New-York tribune., 1918-06-14
In Editorial Ii Declares
There Is No Evidence of
German Plot
Lays Blame to Woman
Article Declares John Devoy
Cannot Be Frightened and
Will Fight On

"The Gaelic American" the official
organ of the Sim Fein in America
which has been denied the use of the
mails pending an investigation by the
Solicitor Of the Postoffice Department.
in its issue of yesterday devotes its
entire first page to an attack on the
methods employed by the government
in obtaining the Indictment of two as
German spies and five Sim Fen work
ers as co-plotters by the Federal
grand jury last week.
The paper charges that the Sim
Fein arrests in Ireland were due to a
confession in this country of a drug
crazed German woman who. admits she
is spy. The writer asserts that this
confession was the sole basis of Lloyd
Georges action in ordering the whole
sale arrests in Ireland.
When this section of the article was
shown to high Federal prosecuting
official he recalled statement issued
by Attorney General Gregory on Sat
urday which explained that all the
evidence against the plotters had been
obtained in this country and that it
had not been submitted to any foreign
government.
printed in "The Gaelic American" he
said the government was not at this
time willing to show just what or how
conclusive it's evidence was against the
plotters in this country, and therefore
he would say nothing. 1t is known
that copy of the paper was sent to
Attorney General Gregory.
Sees No Evidence of Plot
After making a vicious attack on
the press Of the city for giving the
story of the indictments of jeremiah
O'Leary, his Sim Fein associates and
the two German spies such prominence,
Notwithstanding the fact that the in
dictments were returned and most Of
the complained of stories followed the
language of the indictments, "The
Gaelic American" says:
"It is absurd to think that any intel
ligent prosecutor has any hope or in
tention of trying to prove some Of the
charges made in these indictments, for
there is mo genuine evidence whatever
to support them. Among these are:
"That there is plot to get up an
up by German invasion. There is no
such plot and the Federal District At
torney in New York has not scrap
of evidence to prove there is, or that
there has been anything of the kind
since the United States entered the
war. With England and the United
States controlling the seas around Ire
land, and 1reland's lack Of arms, 1t
would be an utterly impossible under
taking, and the charge assumes that
the Irish leaders are dwelling Idiots,
instead of the ablest men that Ireland
has produced for whole century.
"That Irish citizens have conspired
with German spies to destroy by ex-
plosives. American troop transports,
food ships and munition plants and to
supply Germany with information of
American military and naval move
ments for the purpose of crippling the
United States in the war. That portion
of the Indictment is the most atrocious
falsehood' ever invented for the purpose
Of injuring and defaming the Irish peo-
pie and destroying the character of
Irish citizens in America. 1t is made,
not in the hope of convictng Irishmen
of the charge-for no American jury
would ever convict man without evil
dence, and the District Attorney has
no such evidence-but for the purpose
Of damning the cause of Irish liberty
in the minds of the American people
The charge is as absurd as it is afro
cious."
Defends Dewey
The closing paragraph Of the story
is panegyric dealing with the bravery
of John Dewey, editor of "The Gaelic
American" Mention is made of the fact
that frequently the name of the editor
has been associated with the plotters
which is branded as an attempt to ST.
lence him. In bold type he says he will
not be frightened and is ready to stand
his ground and fight the Anglo-Ameri-
can conspiracy against Irish liberty,
in court or out of IT,