Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-11
IRISH CONSTABLES
TELL OF DISORDERS
Unofficial Commission Ad-
journs Hearing of Testimony
Until Next Wednesday.

After hearing testimony from four
former members of the Royal Irish
Constabulary, one American citizen
and one Irish woman now living in the
United States, the unoff1cial Ameri-
can commission on conditions In Ire
land adjourned until next Wednes-
day, when it's sessions will be re-
sumed at. the Hotel La Fayette.
Daniel F. Crowley, John Tangney.
Daniel Calvin and John J. Caddam
were the four men. who, according
to their testimony. had resigned from
the Irish police force on account OF
drastic changes in the system during
the past year and half.
Crowley detailed the duties, working
hours and wages received by members
of the r. 1. c. and told of an instance
of every man in one of the barracks
having resigned on receiving an or
der to shoot any republican sym
pathizer at sight" He said this order
was issued by Col. Smith OF the Bit
ish army, who was subsequently KILL
ed at Cork He described the 'black
and tans' as the lowest type OF hu-
mainly | have ever seen. We never
associated with them
Decided to "Get Out
Tanrney. a County Kerry man, said
he had been connected with the force
for five years, but that when he saw
the purport of the orders that were
nelnl made more drastic eacn month
he decided to get out" and come to
America. He said it was Impossible
to fraternize with the black and
drunk and fighting among themselves.
He explained certain orders where
members of the Royal Irish Constabu-
larry were sent armed to church Tor
no other purpose than to incite the
people," he said.
Mrs. Thomas Murphy of New YORK
city followed Tangney on the stand,
and told of a recent visit to Ireland,
where she saw a fve-year-old girl
shot in the back by BLACK and
tan" for being on the street a rev
minutes after 9 o'clock at night,
where her mother had sent her with
a note to a neighbor. Mrs. Murphy
said that food was scarce. the chill
dren being unable to secure the
proper supply of milk. She said that
she was held up and searched ny SOL
diers while in the act of bidding
friends goodbye on her return 10
America.
H;ame Liquor for Outrnges.
Caddam and Calvin corroborated
their fellow officers as to the work
ines of the r. l. c., and. when asked
bv senator Walsh whether the men
were permitted to drink, said that he
liquor was the cause Of most
of the outrages He said that can
teens had been established in all large
barracks in Ireland in the past two
years and that the men were permit
duty That is all they do added
Caddam "They work four hours
day and drink and sleep the other
twenty"
In response to a question from Miss
Adams as to whether Protestants
and Catholics lived amicably in Ire
land, Caddam, who said he had been
on the police force for fourteen years,
declared that perfect amity existed
between them in the south of Ireland
THE Protestants of south ireland
are the best business people, and as a
rule the wealthiest." he said. They
never quarrel, and many Cathoics
people of their own faith. l have
known of Protestant ministers and
Catholic priests going together on
trips"
Says Land Was Peaceful
The policeman said also that until
the recent trouble in Ireland he had
never heard of but one murder in the
land, and, when asked to describe the
general run Of crime. said that petty
larceny and drunkenness were the
most grievous offenses.
Mrs. MacSwfney received many call
ers at the home of Peter A. Drury
Yesterday. The widow of the late
lord mayor of Cork remained in the
house all day, and said she was un-
able to announce just what her future
plans were.
1t was announced last night that Sir
Horace Plunkett,- now on his way to
America, would probably testify be-
fore the commission.
owing to the expected return to New
'ork this afternoon Of Miss Mary Mac
swiney, 1t was announced by the Wash
'ngton- Mallow committee that the meet
ing at the Central High School, which
was scheduled for tomorrow. would not
',e held. Miss MacSwiney is expected to
be back in Washington on Monday.
when a reception will be rendered her
and Mrs. Muriel MacSwiney at the Ho-
tel Lafayette by the Washington wom-
ems reception committee.