The Irish standard., 1919-10-11

W.
await deportation.
| He got in touch with his counsel,
! Michael Duggan, who promised to COM
municate with American Consul Adams
in Dublin the following morning. The
prison authorities Immediately shipped
Pedlar under guard in a motor lorry
to Kingston and from there to Holly
Head He was then taken to London,
where he was kept day in Jail. Then
he was sent to Southampton, where he
was put abroad the Mauretania on
September 20 under heavy guard
Message to Family Refused.
Pedlar alleges he was not permitted
to communicate with his wife or
friends. Only the greatest pressure
secured him an interview with his at.
torney.
| Friends in Dublin who learned he
had been deported, cabled to Pedlar's
friends, in Philadelphia. These visited
the ship last Saturday. They were told
by the Cunard officers that Pedlar
was under lock and key in the hold
and would not be released until his
status as an American citizen had
been determined.
Jospeh Mccarthy, well-known Phil
adelphia business man, went to AL.
fred J. Talley, Chief Assistant Dis
trict Attorney of New York, for as
sistance. Mr. Talley said:
81 found Pedlar in the hold of the
ship seven decks below the main
deck, without sufficient air and only
artificial light. He was in little room
that had more bolts than a tier Of
cells in murderer's row. 1t was 80
degrees down there and the sweat was
rolling down my face as l spoke to
Pedlar
81 was Mortified at this treatment
accorded an American citizen and de-
manded to see the commanding Off
Ger. I was taken to First Officer
Rogers. l told Rogers that where
Pedlar was confined was not fit place
me it was the only safe place for
Pedlar since the British regulations
were very strict regarding such a
prisoner. If Pedlar escaped, the Off
Ger could be fined $1,000, and what
ever chance he had in the British
navy would be jeopardized.
"And yet here was an American
citizen, with no crime charged against
him, suffering worse than if he were
leper or for an alleged participation
in an Irish uprising.
II arranged for hearing yester-
day (Sunday morning), before the spe-
cial board of inquiry at Ellis Island,
and with the help of Pedlar's friends
established beyond doubt his Ameri-
can citizenship. The Cunard people
Immediately released him."
Pedlar was in Assistant District At
torney Talley's Office yesterday. He
said:
II was first arrested in Dublin with
many others after the uprising there
in April, 1916, and was sent to Wads.
worth prison, where they kept me for
six weeks. We slept on planks and
had very little to eat. The first week
we were not permitted to indulge in
any form of exercise, but later they
allowed us to march around the pris
on yards. We weren't allowed to com
municate with the outside world, MOI
between ourselves.
with several others was trans
ferred to a detention camp in North
Wales, a disused distillery in the town
of Frongoch. I was held prisoner
here until Christmas, 1916
II was never tried in court, nor was
a formal charge made against me
l asked to face my accusers, but they
were never brought before me.
Arrested After Four Weeks.
"On my release I returned to my
wife and family in Dublin and resum
ed my stationery business. Foul
weeks later I was arrested again and
deported to England, no specific
charge being made against me. Will
nine others 1 was sent to Oxford
} where we were told to live as best W.
could, but not to move step out
side of the prescribed five mile area
I'm the party with me were DR.. Pat
} rick Mc-Cartan, an eminent Dublil
} physician; Joseph Mcbride, the har
Dor master at Westport, County Mayo
Darrell Figgis, a writer; J. J. O'Kelly
} an editor, well known under the pei
name of Scelig, of "The Catholic Bull
letin," and Shane T. O'Kelly, mem
} ber of the city council of Dublin, Sec
} retary of the Gaelic League. He il
the present Irish delegate who trie,