Evening star., 1921-01-08
IRISH PRIEST FACES
MILITARY COURT
Father Dominic Charged With
Having Documents in His
Possession.
By the Associated Press,

| DUBLIN, January s. Statements
| "likely to cause disaffection to his
| majesty" in documents alleged to have
been written by Father Dominic, chap
| lain to the late Lord Mayor Mac
Swiney Of Cork. or to have been in
possession of Father Dominic. were
read at the opening here today Of his
trial by field general court-martial.
He was chaplain Of the republican
guard and spiritual adviser to the late
lord mayor during his confinement and
at the time of his death in Brixton
prison from a hunger strike.
The charges against Father Dominic
are based on certain passages in a
notebook and a letter, and 1t was de-
clared in advance of the trial that the
accused priest would maintain that
the passages in the notebooHwere die
tated to him by Lord Mayor Mac
Swiney. in the presence of the Brixton
prison authorities, for transmission to
MacSwiney's friends, and that the let
ter was q private communication to
friend in England.
Constituted First Evidence.
The reading Of the documents con
stftuted the first evidence submitted
by the authorities at the trial. Father
Dominic refused to recognise the
court. but reserved the right to cross
examine witnesses and to make a
statement after the close Of the pro-
ceedings. The court entered plea OF
not guilty for him.
The letter on which the first charge
against Father Dominic is based Is al
legged to have been written by him
November 26 to a friend. This letter,
which was superscribed franciscan
Capuchin Friary, Cork" touches ON the
activities of the militant Sim Feiners,
execrates the crown forces and refers
to the recent tragic Sunday in Dublin,
when fourteen British court-martial
officers were assassinated, as q terri
BILE but wonderful day"
"Got the LeadeFs.o
The letter asserts that ''the boys got
the leaders Of the B. and T. (Black
and Tan) reprisalss" and goes on to
which followed the killing Of the
auxiliary officers was ordered as a
reprisal by MacReady, Tudor and the
remnant Of the reprisal committee" !"
(Gen. Sir Nevil MacReady is military
commander of ireland and Gen. II. NJ.
Tudor is commander Of the black and
tans. or auxiliary forces)
The letter also declared that 'it was
decided, too. to assassinate Larry
charge is based on the memorandum
alleged to have been found in Father
o'Nein (the name Of the lord mayor Of
Dublin, that night" The second
Dominic's room at the Capuchin F'riary
invaded nation" and began: "Au the
Inhabitants Of every nation unjustly
invaded are bound to resist the in
vader. And the nation is considered
to be At war with the invader"
The reading Of the documents cre-
Tho police barracks at Tramore,
County Waterford, in the martial law
AREA, were attacked last evening, and a
military party which vas sent to the re-
lief Of the police was ambushed near
Tr.more, it was oalcaally stated today:
ment, tho members Of the ambushing
party were dispersed leaving three dead.
It is believed, adds the statement, that
the attacking force suffered other cas-
ualtiea
One soldier was'wounded in the fight
ing and one policeman was wounded in
the affair at tho barracks, the attack
upon which was repulsed by the police.
An oalcial Sim Fein communication
issued today says that statements con-
cerning Eamon da Valera, president OF
the Irish repAblic:""' or views attributed
to de Valera tn tho Irish or English
The communication 11us that the
these tss Statements Staten until fSsy hear from
de Valera ohlciallTo- erStfas'
ReprasaIs to Be- usrssea Out.
Dublin Castle has amotmced its inten-
tion to destroy houseAz In the vicinity OF
scenes Of ouHage0 which arc definitely
known to be occupied by militant Sinn
. deterrent to further outrages and as
an example to other districts.
It was also announced by the castle
that, owing to the persistent fnterfer-
ence with mail cars In Tipperary,
Sligo and Donegal, the mail services
in those districts win be suspended.
effective Monday.
According to the castle statement.
some mail routes have been raided as
many a. fifteen times. Throughout
the country last week there were
thirty-five raids on mails, an fncrease
Of fifteen over the previous week
Outrages during last week numbered
seventy three, compared with forty-
three the previous week.
with reference to the military re-
prisals, the castles announcement
says: although it is not yet possi-
Bile to identity any person actually
engaged in attacks. the military gov
ernor IL Of the opinion that 1t Is i'm
possible to effect preparations for
such attacks without the knowledge
Of many local residents, who. there
fore, are held guilty. at least to the
extent Of having failed to give in
formation to the authorities"
Chaplain ON Trial Today.
Intense interest is being evinced in
the trial here today by field
court-martia1 of Father Dominick.
chaplain Of the Republican Guard ana
snfItual adviser to the late Terence
Macswiney. lord mayor OF Cork. who
died in Brixton prison. London, while
on a hunger strike. 1t is said that
the case against Father Domfnick Is
40 urgent that 1t is impossible to con-
vene general court-martial The
usual week given a prisoner for prep
aration Of his defense also has been
curtailed.
The charge was served upon the
tomary evidence being taken. and he
was not afforded legal advice until
Thursday. It Is learned that the
charges are based on certain pas
nd n a lAffAH