The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-18
IRISH CRUELTIES
CHARGES REFUTED
Macpherson, Secretary, Denies
Allegations by Walsh
and Dunno.
HE ANSWERS IN DETAIL
Prisoners Kept in Large, Well
Furnished Cells, Says
Official.

I,oNpoN, June IA detailed and
,,eoihc reply to the report on conditions
IN ireland made recently by Frank p.
Walsh and Edward T. Dunno, American
CONSERVATIVES OF Irish societies In the
United states. was issued to-day from
Dublin Castle by James Ian Macpherson,
chief Secretary for Ireland. In dealing
WITH the general charge Of cruelties IN
aicted on prisoners. the statement says
"such statements are absolutely de-
void Of foundation. They are similar
10 statements recklessly made In con-
nection with the treatment of Sim Fem
nrisoners in Belfast Prison where the
government appointed n judicial commit
tee 20 investigate the charges thoroughly.
The commission found there was not n
word Of truth in these statements"
All prisoners, the statement says. are
IN properly equipped cells, lighted and
heated by hot water pipes, while the
prisoners are supplied with books. The
prisoners exercise In grounds enclosed
bv iron ratings but in nowise re-
sembling cages in geological gardens"
The cells described as underground by
the Americans, the Irish secretary says.
are reception cells in which prisoners
are put pending medical inspection in
secretary says the cells are not Under
ground, but they have a capacity Of S2s
cubic feet, are furnished and lighted
with the usual sized windows
Answers Sears Charges.
Taking up some of the charges in de-
tail the British Chief Secretary de-
clares that the prisoner William Sears.
described as in solitary confinement Is
undergoing a sentence of close confine-
ment imposed by visiting justices APP
rointed by local bodies and not by the
Government.
Sears. the secretary asserts, had re-
Celved special attention and care was
taken with his diet, and instead of being
unkempt he was permitted TO wear his
own clothes and use his own toilet ar
ticles His cell contained 1928 cubic
feet its temperature was 55 degrees,
ara II had windows three feet six inches
square facing the southeast. Concern
!rg the charges that the prisoner had
Seen confined for months without know
ing with what he was charged. the re-
mort says that no prisoner Is sentenced
in Ireland to-day without knowledge of
the charges against him. Bail Is granted
In the discretion of the magistrates.
Ine prisoners are in satisfactory
suffering from malnutrition.
The Beasley incident cited in the re-
port Of the Americans is denied by Mr..
Macpherson. I'm brief summaries of the
report cabled to the United States no
mention was made OF this incident. nor
Of the case of Sears, previously cited.)
Beasley. the Secretary says, was
neither punished nor assaulted. nor was
ne forbidden to speak to the Americans
He was brought in to be informed of the
date of his court-martial on the charge
o. having documents giving fnstructionse
how to destroy railways, &c. the Secre-
tary explains. Is
Regarding a statement that similar. al
legged cruelties had been practised in the
Westport prison Mr.. Macpherson points
out that there rs no prison in West
port.
MALLow. Ireland. June 17.-Countess
Georgiana Markievicz. Sim Fein leader,
and the only woman member OF the
British Parliament. was sentenced to
four months Imprisonment to-day on
charges growing out of disorders in
Cork on May II. The Countess was
alleged to have melted tradesmeu to
boycott the police and to have partici-
pated in an unlawful assembly at Cork.