1-150-742 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'A Nice Distinction', 1875. This cartoon shows Dr Edward Kenealy on the right preventing John Mitchell from entering the House of Commons. In mid-February 1875, John Mitchell was elected as Member of Parliament for Tipperary. Mitchell had been sentenced to transportation for life after his involvement in the Irish rebellion of 1848. However, he had escaped to America. The irony in this cartoon is that it is the infamous Dr Edward Kenealy who is barring Mitchell's entry to the House. Edward Kenealy, who had been counsel for the claimant in the notorious Tichborne case. His unethical behaviour had led him to be disbarred and removed from the list of Queen's Counsel. He was also a new MP, having been returned by Stoke-on-Trent. Punch's point is surely that Edward Kenealy, whose client in the Tichborne case was eventually put on trial himself for perjury, was just as criminal in his own way as Mitchell. In any event, Edward Kenealy was unable to find two sponsors to introduce him to the Speaker, whilst Mitchell was barred from taking his seat by 269 votes to 102. From Punch, or the London Charivari, February 27, 1875.