Irish Catholic Chronicle And People's News of the Week Dublin, Ireland Saturday, 30 November 1867 MICHAEL O'BRIEN, ALIAS GOULD Michael O'Brien was born near Ballymacoda, the birthplace of the ill-fated Peter Crowley. O'Brien having reserved a good average education, served his apprenticeship in the establishment of Messrs. Arnott, Grant, and Co., and afterwards spent some time at the Queen's Old Castle. He left that firm for America, where most of his friends reside, some of them in affluent circumstances. O'Brien seized with the pervading ardour of the time, joined the Northern army, and served with distinction through several campaigns. When the regiment to which he was attached was disbanded at the conclusion of the war, he returned to Liverpool, where he got into trouble in connexion with the Fenian movements. The accusation then brought against him fell to the ground and he came to this city, where he obtained employment at the Munster Arcade, where he remained till Shrove Tuesday night when he disappeared and was not hears of again till he turned up at Manchester on the recent melancholy occasion. It will be remembered that on the trial of Co. F.X. O'Brien, who was tried and convicted at the last special commission in this city, frequent reference was made to another Col. O'Brien, who is supposed to have been identified with the deceased. At that trial also a receipt was produced for certain arms taken from the residence of Mr. George Wyse, Newcastle, signed "F. Lomax, Colonel Irish Republic, South Cork Infantry." At the trial a man named Kemn swore this signature was the handwriting of Mr. F.X. O'Brien, but the prosecution declared it was not, and it is now supposed the receipt was signed by Michael O'Brien. The Irish police were on the track of deceased since March, but without result. It is supposed that he formed the fourth in the party at Kilclooney Wood, which was completed by Peter Crowley, M'Clure and Kelly on the memorable 18th of September. Deceased was a person of genteel appearance and attractive manners. LETTER FROM ALLEN The following letter, the last it is understood that was written by the ill-fated Allen, previous to his execution last Saturday, has been forwarded to us and will, were are sure, be perused with a painful interest:- Salford, New Bailey Prison, Nov. 22 TO YOU MY LOVING AND SINCERE DEAR UNCLE AND AUNT HOGAN - I suppose this is my last letter to you at the side of the grave. O! dear uncle and aunt, if you reflect on it, it is nothing. I am dying a horrible death - I am dying for Ireland, dying for the land that gave me birth, dying for the Island of Saints, and dying for liberty. Every generation of our countrymen is suffering, and where is the Irish heart could stand by unmoved? I should like to know what trouble, what passion, what mischief could separate the true Irish heart from its own native isle. Dear uncle and aunt, it is sad to be parting you all at my early age; but we must all die some day or another. A few hours more and I will breathe my last, and on English soil! Oh, that I could be buried in Ireland! what a happiness it would be to all my friends and to myself, where my countrymen could kneel on my grave! I cannot express what joy it afforded me when I found, Aunt Sarah, that you were admitted here. Dear uncle, I am sure it was not a very pleasant place I had to receive you and my aunt; but we must put up with all trials until we depart this life. I am sure it will grieve you very much to have me in such a place on the evidence of such characters that swore my life away; but I forgive them, and may God forgive them. I am dying, thank God, an Irishman and a Christian. Give my love to all my friends; same from your affectionate nephew, W.P. ALLEN. P.S. - Pray for us. Good bye, and remember me. Good bye, and may heaven protect you - the last wish of your dying nephew. W.P. ALLEN. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/