The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-12-14
MacSwiney's Widow
Recites Sad Story
Circumstances Related Of Late Hus.
bands Fatal Hunger Strike-Irish
Freedom Worldwide Issue.

~ i
/ Freedom Worldwide Issue.
/ Washington, Dec. 9.-The widow
of the late lord mayor Of Cork, Mrs.
Muriel MacSwiney, presented today
to the commission of the committee
of one hundred investigating the
Irish question her story Of the hunger
strike in Brixton prison, London, OF
her husband and Of his death and the
details as she had Witnessed them
of attempts by the Irish republicans
to gain freedom FOR their country.
Mrs. Maeswiney Concluded her
story with the declaration .4that Eng
land shall have no peace; that the
world will have no peace until our
republic is recognized"
/ Miss Mary MacSwiney, sister Of
the late lord mayor, recalled to add
details to the story she told the com-
mission yesterday, added to, the dec
laratien of her sisteria-law the as
sertion that the coming winter would
be "Ireland's Valley Forge" and ap-
pealed for American aid, not the aid
for the men and women Of Ireland,
but for the children.
"The coming winter in ireland,
. Z. . - ( y
said Miss MacSwiney, aVili be hard.
The British have destroyed our crops.
our supplies of food. The men can
get on, the women can stand the suf-
fering. But it is for the children !
plead. We must have help this win
ter"
The widow of the Cork lord mayor
declared there was no choice for the
Irish republicans but to stand to-
fgethere Whateyer the cost ! and con-
Etinue the fight for indane nendance. She
said it was such a spirit that had ac-s
tuated her husband t food
until death.
81 knew my husband Vas happy as /
his physical strength was worn away
,by hunger for his countenance abs
solutely radiated peace ard content.
ment," Mrs. MacSwiney asserted. q
was besought TO plead with him ITO
/ take food. But I would not, for
never, never would interfere with
my husband in a matter of con-
science. It was his choice. It was
the decision of his spirit"
! Death Helped Cause.
Miss MacSwiney expressed the be-
lief that the fatal hunger strike Of
her brother had greatly benefited the
Irish independence movement. She
told Of the series Of kilograms she
! had exchanged with Premier Lloyd
George in an attempt to fix respon-
sibility for her brothers prison sem
tence and for the treatment he and I
his relatives had been accorded by
the British government.
'The result Of this exchange of
kilograms, she added, made me
feel that Lloyd George was response
BILE before God and man for the death
Eof my brother. I shall continue to
feel that way and / shall continue to
spread truth of that situation
throughout all of Ireland"
Miss MacSwiney gave an account
/! Of what she characterized as con-
spiracy between officials Of Krixton
prison and the British home Office
so defeat plans of the family to take
the lord mayors body back to Cork,
because, she said, "the British feared
an uprising and they didn't want any
more trouble than they already had.
"We Irish are no domestic problem
of England" she said. "We are an
international problem. Our ideals,
the ideals of. all Irish republicans.
are the same and my plea to the
American people is that you at least
give fair play and justice to me, for
the British stories Of the separatist
movement do not carry all the facts.
We are not divided and we intend
that the whole world shall know the
truth both of our cause and the mis-
representations of the British"
The commission tomorrow will
hear several former members Of the
royal Irish constabulary.
Mrs. MacSwiney's accounts Of the
numerous arrests Of her husband,
his efforts on behalf Of free Irish
nation and the actions of the British
government in attempting 'tto throt-
tie Irish developmet" were punctuat-
ed alternately by applause and sobs.
Mrs. MacSwiney told of her mar
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