Evening star., 1920-11-18
DESCRIBES ATTACK
ON IRISH VILLAGE
Denis Morgan Testifies Be-
fore American Commission
on Ireland.

With Miss Jane Adams. Senator
and w. H. Maurer sitting. the first
hearing on conditions in Ireland by
the American commission on Ireland
started in the ballroom of the Hotel
La Fayette today.
After outlining the purpose OF the
commission Chairman Howe declared
that "only direct necessity can JUSTIFY
a resort to arms for the adjustment OF
disputes in Ireland" and then an
nounced that all witnesses desiring to
testify would be allowed the privilege
of being interrogated by counsel.
Denis Morgan, chairman OF the
urban council of the town OF Thuries'
ireland. was the first witness called 70
the stand. Before beginning his testi-
mony. Senator Walsh announced that
he wanted il distinctly understood
that all witnesses testifying at the IN
auiry had been invited to do SO on the
invitation of the commission.
At the suggestion Of Senator Waisn,
Morgan accepted the OFFER OF Frank y.
Walsh TO help him in his testimony
The witness. who is a man OF ABOUT
thirty-five years of age. gave his oc-
cupation as that of college teacher,
: wing that for the past twelve years
he had been teaching the irish, IAN
guage in Diocesan College at INJURIES
aid mathema tics in the Christian
lie said he was a married man. and
the Ia,he,, of two children. aged five
and two years. respectively.
Desrribes Religious Unity.
He described Thurles as town of
; 900 inha bitants, situated in the heart
Of Tipperary county. province of Nuns
ter. and, in answer to question from
Miss Adams. said that there were
many Protestant churches in the town
the fact that both Catholics and
Protestants had always lived in per-
feet amity.
After giving details of his election
TO the urban council of ThurleS. which
compares to the common council of
American cities. the witness proceeded
10 describe his arrest and consequent
confinement in the prisons of Ireland
and England.
In what he termed the shooting up
OF the town of Thuries by the Royal
Irish Constabulary he said the con-
stahulary made a midnight raid upon
homes and stores of townsmen promi-
ncnt in the Irish independence move
ment. Ten houses and stores
were riddled with bullets and hand
-yenades. he said.
Was it apparent that these place
were picked outo'' asked Senator
Walsh of Massachusetts.
Yes" Morgan replied. They were
all of people known to be associated
with the movement for the independ-
.nce of Ireland-leaders in this move
inent"
Of the houses shot up. Mr.. Morgan
aid. four were of members OF the
newly elected town council.
s.A.f>H u-.A~r nrAAYas
No rioting preceded the shooting.
he continued. and he was told that
ing under orders" The witness de-
scribed how he and his family lay
huddled on a stone floor all night to
scape the bullets flying through his
windows and doors.
The witness testified that he was
arrested by a squad of eight con-
stabulary when he left his home Janu-
AIRY so to attend an organization
meeting of the town council. He said
ha asked with what offense he WAS
chraged. and the constabulary replied:
NO charge, just government orders.
Tells of imprisonment.
He then gave a narrowing tale OF
his impri risonment at Thurles, of his
transfer at night in lorries. with -four
compan MONS. to Limerick, and thence
TO Cork. where he was put on a
battleship and transported to London.
other Irishmen in Wormwood Scrubbs
prison.
While he was there his five-year-old
son ed in Thurles. but he said he
was denied the privilege of attending the
ohiid's funeral.