Evening star., 1922-12-16
R|SHFREE STATE
CITED BY COURT
Ordered to Show Cause in
New York Why Prisoners
Location Be UnreveaIed.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December 16.-The
Irish Free State was ordered by JUS
tice George V. Mulian in supreme
court yesterday to show cause next
Tuesday why the place Of tmprison-
ment of Stephen NJ. O'Mara. Irish re-
publican leader. should not be reveal
ed to attorneys for OMara and
Eamonn De Valera.
The order was granted on petition
Of John F. Finerty OF Washington. y.
c., through Martin Conboy. his New
York representative. who seeks to
have a commission take OMara's tes-
timony in the s2.500,o00 Irish republic
bond suit which has been in the New
York courts for more than year.
The papers alleged that O'Mara was
uniawfuily detained in Ireland and 1t
was feared he would be killed or
otherwise prevented from giving tes-
timony before the case could be
brought to trial.
Warned to Quit U. 8.
This development of affairs Of the
Irish Free State In this country fol-
lowed the receipt Of a letter by Daniel
j. Mc0rath. who has been handling
the consular affairs Of the Free State
since s,ph Connolly resigned. No
vember IS, warning him to leave the
country before December 26. or the
shot at sight. 1t was signed Com
petent Military Authority"
Mr.. Finerty went to court on re-
ceipt of reports that o'Mara. who
raised the $2.50o.o00 by popular sub
scription in America during the world
authorities.
ut appeared to u.s." he said. that
the Free State might execute OMa-a
before his testimony on how the fund
was raised could be taken"
No Clue to Writer.
Mr.. McGrath received the threaten
ing letter at the consulate offices.
There was no clue to the writer. ex-
cept in the spelling OF honorable
and "Gaol" The letter was mailed
at Grand Central station at pm.
yesterday. addressed to "Honourahle
James McGrath. care of Irish Consul
ate" and. saluting the addressee
Dear SIR. read:
Friday morning. December 8. your
government executed four 60 officers
of the Irish republican army inside
the prison walls of Mount Joy Gaol in
the most cold-blooded manner that no
civilized group Of men would be
guilty OF.
VIII Shoot on Sight.
"You. sir. in your capacity sanction
the activities of this Illegal govern
ment and gang of murderers by your
complete silence on the matter. Know
ing this. We have broken our silence
and patience and finally warn you to
leave this country within three weeks
of the above date christmas. Decem-
Der 25. 1920. We are very desirous
shah not tolerate your presence in
these United States any longer than
the close of that day: which shall
grant you enough time to procure
your passage and passport.
I'VE again solemnly warn
later than the specified time you
shall be shot at sight and not even
given the great privilege Of speaking
to your God. through His blessed
servants. on the eve Of your departure
from this world. II Is not advisable.
tion- at home in Ireland today. to
ignore this warning. which Is final
and conclusive
Denies Being Envoy.
McGrath. in commenting on the
threat. said:
Il am not now. nor never was l.
Irish envoy or Irish consul in the
United States. Not merely am / not
responsible for these executions. but.
on the contrary. l showed my en-
phatic disapprovai of them by cabling
resignation of such position as l
held
Il know nothing about it except
that there is no accredited represen-
tative of the republican army. / be-
lieve some fanatic may have written
the letter. inspired by his belief that
he should take revenge for the many
executions recently IN Ireland"