The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-05-13
TWO EXECUTIONS
REPORTED At
D j BLIN
James COnnroly and John MCDer
mott Shot May 9Th
SIGNERS OF PROCLAMATION
Protests in House of Commons Failed
to Save Prominent Leaders in
Revolt.

London, May 12-James Connolly
and John McDermott were shot yester.
day morning for completely in the re.
bellion. said dispatch from Dublin
last evening.
The official headquarters announce
ment at Dublin regarding the execu-
tions is as follows: THE trial of
two prominent leaders of the rebel
lions whose names were. appended TO
the proclamation issued by the So
called provisional government, name
ly James Connolly and John McDer-
mott, took place on May 8. The SEN
tence OF death was returned in each
case, and the sentences were carried
out this morning, after confirmation
by the general commanding in chief"
Connolly was styled by his associat
es commandantgeneral OF the Irish re-
publican army. He was one of the
seven signers of the proclamation is
sued by the insurgents at Dublin at
the outbreak of the revolt.
At the session of the House OF Com
mons Thursday vehement protests
were made by Irish members against
the execution of the rebel leaders, and
IN attempt was made TO obtain an un-
ierstanding that there would be no
more OF them. Premier Asquith said
that two other persons were under
sentence of death and that he thought
Il unjust that preferential treatment
should be accorded.in case of men OF
equal guilt. Mr.. Connolly lived for
several years III New York. where he
was active as a socialist and writer on
labor topics. He returned 10 Ireland
about five years afo to assist in organic
ing the Irish labor party. He was
about 80 years old.
John McDermott was known to
Irishmen in the United States as one
Of the most brilliant orators in Ireland
and as one of the so-called inner circle
Of reyolutionists active in the recent
uprising.
At the outbreak of the war, McDer-
mott, comparatively young man, was
editor of Irish Freedom, a Dublin
newspaper ardently opposed to re-
cruiting among the Irish for the Brit.
sh army. This paper was one of
those suppressed for its attitude on
this subject.
Much regret is expressed by influen-
tial Liberal newspapers that the Gov
ernment failed to stop the execution
of Connolly and McDermott. The
Manchester Guardian and The Nation
contend that commutation of these
sentences would have been not only
clemency but policy
A Central News dispatch from Dub,
lin says that a court-martial is trying
the officer believed to have been re,
sponsible for the putting to death OF
f. Sheehy Skeiiington, the Irish editor
who is said to have been executed with
out the sanction of the military author
tiles.
Premier Asquth's sudden resolve to
so TO Dublin, which was hailed by his
| supporters as stroke of genius has
| had the effect of assuaging political
passions. Parliament does not meet
| Fridays, and the fact that there was
no session helped to bring about day
of calm in strange contrast to Thurs
| days sensations.
Some regret was expressed over the
selection of Mr.. Dillon to move the
iesolution in the House of Common!
concerning the executions. Many o.
the strongest supporters of Ireland,
cause advanced the belief that /
would have been better had some les,
emotional Irish member been selected
for that duty The feeling prevails
that everything possible ought now t,
be done TO avoid inhaming publi
sentiment.
| Premier AsQuith appears to hav
spent the day in Dublin seeing official
there and acquainting himself person
| ally with the situation, and it is pre-
sumed that II may be two or three day
before any radical decisions are adopt
ed, although 1t is recognized on al
sides that there is urgent need to rC
establish an effective civil governmen
in Ireland.
| London, May 13.-Several hundre
prisoners arrested in connection wit
the recent revolt in Ireland were r,
leased today following the arrival {
Premier Asquith at Dublin. II
stated that the premier will issue
| nropln m n tion