Trenton Times
Trenton, New Jersey
Dec 17, 1886

MR DILLON ARRESTED.
The Anti-Rent Agitators Taken in by the Police.

    DUBLIN, Dec. 17- Mr. John Dillon and Mr. William O'Brien attended an immense National League demonstration at Loughrea yesterday which was presided over by Father Cunningham. A large number of clergymen, together with Commoners Harris and Sheehy, occupied seats on the platform, and a numerous contingent of tenants from the estates of Lord Clanricarde were present among the audience. Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien addressed the meeting eloquently and at great length, and at the conclusion of the speeches the two gentlemen opened rent offices for the collection of rents under the league's "plan of campaign". Hundreds of tenants came forward and paid the sums they were willing or able to pay, when suddenly a strong force of police, headed by Inspector Davies, burst into one of the offices, seized the money, books, and papers and arrested Mr. Dillon who was in charge. Mr. Dillon remonstrated with Inspector Davies and was assaulted and roughly handled by the police, unrestrained by the inspector. The police then proceeded upstairs to the office occupied by Mr. O'Brien, arrested that gentleman, and seized his books, papers, money, etc. Having secured the principals, the inspector sent a squad of police to arrest Messrs. Harris and Sheehy, and the four prisoners were arraigned before a magistrate and charged with conspiring to induce tenants to abstain from paying the rents they were lawfully bound to pay, which charge is included in the general one of conspiracy to defraud. The prisoners were remanded for one week.
    When the police arrived Mr. Dillon had collected $100 and Mr. O'Brien about $350.