The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-15
Sim FEM M. P.'S
FINED $3.50 EACH
"General' Mellows and DR.
McCarton Admit Passport
Conspiracy.
McDERMOTT ALSO GUILTY
Martin Conboy Pleads for
Prisoners, Denying Intent
to Hinder War.

Liam Mellows and DR.. Patrick Nc
Carton. members Of the British House of
Commons elected by Irish constituencies
while under indictment In the United
States District Court here. we're ined
$3.50 each yesterday by Judge Learned
Hand, They pleaded guilty to conspirins
to obtain false certificates as American
seamen that would enable them to 20
from the United States to England and
Ireland.
James McDermott. brother of Sean
McDermott, who was put to death by
the British authorities for his part in
the Easter uprising In 1916, also was
nned S250. He was accused of the Same
offence. but his case was distinct from
that against Mellows and DIR. McCarton.
Michael Francis Doyle of Philadelphia.
who was OF counsel for Sir Roger Case
rnent at his trial In London. appeared at
the bar with DR.. McCarton. Martin
Conboy, director of the draft, pleaded
for leniency for Mellows.
McCsrton an American Citizen,
Both Mellows ara McChrton war.
leaders In the Sim Fein movement that
eliminated in the Dublin revolt. Mel
lows. small and very blond, has been
known as General" He ESCAPED ar
rest and came to this country. wner. he
was active with John Dewey and Jere-
miah A. O'Leary in the American Sim
Fein branch.
McCarton, born In ireland, ia an
American citizen. who was naturalixea
In pre-war days. He lived In Ireland
before and after the Easter uprising. He
came mere as a Sim Fein envoy shortly
before the United States became a bel
to-
half Of the Irish people to President
wilson. McCarton has been accepted by
Sim F'einers here as the accredited en-
Voy or the unrecognized Irish repubuc
FOR Mellows and McCarton to have
returned to Ireland in the usual way.
1t would have been necessary for then,
to have secured passports through the
British consul They elected to pass I'M
der assumed namea They obtained birth
certificates and credentials of two other
men aed used these to secure seamen's
certificates.
McCarton was arrested by agents of
the British intelligence service at Half
FAX. Mellows was arrested at the same
time In this city. Both pleaded not
guilty. They were arraigned Yesterday
to present a changed plea
In explaining the case to Judge Hand.
Ben A. Matthews Assistant United
states Attorney, said that the histories
! OF the two men made It likely that they
would have attempted to foment dlscord
in Ireland II they had reached there,
He pointed out that at that time the
United States was Just finding itself as
a warmaker and that the situation OF
| the Allies was serious.
DO you ask me to dispose of this
case with the idea that these men were
attempting to get to Ireland in order 10
| embarrass Great Britain in it's conduct
| OF the war;" asked Judge Hand
! Il think there IL no doubt but tina,
that was their object" said Mr.. Mat.
| thews.
Speaking for the defendants. Mr.
| Doyle said that they had changed their
, plea on advice of counsel and that he
| doubted the wisdom of the course In
| the light of the assertions OF Mr.. Mat
| thews.
"Dr. McCarton came to this country
to present to President Wilson the at
| flrmation of the Irish people that they
were loyal to the ideals that caused
the United States to enter the war"
| said Mr. Doyle. I'VE absolutely deny
| that it was his intent to stir up new
I discord."
Mr. Conboy asserted that efforts "a
win Irish freedom by force had been
definitely abandoned at the time Mel
/ lows and McCarton attempted to &c
| there.
"Self-determination. of which we hear
! so much. had Its most emphatic express
| sion In 1918. when the Irish people to the
| extent of 10 per cent. of the population
voted for independence" said Mr.. Con-
boy. THAT Is the only revolution there
| has been there since the Easter uprising
These men took the only course that was
| open to them to return to their native
| land We are not defending what they
did, but We say that they committed a