1B.
The following expose...was written during my imprisonment in Kilmainham gaol. I must confess, that insofar as those facts relate to myself personally, I would prefer that they should remain in obscurity; for notwithstanding all the efforts of the hangers-on of the Castle – the animals who did the dirty work for Brown – aided by the black sheep of the press, who for some months did their best to impress the public mind with the idea that I had been “subsidized” by the crown, I do not believe that I need now publish one line of this narrative to vindicate my character; though I admit, that when I commenced the task, this was one of the motives which impelled me to it. But, after enduring upwards of seven months close and painful imprisonment – three months of which I passed in solitary confinement, subject to all the persecutions which the petty malignity of slavish and little-minded officials could suggest – I do not conceive any vindication necessary.
But I believe the relation of those facts now, will serve the cause of truth and justice – that they will tend to teach Irishmen the folly of mistrust and suspicion; that the knowledge they will attain from their perusal, will help to inspire them with that confidence in each other’s truth, without which they need never hope to succeed in any national struggle. For I believe one of the principal causes of the disasters of ’48 was the people’s want of confidence in their leaders, and in each other.
[At this point I skip forward to part of Halpin's wife's testimony - she has a good deal to tell about how Augustus Guy - a Castle detective employed in G Division (a 'G man') - attempted to induce her to co-operate with the British and inform on her husband's colleagues]
We went away without making him [Guy] any reply, but on the following day, the 9th September, a messenger came to my father’s, to say that Mr. Guy wished to see me particularly. My father replied that I was not in town, and that I should not again go to him; but a friend who happened to be present, advised strongly that I should go, as I was desirous of getting an order to visit my husband [in prison], and that I could easily conceal my feelings, without promising anything, until I got the order, which, once given by Mr. Redington, would scarcely be withdrawn, otherwise I might not be able to see my husband again during his imprisonment. Accordingly I was sent for by my father out to Ranelagh, where I was residing, and told the circumstance. From what I had suffered in Belfast, I was strongly inclined to take the advice of my father’s friend; so I came into town, and went to Guy’s office in the Lower Castle Yard, where I was told he was expecting me. He invited me upstairs to a private apartment, where his wife was sitting, engaged in some needlework. He then told me that the order for me to see my husband had gone down to the governor of Naas gaol; ‘but’, he said, ‘we cannot do much, as the governor is an independent man, but I suppose he will not like to disoblige the government.’ He then went on to say: ‘We are desirous of obtaining Mr. Halpin’s services on the forthcoming trials, but we merely want him to prove to the minutes of the Council, and if he will do so, his family, and your father, and all your sisters, and, in fact, any friends whom you wish, shall be sent out of the country to any part of the world you like, free, with thousands of pounds in your pockets; yes,’ he said, repeating it, ‘thousands of pounds’. Your father, he went on to say, ‘is an old fool; he would try to make me believe that they had no illegal object in view – alarming the citizens with their nightly marchings of clubmen; but Mr. Halpin is, I suppose,’ said he, ‘a man of sense, a man of the world, having a true regard for his own interests and the welfare of his family. I believe that his principles were not involved,’ said he, ‘in the late proceedings, as I have read his application for the situation of secretary, in which he apologises and assigns reasons for not having taken a very active part in the agitation prior to that.’
He used many more persuasive arguments which I now forget, striving to show why my husband could, nay ought to give, his services to the government, and ridiculed the romantic notions which he said some persons entertained about honour and fidelity, and all that sort of thing; at the same time he said your husband can give all the information we require, and then get himself produced as a witness for the defence; ‘they’ll throw him overboard,’ said he, ‘and we’ll take him up.’
