Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-06-28

prisoners, SO that we had no difficult
ty in identifying them. They were
confined for the most part in groups,
the majority of them being locked
up in steel cages built in the yards
of the prison, entirely outside the
buildings proper. These cages are
exact duplicates of those used for
wild animals in the larger geological
gardens, such as Lincoln Park and
the Bronx, in the United States.
Statements had. been made that
unspeakable outrages were being
committed against the persons of
these men, and the most barbarous
cruelties inflicted upon them. That
they had been starved, beaten, con-
fined in dark and noisome under
ground cells, otherwise mistreated
and kept FOR days with their hands
handcuffed benin their backs. We
attempted 10 secure statements from
the officers, either confirming or de-
nying the charges. We were per-
mitted t. talk to no one inside the
prison except the Governor. He
stated that no such barbarities had
been committed since he had taken
charge of the prison, a week or two
before. He refused to speak for any
time prior to that. He at first de-
MED that there were underground
cells in the prison. We had been fur
nished, however, with a plan show
ing their location, and upon our in
sistence we were allowed entrance
We found a great number of cells
underground, too narrow for human
occupation, without beds or cover
ing for the prisoners, no ventilation,
pitch dark and extremely cold. al
though the weather at the time was
not severe. The Chief Warden ad
mitted that these cells were at times
occupied by prisoners.
"Our information, well authenti
Gated, was to the effect that large
number of political prisoners were
taken out OF the underground cells
after we had demanded admission
the night previous. We found one
of the political prisoners still in sol
itary confinement. He presented
pitiable spectacle. The miserable
cell was cold and badly ventilated.
He was in an. uA'<empt condition.
highly nervous, palpably undernour-
lshed, and had a wild glare in his
eyes, indicating an extremely dan
gerous mental state. He tried to
speak to us, but was quickly ST.
lence by the Warden. The politi-
cal prisoners in this Jail, without ex-
} ception, are men of the highest
standing, journalists, lawyers, bust
: ness men, skilled tradesmen and la
borers. Many of them. confined for
} months, have not been informed of
the charge against them. When the
charges are made-often of the most
trivial character-bail is denied.
They were all emaciated and appear
ed to be suffering from malnutri-
ton. OF the thousands of German
! prisoners we have seen in France
none of them showed such wretched
} physical condition, or had counte-
: nances so marked with pain as the
prisoners in Mountjoy AS we were
, leaving the prison we were attracted
by shouts in the rear of the main
hall of the prison. Looking around
: we saw Pierce Beasley, one of the
political prisoners, an Irish jour
r nalist of the highest standing, and
one of the most beloved men in Ire
: land, being hustled through the
back doorway by a burly prison
: guard.
"Beasley cried out:
al want to call your attention
, to the fact that this brute who has
: me in charge is about to punish me
! for saying: Long Live the Repub-
I Iic."' We Immediately protested
g against the assault on Mr.. Beasley.
The Governor of the prison hasten
ed back to where the men were, and
. after a hurried whispered converse
ton with the guard, returned and
g said that we could be assured that
0 no punishment would be inflicted
!, upon Mr.. Beasley. Upon our return
q from the prison we were furnished
: with detailed statements of others
4 who had been confined in prison
: exposing the vilest atrocities conn
C mitted against prisoners. Having
: received information that there was
= a large number of prisoners con
:. fined in a smaller prison in the
: town of Westport, County Mayo
i which place was invested pI
4 troops, and that cruelties and bar
d barities were being practiced upo1
Il them. we announced our 1nten
e ton, after leaving Mountjoy Jail
Q Of visiting Westport.
2 Shortly before the departure o
e our train upon the following even
e ing two policemen appeared at GU
It apartments and handed US an un
k signed typewriter letter. NOTIFYING
II us that we would not be permitted
Is to enter the town of Westport, tn
II only reason given being that
L was within the military area" w
a proceeded, nevertheless, to West
d port AS we approached the tow
t company of soldiers met us abou
Is three miles out. and the heutenan
st announced in surly tone. tina
n under no circumstances would W
a. be permitted to enter. We de
a. manded to see the colonel, .
s, whom we showed our passports
is repeated the message of Mr.. Lloyd
r. George delivered through Sir VIII
ut lam Wiseman, to the effect that b
as wanted us to visit all of ireland
Or explained that we were conductin
an investigation under the author
n ity of the Prime Minister. We &C
rs yised him that we understood tina
r. revolving conditions existed in Wes'
ns port. The Colonel, however, d.
C. clared that he would take the flu
IN responsibility OF not complyin
III with the request OF even so hdg