Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-11-27
Arrest Sim Fein Head
British Police Take Griffith From
Bed in Night-Breaking Into
His Dwelling

DuoEn, Nov. 2I.-Arthur NrlIiltn,
founder Of the Sim Fein organiza-
ton; Professor John MacNeil, Sim,
Fein member of Parliament for Lon
aonderry City and the National Uni
versity Of ireland, together with &
number CT others, including Professor
MacNei!l's son. were arrested yes
.erGay by the aux: .ary police.
Mr.. Griffith was to have addressed
meeting Of the Irish Seif-Determi-
nation League at Manchester, next
Sunday.
A statement issued from Dublin
i Castle. the seat of the Government,
with regard to the Griffith arrest
read: Arthur Griffith was arrested
at his residence in st. Lawrence road
al 2 a. m. A large quantity of itera-
turc was taken frcm his house. No
| arms were found. He was in bed at
the time, and was taken away in q
motor !crry. He made no statement.
His arrest was effected without
trouble.
Among. those arrested this morning
were Joseph Mcbride and E. }. Dug
gan, Sim Fein members Of Parla-
ment, respectively, for the West DI-
vision of Ccunty Mayo and the South
Division CT Dublin.
The news of the arrest Of Griffith
and Profcs sor MacNcill caused a
great sensation among the. Dublin
population.
In speaking of the raid on the house
and her husbands arrest. Mrs. Grit
fifth said:
"The reason why both Arthur and
Professor MacNell are being taker
away is tina; ro moderate leaders viii
ne left to guide the young men, ana
! The British Government may think
they will come our. It has been try
ing TO force them out in order to mas
sacre them
81 Jumped to the windcw Of our ap-
stairs bedroom ard called out" she
| continued. The seven men ccmpris-
! ny the party pointed revolverS at
me, shouting: "Come down at once"
II turned anh called to Arthur.
Here they some; jump and then
slipped on dressing gown and ran
! downstairs. The men, all Of them mem
bers Of the auxiliary police. already
had reached the landing. They haG
smashed the wirdc:w and cut the door
chain. They rushed into Arthur'S
room with revolvers pointed ani
placed him under arrest.
"When they tco,,. him away later J
said to them, Where are you go!n:
20 put him. To this one Of them
replied. We are going to shoot or
hang him. as he jolly well deserves.
Our seven-year-cli ckild. who had
been s.ecping hy our bed heard the
remark, began to scream ard became
hysterical. AS they drove off, however
smother man shouted back: We are
taking him to the Bridewcll.
Mrs. Griffith said her. husband had
been sleeping at home fer the frs:
time in a week. She recalled that
this was the third time he had beer
arrested. The first WAS in the win
ser rising of 1915, when ne was KEEP:
imprisoned for S months. and tn
second in 1918, in connection with the
alleged pro-Ge,man conspiracy IN Ire
Hand when he was held for 10 months
I'VE had both been expecting this
arrest" continued Mrs. Griffith, land
really it is a relief. I think we vii!
both sleep better tonight, in more
neace than we have had for MANY
mcrths."
Mrs. Griffith said the raiders has
remained two hours and syste1natica!
lv searched the entire house. "They
.crped the walls, tore I'd carpets, tool
! the piano. top off, examined ever!
4 book in the t:baary and also every lei.
! ter, and carried off an immense quan
r:ity of pamphlets, letters and hooks
even phctogrst,h Albums and singh
photographs Ct our two children
Other trained pictures on the wall
Seemed to take their fancy, one o
them saying They WIZ do for ou
mess ROOM Arthur Vas not rouehl.
handled, but they threatened him an.
, tnumber of times"