Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-28
HEART FAILURE
CAUSED MAYOR 8
DEATH, FINDING
Coroner's Jury Reports in
MaCSWiney Case; Widow,
Dressed in Black, TeSti-
fieS in Behalf of Family.
lBx The Associated pressl

London, Oct. IA jury of ten
men, after twelve minutes DELHI
GRAFTON this morning, returned an
open verdict at the inquest over
. the body of Lord Mayor MacSwiney
of Cork, who died in BriXton prison
early Monday from the results of
his 7G-day hunger strike.
The verdict was that the deceased
had died from heart failure, due to
q dilated heart, and acute delirium
following scuryy, which was due to
exhaustion from prolonged refusal
to take food.
The widow, dressed in black and
heavily yelled, was the only
witness on behalf of the Mac
Swiney family, and was the dom
inant figure of the proceedings.
Her composure was indicated by
her quick and pointed replies.
Mrs. MacSwiney successfully re-
sisted the continued attempts of
the coroner to have her character
ize her late husbands occupation
otherwise than as volunteer Of
ficer of the Irish republican army"
DR.. Griffiths, the senior medical
officer of the prison, said he be-
gan attending MacSwiney Septem-
Der /. "He was then weak and had
certain signs of tuberculosis in the
chest" added the physician.
Reads History of Case.
DR.. Griffiths read from book
in which he had noted a history of
the case. He said the prisoner had
consistently refused food all the
time he was in prison; that his body
had deteriorated slowly, scurvy de-
veloping October II, and the pa
tient becoming worse until he had
an attack of acute delirium on Oc-
tober 20, growing very FESTIVE and
requiring two officers to hold him
in bed. He then became uncOn-
scious. On October 20 the heart
became weakened and dilated. upon
which the attendants administered
food.
There was some slight improve
ment," continued the doctor. Then
between two and three o'clock in
the morning of the 25th, I was
called to him.
T found his breathing labored
and his pulse feeble and quick; he
uDNlOuSly was III d very u III al
condition. l did what | could and
having got to the end of my re-
sources told the priest to go to him.
He died at $50 O'clock"
The coroner asked what DR..
Griffiths considered the direct
cause Of death. The doctor replied:
Heart failure, following scurvy,
due to exhaustion from prolonged
refusal to take food"
The solicitor representing the
treasury department revealed that
five days before MacSwineys death
the home office doctor read to him
a statement signed by Secretary
Short as follows:
THE secretary of state sOlemnly
warns you that you will not be re-
leased and that you alone will be
responsible for any consequences
which may ensue on your persist
ence in refusing food"
To this Lord Mayor MacSwiney
replied he had been told that pre-
viously.
The jury returned after only II
minutes of deliberation and juror
read the verdict:
consequent on a refusal of food
Intermcnt in Ireland.
The coroner suggested that the
finding be amplified by the inclu-
sion of DR.. Griffiths' testimony.
The coroner then read the verdict,
in which Mayor MacSwiney was
referred to as a volunteer officer"
not mentioning the Irish republican
army. Solicitor Macdonald asked
the coroner to issue burial permit
saying interment would be made in
Ireland. The coroner declined, say
ing he had no jurisdiction.
The home office, however, grant
ed the permit. and the body of Lord
Mayor MacSwiney was turned over
to his relatives in time to permit
original plans to be carried out.