davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
by HAYDEN TALBOT,
Copyright. ipss. New York American
CHATTER NI-contlnued.

49,. CHAPTER Nl-contlnued
IAN evidence Of these atrocities
was omitted az Colthurst's court.
martial. IL was only against the
strongest protests from the military
that Sir John Simon insisted that
testimony IN this matter be present.
ed 10 the commission holding the
inquiry. But nothing was ever done
about two other murders which re-
sponsible eye witnesses declared
Colthurst committed later In that
week. The commission ruled that
they were not within their scope.
AT portobello bridge Colthurst
posted part OF his men under Lieut..
Leslie Wilson. 10 whom he turned
over my husband with instructions
10 shoot him forthwith II there was
any snipIng at him and his raiders.
Then Colthurst led his party on
over the bridge and to Alderman
James Kelly's tobacco shop, Before
entering II they flung five bombs in
to the place. Then they sacked the
premises and took prisoners the
shonman and two editors. Thomas
Dickson and Patrick MncIntyre. To.
gether with my husband they were
all marched back to the barracks.
AS 1t happened, Dickson, Grip
nle, had published loyalist news.
PAPER, The Eye Opener, and Mac
Tntyres paper, The searchllght, was
also a loyalist publication. Alderman
Kelly had helped to recruit for the
British army. But Colthurst had
mistaken the latter for Alderman
Tom Kelly, a Sim Feiner-and their
combined protests were unayailing.
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
REACHES ERIN
AS STOWAWAY

Having re.adopted my own per-
sonality az soon as / landed In
America, after much difficulty and
delay, | obtained passport from the
British under restrictive conditions.
It permitted me to go to Liverpool
only; l should not be allowed to go
TO Ireland, but must remain in Eng.
land.
II told them I was willing to
chance their being able to keep me
in England, and so took passage to
LIVERPOOL where / arrived In July,
1918. There l was closely exam
ined by military who threatened
me with dire penalties II failed to
report regularly to the police or
tried to leave Liverpool. These
threats naturally ignored.
First, one Of my sisters obtained
permission to come to Liverpool and
take my little boy back to Dublin.
Then l disappeared for fortnight
with the help Of friends, a fast
car and some DISCUSSES. Eventually
7 landed in IreIand--at the end of
July--as a stowaway in a tramp
steamship.
For two nights and a day hid
in the pitch dark, grimy hold-with'
out food or water. We landed south
of Dublin and, after some delay,
was struggled ashore, clad in ships
dungarees, in the small hours OF
the morning.
THE British still believe I man
aged to elude them by Disgusting
myself as nun-and nuns were
searched regularly for weeks before
it was discovered / was back in
ireland.
Almost as soon as l resumed my
ordinary life--having in the interim
transacted some special. business
which l cannot divulge a this time
Il was arrested and deported 10
Holloway Jail in London for the
duration Of the disorder. in ireland,
] hunger-struck, was released, and
finally permitted TO return to my
home.
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
ASQUITH DENIES
TRUTH OF STORY

'On that day / managed to get TO
John Dillon and told him my story.
Three days later he read my state.
ment in the house OF commons in
the course OF his wonderful speech
describing the horrors he had seen
in Dublin. IL was that speech that
compelled Mr.. Asquith to cross at
once to Ireland. Regarding my
statement, Mr.. Asquith said.
ct confess | do not and cannot be-
lieve it. Does anyone suppose that
Sir John Maxwell has any object In
shielding officers and soldiers, IL
there be such, who have been guilty
of such ungentlemanlike, such in
human conduct? 1t is the last thing
the British army would dream Of .-
He went to Ireland and found
every word OF my statement true
as verified at the inquiry. He found
other horras-the North Kings
street atrocity, for instance-sur-
passing mine. Yet the military
shielded the murderers and hushed
Oil iiiiuilSSs Inc ios"i
that was appointed to inquire into
the causes of the rebellion early In
May did its work thoroughly, but no
inquiry was permitted as to the
atrocities committed by British
troops in Dublin.
'"rhe inquiry connected with Colt
bursts staying Of my husband and
the other editors was limited in
scope to the consideration Of only
these three killings, collateral evi-
dence Of other Sayings, of which ne
had been admittedly guilty, being
ruled out. Witnesses were not
sworn. Cnlthurst himself-at that
tine committed to B-oadmoCr III.
sane asylum-was not'present.
"Colthurst had been found insane
by the earlier court-martial, wood
en- tribunal presided over by Lord
Cheylesmore and IL senior officers
All the witnesses were military. l
was not allowed to present evidence.
My counsel, Mr.. Healey, declared,
Never was there greater travesty
Of Justice
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08

