The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-06
WIDOW OF PARNELL
DIES IN ENGLAND
Former Kitty O'Shea Credited
With Wrecking Career of
Brilliant Leader.

LONDON, Feb. 5.--Mrs. Charles Stewart
Parnell. widow of the famous Irish lead
err. and before her marriage TO him lie
wife of Capt. William O'Shea. died to-
day at Brighton. at the age of 76.
Mrs. Parnell. or Kitty O'Shea. as sac
was best known. has been described
often by various. IrIshmen as the woman
who wrecked one of the most brilliant
and promising careers In all the history
OF British craftsmanship and at the same
time set the cause of Irish freedom back
a quarter of q century
She and Parnell met for the first time
in 1880. when he was 81 years old and
his, name was known all over the world
for the struggle he was leading in the
Houte of Commons for tie cause Of Irish
home rule. Her husband. Capt. william
OShea. was introduced to Parnell during
a general election campaign, and few
weeks later had him as his guest at a
dinner party In st. Thomass Hotel in
Berkeley square. An attraction, which
soon rpened into permanent ATTACH
ment, sprang up between Parnell and
Mrs. OSShea from the moment they mn:.
The O'Sheas had villa at Ethan. and
Parnell took quarters near it and PISSED
all the time there that he could spare
from his Parliamentary duties.
In 1881 O'Shea challenged Parnell to
uuei a1ter finding his portmanteau
IN the main hall of the Ethan villa.
but Mrs. OShea was able to explain
ParnelPs presence and the duel was
not fought A sort OF arrangement fol-
lowed by which O'Shea and Parnell
remained on civil terms until 1885, when.
at Parnells direction. O'Shea became
a candidate for the House of Commons
from Galway. His and Parnells po-
litical opponents promptly took adj
vantage of the candidacy to announce
to the voters that they We're being
asked Ito vote for the husband of Par
nell's mistress" O'Shea vas elected and
kept his parliamentary seat for about
a year, when he dropped out of public
view.
BY 1890 Parnells fight for Irish home
rule had gained the sympathy of the
English Liberal party, of which Will
lam +. Gladstone was leader, and he
was being fought bitterly by all parties
and factions who feared that with the
Liberals to back him up the cause of
Irish self government might come 10
quick fruition. His strength with the
Liberals was weakened slightly. but
his hold was still strong after he had
been accused and vindicatcd of charges
of violence and treason against Eng
land in connection with the Phoenix
Park murders In Dublin.
AZ tndt JunCtuTe 1dpl. " GHtd SutA
for divorce. naming Parnell as core
spondent and alleging that for nearly
ten years Parnell and Mrs. OShea had
lived as husband and wife. No defence
was interposed and decree was grant
ed. Then for three days his friends and
supporters sat almost continually in con-
ference, endeavoring to devise method
which would enable Parnell to retain his
leadership in the face of public opinion
as 1t was then.
It was Gladstone who settled the
question. In letter which he wrote
TO party leaders. and afterward issued
10 the London newspapers, he said:
Notwithstanding Mr. Parnelfs splen-
did services to the country. his continu-
ance at the present moment in his leader
ship would be disastrous in the highest
degree TO the cause of Ireland" The
letter although published after Parnelfs
own party had pledged him its full sup
port. cost him the support Of the Liberals
and soon afterward his own party fell
into discord.
lie and Mrs. OShea were married in
June. 1891 but. he died in October of
tho same year. In 1914 she published a
book under the title. 1.-The Love Story
and Political Life OF Charles Stewart
Parnell." which caused a brief sensation
until the outbreak OF the war eclpsed it
in public attention.