New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-11
Boy Hunger Striker Accepts Aid
To Live Until Proved Innocent
Nuns Administer to Youth Dying in Irish Prison
After Plea Moves Father to Allow
Fight for Life

CORK. Sept. 10 BY The Associated
Press>.-The father Of Sean Hennessy,
the nineteen-year-o lad who is on i
hunger strike in Cork Jail, consented
to-day to permit the nuns to try to
keep him alive until it is possible to
present to the government proofs of
his innocence. These proofs, it is as
serted, have been obtained.
The nuns, under direction of the
governments physician, are endeavor-
ing to ameliorate Hennessy's condi-
ton. The physician to-day told the
correspondent that not only Hennessy
but Michael Burke, Michael O'Reilly
and Donovan were in an extremely
critical condition, and that it was prob.
lematical whether the lives Of any of
them could be saved, even if they were
released Immediately.
According to Harold Barry, former
High Sheriff of Cork, who has been
nauking desperate efforts to save Hen
nesy's life, Professor Nolan, president
of the college at Ballingarry, tele-
phoned to Barry this morning that
he could convince the authorities that
Hennessy was not implicated in the
olfense of which he is accused.
Accompanied by the correspondent
o. The Associated Press, Mr.. Barry
FASTENED to the Jail, and in the pres
ence of Jail Governor King, appealed
to Drs. Alan Pearson, representing the
Home Office, and E. G. Battiscombe
alive until Barry could communicate
with Premier Lloyd George. The
physicians replied that they we're eager
to help, but that they had given thei1
word of honor to Hennessy and the
boys father, John Hennessy, that they
would not attempt to minister to thu
youth.
Although DR.. Battiscombe said he
and DR.. Pearson regarded he request
of the boy and their father as their
last will" and must respect it, Mr.
Barry was undeterred and obtained
Jail governors permission to talk to
Hennessy's father, who was summoned
from his dying boys bedside to the
turned deaf ear to Mr.. Barrys plea.
II gave Sean my word that no doc
tor should come near him, and he said
he would follow Gods will whether he
should die or be released" said the
elder Hennessy.
Still refusing to admit defeat, Mr.
Barry returned and consulted the doc
tors, and then took them out to where
the father was standing.
You have confidence in the nuns
who are attending your SOM" Barry
asked Mr.. Hennessy, and the latter
nodded. "Will YOU" Mr. Barry then
continued, permit them under the doc
tors direction to keep Sean alive by
measures other than forcible feeding
for the next twelve hours "a"
Eyes" Mr.. Hennessy replied after a
long interval, "if it is understood that
the doctors will keep away"
The physicians Immediately rushed
off toward the prison house across the
yard from the governors residence to
instruct the nuns in their work Of keep
ing the lad alive.
Questioned previously by the CORE
spondents, the doctors had declared
there was no truth in the reports that
the hunger strikers in the Jail had
been receiving food surreptitiously
They said they had sent message to
the government this morning to the
effect that the prisoners would die
unless they were speedily released.
Hennessy, who is suffering from
heart disease, collapsed this morning,
and for time the doctors thought
him dead. Thomas Donovan of Emily,