The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-11
DUBLIN STIRRED OVER
FITZGERALD SENTENCE
Vindictive Spirit Seen in Trial
of Publisher.

Special Cable TO THE NEw York HERALD.
Copyright. 1920. by THE NEW YORK HEAALD
DUBLIN, Dec. 1O.-The sentence inn
posed on Martin Fitzgerald. one time
racing partner of Richard Croker. TO six
months imprisonment is causing much
unfavorable comment here. Despite the
technical correctness of the courtmartial
conviction and the sentence imposed II
is felt here that the authorities in Ire
land picked out a trifling incident and
sed 1t 10 take vengeance on Mr.. Fitz-
gerald and his partner in the Freemdns
journal, Hamilton Edwards.
Although the Freemdn's Journal, which
they own but in connection with which
they have only owners responsibility for
details, has printed columns of attacks
on the methods of the forces of the
Crown, frequently alleging that these
forces carried out atrocities and re-
prisals. they were convicted on counts
on which any newspaper proprietor
might be caught any day. This is one
of the things which will make all Ire
land chary regarding any peace over
lures from Downing Street.
The Freemdn's Journal, despite the
vieor Of its denunciation of the Govern
nent's methods in Ireland, led the move
ment for peace last July. demanding a
truce at the time the Sim Fem was
practically in control of the entire coun-
try, and even Dublin itself. 1t boldly
denounced the murder of the fourteo"
officers killed in Dublin last month E!a
has given support to the recent truce
talk Also it has printed full reports OF
the courtmartial proceedings in the cases
of Mr.. Fitzgerald and Mr.. Edwards
Picked From Racing News.
These reports show that Dublin Castle
picked out three line paragraph in the
midst OF racing notes to the effect that
at was a current report" in a certain
town that two policemen had been killed
by auxiliaries (B'ack and Tans). IL
was shown that this sporting note had
not been subjected 10 the same scrutiny
as important political matter IS sub
iected ard that the item sHould have
been included in the category OF inn
portan. political matter.
Another case in which conviction was
obtained related to the beating OF
prisoner in tho Porto Beio barracks.
The prisoner after his re'ease from the
barracks. ca led at the office of the free
MANS Journal and showed the marks Of
the beating on his back There was pro-
drced n Doctors certificate that these
marks could not have been received by
the man except during his imprlson-
ment. which was before the printing OF
the article.
The third case was one in which the
accused alleg,d a prisoner who the au-
thorities said was killed While running
away was actually killed while standing
before searching party with his hands
above his head. This last case was not
even brought to trial.
Horco Dublin believes the Freemdn's
rfrrlNt In hos fy,g
ia .n.ny other serious allegations against
the forces of the Crown. and believes
that the proprietors OF that newspaper
are being pers cuted for mistakes which
are liable 20 happen In the best regu-
lated newspaper offices. Furthermore,
II was brought out that the convictions
were only possible under the anomalous
state Of martial law IN Ireland
see Vindictiye Policy.
The Manchester Guardian, the West
minister Gazette, the Daily Ne1os and
other British newspapers are printing
similar accusations against the Gov
eminent with impunity Hence. while
the conviction of Mr. Fitzge raid and Mr..
Edwards undoubtedly was correct upon
the evidence adduced. the sent nee inn
posed upon them is generally regarded
here as vindictive
Mr. Fitzgerald has important busines SIS
interests throughout Ireland. and al
though warmly Nationalist In spirit. II
is known that he again and again exerted
a noderqt'ng influence In most impor-
tent quarters on both sides. His inn
prisonment Is. in a way. much more SEN
sationai than that OF Arthur Griffith.
founder OF the Sim Fein and vice
president OF the Irish republic" since
Mr. Fitzgerald has not been active po-
lltlcally except through the newspaper
in which he owns shares. The view here
Is that this Is a demonstration OF the
lengths the Government Is prepared to 60
in It's suppression policy.