The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-15
Armed Men Occupy Law Courts
and Hotel Near BY, Eject
ing Guests.
EASTER RIOTS FEARED
Free State and British Author
tiles Notified but Fail
to Take Action.

DUBLIN, April IA ASSOCIATED Press)
EARLY this morning the biggest coup
yet effected by the anti-treaty party
was carried out. Some 300 armed
men. marching in two forces, seized
the Four Courts Building, formerly the
seat of the National Court of Justice.
and the Four Courts Hotel, near by.
No opposition was encountered.
Guests at the hotel were elected and
the two buildings were fortified, pass
ersby being pressed into service for
filing sandbags and piling up stacks
of books and documents. The seizure
was reminiscent of Easter week in
1916. when the same buildings were
pesieged and similarly fortified.
The provisional Government to-day
has increased greatly the number of
armed guards at its seat of government.
the College of Science. Reenforcements
have also been assigned to guard other
places open to attack. as well as the
telephone and telegraph systems.
Great alarm was caused in Dublin
when the events of the early morning
became known, lasting until the expla-
nation was vouchsafed by the anti
treaty men that the buildings had been
taken because they were more fitted
for their headquarters than the present
headquarters in Rutland Square.
This explanation. however, failed to
rcassure many people. who are appre-
hensivc that the adjournment of yester-
days peace conference may prove sig
nificant, especially as 1t &c ;liiesed that
the independents gave no guaranty that
acts of violence would be avoided.
Commandant O'Connor reiterated to-
night his assurance that there would be
no revolution; that the only reason for
the seizures was that the Rutland
Square premises were too small for
headquarters. Four hundred men oc-
cupled the seized buildings tonight.
The Republicans some time ago
adopted the policy of preventing any
but Republican courts from operating,
though by a proclamation OF the Pro-
visional Government the old King
courts were directed to function equally
with the Republican courts. Many
county court judges were turned out
of their courts. but the high courts
continued to function in Dublin with
out disturbance.
1t was finally determined by the dis
sident Republicans to prevent the high
courts from holding sessions. The
occupation of the building was made
easy. according to the Dublin Mail, BY
ruse. a small party OF raiders
climbed the ratings. They distracted
the attention of the police on guard
but suddenly presented revolvers and
compelled the police to raise their
RI 1ar hnI nf
appeared from the rear, took the keys
and opened the gates to admit the main
forces.
The fortifying OF the building was
done completely in the open. Forty men
who were told off retired to the court
yard opposite Bridewel Prison, where,
in full view OF the police stationed
there, they began filing sandbags, which
were taken by another party of men
into the court.
The provisional and British military
authorities in Dublin Castle were noti-
fled of the seizure, but up to tonight no
action had been taken.
LONDON. April 14.-Britlsii troops
have been confined to tacir barracks
under orders which will not expire until
Tuesday. Despite the days exciting
events a conflict on large scale is not
expected in Dublin.
A late Dublin dispatch 90 the London
Times says an armed party to-day
seized the British-Irish Steam Packet
sheds at the North Wall, the Dublin
landing place.
Movements were occurring In various
parts of the city tonight. II Is reported
the Republicans seized additional build
ings.
Commandant O'Connor Is quoted as
stating that there was doub. whether
Eamonn de Valera would approve any
agreement which he knew c)u'd not be
made effective.
but in any event" added the COM
mandant, "I want to make II perfectly
clear we are absolutely independent Of
De valeras political organization. We
consider guerrilla tactics our only hope,
although VIC have nthnr Schemcsr