informations sworn against them for
taking part in an "illegal procession" and a "seditious assembly." A
summons had been taken out also against Mr. Martin; but as he had left
Dublin for home on Friday, the police officers proceeded after him to
Kilbroney, and "served" him there on Saturday evening.

Beside and behind this open move was a secret castle plot so utterly
disreputable that, as we shall see, the Attorney-General, startled by
the shout of universal execration which it elicited, sent his official
representative into public court to repudiate it as far as _he_ was
concerned, and to offer a public apology to the gentlemen aggrieved by
it. The history of that scandalous proceeding will appear in what
follows.

On Monday, 16th December, 1867, the Head Police Office, Exchange-court,
Dublin, presented an excited scene. The daily papers of the day report
the proceedings as follows:--

At one o'clock, the hour appointed by the summons, the defendants
attended in court, accompanied by their professional advisers and a
number of friends, including Alderman Plunkett, Mr. Butler, T.C.; the
Rev. P. Langan, P.P., Ardcath; A.M. Sullivan, T.C.; T.D. Sullivan,
J.J. Lalor, &c. Mr. Dix and Mr. Allen, divisional magistrates,
presided. Mr. James Murphy, Q.C., instructed by Mr. Anderson,
represented the crown. Mr. Heron, Q.C., and Mr. Molloy appeared for
J.J. Lalor. Mr. Crean appeared for Dr. Waters. Mr. Scallan appeared
as solicitor for J.J. Lalor and for Dr. Waters.

It was generally understood, on arrival at the Head-office, that the
cases would be heard in the usual court up stairs, and, accordingly,
the defendants and the professional gentlemen waited in the court for
a considerable time after one o'clock. It was then stated that the
magistrates would sit in another court down stairs, and all the
parties moved towards the door for the purpose of going there. Then
another arrangement was made, that the change would not take place,
and the parties concerned thereupon returned to their places. But in
a few minutes it was again announced that the proceedings would be in
the court down stairs. A general movement was made again by
defendants, by counsel, by solicitors, and others towards that court,
but on arriving at the entrances they were guarded by detectives and
police. The benches, which ought to have been reserved for the bar
and solicitors, and also fo