The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-12-10
SINN FEIN CHIEF
Sent TO JAIL
Griffith, Founder of Organization,
and Three Members OF
Commons Taken.
BRITISH SPREAD A NET.
Dublin Action First in Plan to Arrest
All in Mrish Republic" Army-Brit-
ish Say Collins and Mulcahy's Muir
der Plans Involved Leaders.

Dublin. Arthur Griffith, acting
president of the Irish Republic" and
other members of the Dali Eireann
(Sinn Fein Parliament) were arrested
in the early hours of Saturday morn
ing. No official explanation so far has
been given of the reasons for their
arrest, bat it is understood from an
authoritative source that recent docu-~
ments discovered show that the link
between the Dali Eireann and the
Irish Republican army was very close
indeed, and that the Dali Eireann was
collecting funds for the Republican
army.
'It was undoubtedly known" adds
an official, "that the Republican army
was engaged in very extensive MUIR
der campaign, and it is impossible for
funds to have been voted by the Dali
Eireann without some control Of the
purpose for which these funds were
used"
1t is said that the authorities con-
templatee some form of internment for
those associated with the Irish Repub-
lican army. Several instances have
come to light recently of forced con-
tributions to their funds. There
was one instance in Wexford district
where a farmer was asked if he had
contributed to the munition fund. He
replied that he knew nothing about
it. His caller then told him he had a
bill for f17 to collect. The farmer
handed over f5 and was Informed that
others would be found to collect the
balance.
The number of arrests is not yet
officially stated, but it is believed that
about twenty people We're taken into
custody during extensive raids. In ad-
dition to Griffith, among those arrest
ed were Professor John MacNeill, of
the Nationalist University of Ireland
and Sim Fein member of parliament
for Londonderry City, his son, and
Eamonn Duggan, NJ. P. for the South
Division of Dublin, and Joseph Mac
Bride, NJ. P. for the West Division
of County Mayo.
With regard to the case of Griffith
it was stated from Dublin Castle that
Mr. Arthur Griffith was arrested at
his residence, Lawrence Road, Dublin,
at 2 o'clock In the morning. A large
quantity of literature was taken from
his home. No arms were found. Mr..
Griffith was in bed at the time and
was taken away in a motor lorry. He
made no statement to his captors and
the arrest was effected without any
trouble"
Mrs. Griffith was with her husband
at the time. She says that he had not
been at home for nearly a week. At
20 she was awakened by the sound
of crashing glass. She went to win
| dow and found seven men below be-
longing to the auxiliary police. They
pointed revolvers at her and told her
to come down at once. She cried to
her husband, who was still asleep,
"Here they are, Arthur; jump" She
threw on dressing gown, and on the
way downstairs met men on the land
ing who gained admittance by smash
ing a pane of glass in the door and
cutting the chain.
They went into a bedroom and plac-
ed her husband under arrest With
him they went from room to room,
making a careful search. Carpets
| were torn up, floors and walls sound
ed, and the piano taken completely
to pieces. Immense quantities of lit
erature, letters, pamphlets, books and
photographs were taken. The search
| was in progress for more than two
hours. Her husband was not roughly
| treated, although when she asked the
| auxiliaries where they were going to
take him one replied, I'VE are going
to shoot him or hang him, as he jolly
well deserves" This frightened their
little girl in the room, and she became
! hysterical, but as the men drove away
one shouted, 1--WE are taking him to
the Bridewell."