New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Atrocities in
Erin Related
By Americans
Eyewitnesses Describe Con.
ditions in Testimony Be-
fore Inquiry at Washing
ton Into Irish Questions
Priests Tell of Murders
Hundreds of Homes Bombed
and Burned by Troops
in Limerick, Says Pastor

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S (By Tho As
soclated Press. .-Eyewitness reports
of disturbances in Ireland connected
with the movement for Irish independ
ence were given to-day at the opening
hearings of the commission of the
Committee of One Hundred investi-
eating the Irish question.
Denis Morgan, chairman of the Town
Council of Thurles. Ireland, and three
Americans who visited Ireland recent
lyTJohn F. Martin, of Green Bay, Wis,
and two clergymen, Father Michael
English, of Whitehall, Mont. and Fa-
ther James II. Cotter, OF Ironton, Ohio
were heard by the commission. All
expressed sympathy for the Irish in
dependence movement, told of vio-
lent events which they had seen, and
agreed that civil processes, except of
the Provisional Irish Republic, were
virtually at an end under the rule of
the British military forces.
Witness Tells of Murders
Mr.. Morgan said his home was rid
died with bullets prior to his arrest
and deportation to England without any
definite charges being preferred against
him. With 200 other Irish republican
leaders, he said, he went on hunger
strike until they were released. He
also told of murders Of Irish citizens
by constabulary and soldiers, includ-
irg the Black and Tan forces.
Father English asserted that British
soldiers had contiscated his papers. The
military authorities derided his pro-
tests that he was an American citizen
he said, and he also told of having wit
messed the shooting of an Irishman
whose body, he said, was beaten into
unrecognizable form.
Father Cotter, Catholic editor, told
of the killing of a Galway civilian by
a British soldier without cause The
soldier was seized by another civilian
and reprisals against the town fol
lowed an hour later. Soldiers shot ur
the streets for several hours" he said
The aged priest added that ne lay for
an hour and a half under window
ledge Of his hotel to escape the flying
bullets. The military, he added, later
set fire to two houses and fired into q
Galway newspaper plant whose manage
ment was friendly to the republican
movement.
Father Cotter and Mr. Martin, a
knights of Columbus official, declared
that sentiment in Ireland as they found
it was virtually unanimous for indc-
pendence.
Populace Indorse Republic
"Sympathies of every one ! met
Catholic and Protestant, were for the
republicans" said Father Cotter. The
belief that religious prejudices or diff
ferences were involved in Ireland was
unfounded he added.
There was absolute unanmity O.
opinion for home rule" Mr.. Martin tolt
the commission.
All witnesses said that civil cour
procedure was suspended in Ireland
coroners' lnquests prohibited by the
British government and that the only
authority exercised, except for the
British military forces, was that Of the
Irish Republicans.
About 600 soldiers and 400 police arc
stationed constantly in Limerick, Fathel
English told the commission. Military
raids through Penniwill, a Limerick
district, were SO frequent, he said, thai
it had been named the "Penniwil
Sector" He told of fire started eithel
by hand grenades or incendiaries which
injured 200 houses in Penniwill anc
said he saw many marks of bullets ant
bombs.
Mr.. Martin said he was halted ano