Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-26
lord MAYORS LIFE
REACHED ITS CLOSE
|. AS HE WAS IN COMA
Only His Brother and Pri-
yate Chaplain Were
at Bedside.
NO DEMONSTRATION OCCURS:
POLICE HELD IN READINESS
Family Group, When Sum-
moned, Stands Dry-Eyed
Over Silent Form.
SECRET REMOVAL FORECAST
Body May BE Taken Quietly to
Cork to Avoid Any Unpleas.
ant Results.
NO DEMONSTRATION OCCURS:
POLICE HELD IN READINESS
SECRET REMOVAL FORECAST
Body May BE Taken Quietly to
Cork to Avoid Any Unpleas-
ant Results.
tBy Associated Press

LONDON. Oct. 25.-Terence Mac
Swiney. Lord Mayor of Cork. the
most prominent OF the Irish hunger
strikers and said to have been the
brains OF the republican army i'm
ireland. died early today in Brixton
prison.
rhe end was not unexpected, for
the Lord Mayor had been unconscious
ior several days. He was entering
upon the seventy-fourth day of his
munger strike as protest against a
sentence OF two years imprisonment
on several charges. including one OF
having scditious documents In his
possession.
only his brother. John MacSwiney.
and his private chaplain. Father
dominic. were with him when he
died. Mrs, Macswihcy and the pris-
oncr's two sisters, Annie and Mari.
were at nearby hotel
Unconscious ns Death Cnmc.
The Lord Mayor, who was tcrribit.
emaciated as n result OF his long.
abstinence from food, had been de-
lirious for many hours and was uni
conscious when death came.
IL was several hours after the Lord
Mayor died before his brother was
permitted to tell Mrs. MacSwiney the
SAD news. She Immediately went TO
the prison. accompanied by her par
ehts ana tho Misses MacSwiney, and
the family group. stoical and dry
eyed. prayed over the body as ii lay
on tho cot.
ihere were no untoward demon
strations outside tho prison after the
news or MHcSwiney's death became
generally known, A large force OF
ponce had been concentrated to put
down any disorder that might occur.
it was said at the prison that the
reason for Withholding permission To
John MncSwiney to inform the dying
man $ relatives OF his condition was
'hat IL was IN the prisoners interests.
Just before MacSwiney dici
rather Dominic and John MacSwinev
kncit mt the bedside and offered NJ
prayers. The priest administered the
rites OF extreme JUNCTION.
1t Is well within the possibilities
'hat Inc body will be taken TO Cork
secretly In order TO avoid unpleasant
results from whatever demonstra-
ions might be arranged in England
ana ireland along the route traverscd
ny the train bearing the body. There
is no intimation that any official ad-
Vocates refusal to send it to Cork.
\" Plan for Body's Removal.
The Home Office, in charge OF
prisons. which would control tbc
movement iof the body in England.
said that no plan for the removal
OF the body had been officially CON
siderel. AT the Irish Office IL wa.
nj,
niulated for the transfer Of the BODY
to Ireland and final decision on this
point would rest solely with Dublin
Castle.
1t is within the powers OF the
Home Office to give up the body OF
IA prisoner in whatever way is
deemed most expedient 1t Is pointed
out that IL could legally transfer the
body i'm secret to some out-of-the-
way port and later to government
vessel and deliver II at Cork
John MacSwiney and the chaplain
who had been waiting downstairs In
the prison. were told by prison OFF,
cials at 4:3o o'clock that they should
go 10 the Mayors bedside, as they
thought death was approaching. Tho
brother asked for tho privilege OF
communicating with other relatives
who were' not present, but tho oni-'
cials. IL is said, refused him the use
OF telephone.
After the prisoners death, his
brother and tho chaplain wcrc not
permitted to leave Brixton prison
until 6:l5 o'clock. John MacSwincv
Immediately conveyed word TO the
widow OF the Lord Mayor, who was
staying at West End hotel with
Mr. and Mrs. o'Brien. the former
being the London executive of tho
Irish elf-Detcrmination League.
IL is probable the inquest will be
held at the prison today, after wh:cN
the body Will be turned over to rei-
a,ives.
Unable to Take Communion.
MacSwiney was unconscious for
thirty-six hours before his death oc-
CURED. 1t is stated. Father. Domi.
mic. therefore. was unable to give
him the communion, but he admiris-
tered eTtreme JUNCTION.
Tho cause OF MacSwiney's deatS
was heart failure, according. 10
CONTINUED on Second iTaxe.S ;,