New-York tribune., 1920-10-28

tons, and home Office and other Brit
lsh government officials
Coroner G. ?. Wyatt opened the pro-
ceedings with the usual formalities.
ne suggested that the brother of the
iate Lord Mayor might desire to tes-
thy for the family. Solicitor MacDon-
aid, representing the family. inter-
posed, however, with the reminder that
the Lady Mayoress had been sum
moned for that purpose.
Inc coroner asked Mrs MacSwinev
If she wished to testify. She replied
YES" laid her veil back over her hat
stepped to the end of the table onno'
site the Coroner and took the oath.
The Lady Mayoress said her name
was Muriel Frances MacSwiney. and
that she lived in Cork. Her husband
was Terence James MacSwiney, forty
years old
MacSwiney. Irish Volunteer
What was ?" asked the Coroner.
An Irish Nolunteer,' was the an
swer
Did he make living by that"
No answered Mrs. MacSwnev.
Had he any other occupation?
He was a school teacher for num-
Der Of years. replied the Lady May
Dress
The Coroner pressed the point, and
Mrs. MacSwiney replied;
My husband did nothing for years
but work for his country
Coroner Wyatt objected to the wit
ness describing her husband az an
Irish Volunteer, to which she rejoined:
II don't see why. Ireland has an
army of its own. Don't you call that
an occupation in your arlny?'
"Ies." said the coroner, but that is
q different thing entirely"
Quite" was the monosyllabic reply
OF the witness
Doctor Tells of Death
DR.. Grfiths, the senior medical off
Ger Of the prison, said he began at
tending MacSwiney September /. "He
was then weak and had certain signs
OF tuberculosis in the chest" added the
physician.
Dr.. Grifths read from book In
which he had noted q history of the
case. He said the prisoner had con-
slstently refused food all the time
he was in prison; that his body had
deteriorated slowly. scurvy developing
October II, and the patient becoming
worse until he had an attack Of acute
delirium on October 90, growing very
restlve and requiring two officers to
hold him in bed. He then became in
conscious. On October % the heart
became weakened and dilated, upon
which the attendants administered
food.
There was some slight Improve
ment' continued the doctor. Then,
between and 3 o'clock in the morn
ing Of the 25th, was called to him.
Il found his breathing labored and
his pulse feeble and quick He obvi-
ously was in very critical condition.
| did what could, and having got to
the end Of my resources told the priest
to go to him. He died at 80 o'clock"
The coroner asked what DR.. Grfths
considerd the direct cause of death.
The doctor replied: Heart failure.
following scurvy. due to exhaustion
from prolonged refusal to take food"
Coroner Wyatt in instructing the
jury said that II it found the deceased
had deliberately killed himself it
should return verdict of self
murder; second. if it found his mind
was so unbalanced that he did not real
ize what would be consequent upon his
refusal of food it should find his death
WAS due to suicide while Of unsounG
mind, or, third, ii it found the prisoner
did not intend 10 Kill himself. but,
owing to his physical condition death
ensued, the jury should return an open
verdict.
Warning Sent B, Shortt
During the inquest the solicitor rep
resenting the Treasury Department re
vealed that five days before Mac
Swiney's death the Home Office doctor
read to him d statement signed by
Secretary Shortt as follows:
he Secretary Of State solomnlv
warns you that you viii not be released
and that YOU alone viii be responsible
for any consequences which may ensue
on your persistence in refusing food
To this Lord Mayor MacSwinev
merely replied he had been told that
previously
DUBLIN. Oct. 27. Arthur Griffith.
as acting president Of the Dali Eireann.
has issued manifesto declaring:
The body Of the patriot and mar
tyr, Terence Macswiney. will reach the
shores of Ireland Friday As a mark
Of respect to his memory and the
memory of Michael Fitzgerald and
Joseph Murphy. who ai.n ',.ia ,,.q
their lives for their country in Eng
lish prisons, FraaV MI