The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-20

The following special dispatch
from Dublin was given to the press
this afternoon by Harry Boland, sec
Rotary 60 President canon de Valera:
Before the beginning OF the year
1920 the propaganda cry had been
raised by the English government
that the Sim Fein movement was d.
rected by murder gang" In April
OF 1920 this description was applied
to the whole Republican army. In
the autumn of 1920 "the Murder
Gang" became the official title OF
tho entire republican movement. and
In that sense the term II now used
in every issue OF the official publicA-
ton The Weekly Summary"
In the eleven and half months
from January ! to December IL. 1920.
there were, according to a statement
Issued by Dublin Castle on Decem-
Der IS. 169 constabulary and o2 mill
tary killed In Ireland. or this total
221, approximately rs per cent were
killed in armed conflicts, In which
tho Republican army as well as the
constabulary and military
suffered severe casualties. The re-
naming 20 per cent or approximately
sixty soldiers and constables. were
shot dead in the streets; or, as In the
case OF Bloody Sunday, in their homes.
Now. from January / to December
20. 1920. exclusive of all casualties to
the Republican forces In action. lS5
civilians and men suspected OF be-
longing to the republican army were
shot dead by military and constabu-
larry In their homes or In the streets.
or this number 50 were specially Sc
lected for assassination.
DETAILS OF sHOOTINGs.
As an example Of what reliance may
be placed in the official description
OF the republican army as a murder
gang, and the armed forces of the
crown as the restorers OF Law and
order, the following details are in
structive
From December to December 20.
two constables were shot dead at
sight. No military were shot in this
way. Twelve others of the crown
forces were killed in conflicts, but
these belong to a different category.
In the same period exclusive of all
losses of the republican army sus-
tanned in armed conflicts) thirty
three men and boys were shot dead
In the streets or in their homes. and
Of this number twenty-five were Sc
lected for assassination and were as
The following is a list of the
achievements Of Sir Greenwood's
murder gang" from December / to
December 20, 1920:
December Carl Johensen, Nor
wegian sailor, shot dead in Cory City
by Auxiliaries and Black and Tans.
who keeps up indiscriminate nre in
the streets for several hours.
December Patrick Clancy, !. r.
A., assassinated In a friends house
at Newtowndrangan. County. Tip
perary, by Auxiliary police.
December 81. Begley. I. r. A,
James ]. O'Donoghue, l. r. A.. and
John Calvin, 1. r. A, natives Of
Bandon, County Cork. assassinatcd
on the public road by a military pa
troll. An official statement from
Dublin Castle says that these three
men were called upon to halt. but
refused. The fact that the bodies
of the three men were left lying
all night on the road-they were
murdered at about $3.50 p. m, and
morning-indicates the real nature
of this shooting.
KILLED BY CONSTABULARY.
December 4-Joseph Howley, /. r.
A., assassinated by constabulary
while leaving the Broadstone sta
ton. Dublin. When Howley was
shot and was bleeding to death on
the curb, the constabulary signalled
to a waiting motor and drove away.
December 5-Thomas Hand, secre-
tary OF the local branch of the
Irish Transport Workers Union,
taken from his bed and assassinated
in his home in Skerries. County
Dublin. by Auxiliary police in the
presence of his crippled brother and
two sisters. Four shots were fired
into his head and neck.
December 6-Thomas Curtin, shot
dead at Kilrush, County Glare, by
Black and Tan constabulary, accom-
panied by military, who surrounded
a house in which a republican court
was sitting and fired upon those
who came from the courthouse at
the sound Of the lorries.
December 5-Thomas Rooney, ex-
soldier. shot dead at Ballyshannon,
Donegal. by Black and Tan
who opened fire with
out warning on crowd Of people
In the public street.
December 6-Bodies OF Henry and
Loughuane discovered at
Gort in a shocking state of TnutiIa-
ton. Both young men had been ar
rested on November 20 by military
and constabulary.. They were not
seen alive. Some days
after their arrest their me Their called
at the local police and military
headquarters and was informed that
her sons were safe in prison" On
December the bodies were found
In a pond. The skulls were battered
in and the flesh was hanging loose
on both bodies. The two men were
evidently tied by the neck to
motor lorry and dragged after 1t
until they were dead. Before the
bodies were hidden in the pond an
effort was made to burn them.
FIRED UPON IN STREET.
December John Fleming mortal
~ wounded in the streets OF Cork
City by auxiliary police. Fleming
was walking along Water street at
4:3O p. m, with two brothers and a
friend, when ire was suddenly opened
upon them from n police-lorry driv-
ing past. Fleming died In great
agony four hours later.