That Irishman was interviewed as himself and as the anonymous ‘X’ in R Barry O’Brien’s biography of Charles Stuart Parnell. His account of the formation of the Home Rule Confederation of Great Britain, HRCGB, is revealing and vivid. He is generous in his assessment of Parnell: a good listener, a quick learner, a sound instinct, with a hatred of England. He speaks of the influence of the Clan and of John Devoy.
24 October 1913, O’Connor Power writes to William O’Brien, describing himself as an (X) MP.
He was addressed as professor when teaching at St Jarlath’s college. Conan Doyle’s Moriarty is an ex-professor.
In the 1874 and 1880 elections in Mayo, Power described how difficult it was to ensure that the correct box on the voting paper was ticked with an X.