Rev. John McMahon was then placed on trial. He claimed that he had only
went with the Fenians in a spiritual capacity, and to look after the
wounded and dying. He said he was at Lime Ridge and attended to both
Fenians and Canadians alike while there. His statements did not accord
with the evidence given by other reliable witnesses who saw him giving
aid and encouragement to Fenian soldiers at Fort Erie, and after a fair
and impartial trial he was found guilty and sentenced to be executed
with Lynch on December 13th.

Pending appeal proceedings these executions were deferred.

David F. Lumsden was brought up for trial on November 3rd. He was
formerly rector of Trinity Church at Syracuse, N.Y., where he had a
reputation of being too fond of drink, rendering himself subject to
discipline for intemperance, and had been cited to appear before Bishop
Coxe (Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Western Diocese of New
York), who sent him to Nunda, N.Y., in the hope that he might redeem
himself. But he had again fallen from grace and was on a big spree in
Buffalo when he drifted over to Fort Erie, and was arrested on suspicion
of being implicated with the Fenians. After hearing all the evidence,