The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-27
Verdict of Coroner's Jury

LONDON, oct. IA jury OF ten
men, after twelve minutes de'ibera-
ton this morning, returned an open
verdict at the inquest over the body
Of Lord Mayor McSwiney Of Cork,
who died in Brxton prison early Men
day morning from the results OF his
73-day hunger strike.
The verdict was that the deceased
had died from heart failure, due to
a dilated heart, and acute delrum
following scuryy, which was due to
exhaustion from lack OF food.
The lady mayoress, dressed in black
and heavily veiled was the only Wit
ness on behalf Of the McSwiney fam
ity and was the dominant figurs
Of the proceedings. Her composure
was indicated by her quick and point
ed replies.
Mrs. McSwiney successfully resisted
the continued attempts of the coroner
to have her characterize her late
husbands occupation otherwise than
as a volunteer officer of the Irish
Republican army"
The inquest, which was held in this
bright, sunny office of the prison
governor, was attended by 80 persons
besides the coroner and jury. Thess
included Mrs. McSwiney, the dead
lord mayors brother, Sean (John),
his sisters Annie and Mary, his priv
ate chaplain, Father Dominic, the
lord mayors secretary, the town clerk
and qifN gT1faifnr 10
taSves OF Irish civic and political
organizations and home office and
other British government officials.
There was crowd about the
prison entrance when the members
OF the family, accompanied by Arc
oBrien, head of the London office
of the Irish Self Determination league
drove up in a taXicab. Mrs. McSwney'
stepped to the door, which was i'm
mediately thrown open, the constables
guarding the entrance standing aside
deferentially. The coroner arrived
shortly afterward and the party filed
into the governors rooms OF the pris-
on.
Coroner G.. p. Wyatt opened the pro-
ceedngs with the usual formality. He
suggested that the Srother of the late
lord mayor might desire 10 testify
for the family. Solicitor Macponald.i
representing the family, interposed.l
however, with the reminder that the
Lord Mayorcss had been summoned
for that purpose The coroner asked
Mrs. McSwiney II she wished to tes-l
tify. She replied yes, laid her veili
back over her hat, stepped to the
end OF the table opposite the coroner
and took the oath.
The lady mayoress said her name
was Mune Francess McSwiney, and
that she lived in Cork. Her husband
was Terence James McSwiney, aged
40
what was hep asked the coroner.
"An Irish volunteer was the ans
wer
Did he make a living by thatgS
NO answered Mrs, McSwiney.
Had he any other occupatlon?"
He was school teacher for
number OF years." replied the lady
mayoress
The coroner pressed the point, and
Mrs. McSwlney replied:
My husband did nothing for years
but work for his country
Coroner Wyatt objected. TO the witt
ness describing her husband as an
lrish volunteer. to which she re-
joined
II don't see why. Ireland has an
army OF its own: don't you call an
occupation in your army"
Yes" said the coroner. but this
Is different thing entirely2"
quite" was the monosyllablc re-
ply Of the witness.
solicitor Macdonald sought 10 ques-
lion the lady mayoress about charges
upon which her husband was ar
rested. The coroner objected to this.
saying he did not desire the inquiry
to 90 beyond the cause OF death.
Mr.. Macdonald said the family re-
garded the death as the result OF
the lord mayors arrest and court
martial
He went on hunger strike the