Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-26

Swincy, Lord Mayor OF Cork. wh)
died this morning at Brixton jail,
after the longest fast in history, in
protest against Imprisonment by the
British government for alleged scGi-
tion in laboring for n republican Ire
| land, was 40 years old. aud one or
the most prominent Sim Fciners. lie
started life as Il lraper's assistant,
but became q poet. author and a
playwright before taking up politics
seriously Later lie became violently
anti English
While in Wakefield Jail. Yorkshire,
In 1916. he met Muricl Murphy,
daughter OF a wealthy Cork distiller
who visited the Jail and shortly
after they were married. despite
much opposition.
Was Elected Ia Parliament.
MacSwincy was elected as n Sim
Fein member from Cork to the Brit
ish Parliament in 1918. hut never
took his seat He was present at
the first session of tho Irish pariia-
ment in 1919. when tho establish
mont of the republic was confirmed.
and was elected Lord Mayor of Cork
in 1890
For various political ofcnses he
had been in Jail. with brief intervals
of liberty, since January. 1916. and
in October. 1917. secured his release
from jail by hunger striking.
Within tho past week. when 1T be-
gan TO appear that the Lord Mayor
was approaching the end, nc was
given liquid nourishmcnt b% the
prison doctors during periods Of UNI
consciousness.
This fac; appeared in statements
\ lot Ia, n Snk @ Z ny N a ion
League. which had been issuing
regular bulletins on MacSwincy's
condition. and by the Home Office
Til" leagues statement showed the
Lord Mayor as becoming extremely
Indignant upon regaining conscious
ness and realizing that he had been
fed.
They tricked me and 1 did not
know it," he exclaimed
The leagues bulletin on October
81 contained this statement: 1T
should be made clear that the meat
extract given the Lord Mayor dur-
ing his delirium on the siSty-ninth
day OF his fast was the first nour-
ishment which had passed his lips
since his arrest on August ~"
Pnrc Benedict Refers Cnsr.
With regard 10 theological aspec:s
o: the Lord Mayors hunger strike
and that of the Irish prisoners In the
Cork jail. who heEar n similar an
stcncion from food shortly before
MacSwincys fast started, it was in
a Rome dispatch on October II that
Pope benedict had referred the prob
lem OF these hunger-striking pris-
oncrs to the Congregation OF tho
, Holy Office.
|
urgent appeals to make some PRO
nounccmcnt Tcgarding these cases
, from persons OF opposite viewpoints.
imploring the Pontin to reach dia-
mctricaily opposed decisions on tho
question whether the deaths OF the
prisoners as result OF their hun
ger strike would make them suicides.
~, had found widely divergent
r opinions also. II was added. among
learned cardinals and other promi-
ncnt figures in the church with whom
he had discussed tho situation ana
therefore had laid the problem be-
fore the Congregation OF the Holy
, ohicc. which settles questions of faith
ana morals and judges hcresy. There
has been no indication as TO when
, decision might be expected from this
r body.
The frs; death among the hun
ger strikers occurred on Sunday. Oc-
tober II. when Michael Fitz(ierali
one of the eleven striking prisoners
IN the Cork Jail. succumbcd to the re-
suits O.! his sclf-imposcd fast. He
had TASTED s:X.y-eight days. Several
other Of the Cork prisoners are de-
clarcd now 10 be in Il critical state
started Strike mt Once.
MacSwin"y started his hunger
. strike tho momcn, ne was arrest ed.
lie was tried before q British MILL
, iary court, on entering the room
; IN which the court was held he de-
: ciared TO all, This proceeding is IL
legal You are committing an un-
lawful act. ! declare you all under
arrest by the Irish republic"
lie was convicted on August Ia.
lie was lodged in The Jail at Cork
: and formal announcement was 1nads.
that he was Sentenced 10 two ycars
e in prison.
, The Lord Mayor made no defense.
| His stand from the start was that
D he was no; under arrest. but merely
in the hands of the military agents
= | OF "a Foreign army on The son Of HIS
native country 70 have made a de
- tense he has Indicated. would have
: been acknowledgment; either direct
~ or indirectly that the proceeding
{ o! the court was lawful
a Ia his attitude he sustained the
: view that is held by Sim Feln Ire
\ land. This Is expressed in com
y munication from Arthur Griffith
vice resident of the republic" and
acting chief executive in the absence
o: President" Earnonn &c Valera, 10
: president Wilson and the heads OF all
other nations.
j. MocSwiney was confined TO tho Corl,
< J"l! Tor several days. The situation
- growing out or his imprisonment was
!. creating tcuscncss III Cork thai
d seemed forcrunncr OF trouble
a Though no announcement waa made
- IL is believed that thi. situation
d prompted the British to remove tn,
J. Lord Mayor to London.
Powerful influences were at work
almost steadily to gain he reicas,
IN OF the. Lord Mayor after the cas-.
n TOOK Inc ~