treated the disturbance seriously and the perpetrators went
to martyrs deaths
Easement, contrary to popular belief did his utmost
to halt the rebellion according to both Collins and Mac.
Neil when the who later executed failed to
list German aid.
Erskine Chders' asinine scheme TO get England TO
consent TO "hands Off" policy toward Ireland deporta
tions Of sim fenes Bolands devotion to De Valera and
the sim fem convention in October 1917 also have been
detailed in preceding chapters.
Perhaps Collins most startling statement is the
in which he exoneraes Lloyd George of all but nominal
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
USES SERIES
OF DISCUSSES

The most difficult part Of my
task was travelling in ireland itself.
There was, Of course, no chance OF
my leaving from the port Of Dub.
lin. / had to go north by q round
about route, during the course OF
which | adopted a series of dis.
guises. At one stage Of the journey
I was an elderly invalid--at an
other / was a touring actress. These
were necessary transitions from my
own identity to that Of the Scotch
woman named in my passport.
"Of course the passport was
bogus. But, like my makeup, 1t was
good enough to deceive the authori-
ties who examined it. The turning
out Of those bogus passports is a
story by itself, which, one day, per-
haps, can be safely told
My little boy was obviously an
invalid, and as such an object Of
compassion--a fact that served to
distract attention from me. Also
encouraged him to chatter In the
hearing OF the British authorities
and his suddenly acquired Scottish
burr was better for my purpose
than a dozen passports!
II remained in the United States
for Is months. lecturing on British
Militarism as / Have Known It In
this period addressed audiences in
every large city from New York 10
San Francisco, and from the state
OF Washington to Texas. l spoke
at women's clubs. at universities.
including Harvard, Chicago and
Columbia, at peace and labor con.
ferenees and, Of course. at Irish
assemblies. | was arrested in San
Francisco for speaking against con.
scrlptlon for Ireland--after America
had entered the war. But was
not detained nor even charged
For several weeks | lobbied con
gress and the senate, and obtained
an interview with President Wn.
son. found him sympathetic but
guarded.
"The British in America were not
idle At this time. They tried many
times 70 put an end 70 my feetiy
tiles once their agents attempted
TO get me into Canada hy Inducing
me 10 board the wrong train out
~ buffalo
They approached me ne an Irish
reception committee. A stranger
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
CAPTAIN UNDER
NO RESTRAINT

During the court-martial Colt
hurst was under no restraint. He
stayed at the Kilworth hotel in Daw-
son with his family and for several
weeks after he had been found in.
sane he continued at liberty. When
Dublin feeling began to run high he
was finally taken to Broadmoor
asylum, to be detained during the
kings pleasure but he still held his
rank as a captain and drew half pay
for several months. Eventually he
was retired but was not dismissed
from the service.
"In an attempt to force the Brit
ish government to administer justice
l went to London in July to inter
view editors and members Of parlia-
nent. My efforts resulted in my be-
ing sent for by Mr.. Asquith July 10.
| brought with me as a witness to
the interview Miss Muriel Matters,
a well.known suffragist.
MIR. Asquith received us at 10
Downing street and began by ex-
planning the difficulties in the way OF
holding an adequate inquiry. The
house, he said, would refuse sworn
inquiry. and that alone could be
satisfactory. He wanted to know IL
] would be satisfied with an made
quate inquiry, which was the best
he could offer. / told him / should
not be satisfied with any inquiry that
he told me In advance would be in
adequate. ! told him also that II ]
were not satisfied | should take fur
ther action.
u had even then in view visit
to America TO tell an honest country
what British militarism could do.
"Then Mr. Asquith carefully
preached the subject Of ''compensa.
ton in lieu OF an inquiry. Prev.
iously proposals had been made TO
me. from various official sources,
to accept compensation, most OF the
arguments being based on my
boys future. Mr.. Asquith put the
proposition ever so delicately, but Il
was obviously his only object in
sending for me. He was mellow
and hale. with rosy chubby face
and silver hair, suggesting a
Father Christmas But he never
looked me- straight IN the face once
during the interview
4 listened TO his persuasive talk
atout compensation and finally
told him the only compensation /
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
DIFFICULTY Nv
GETTING BOAT

Word came to me the day befors
TO get boat and go out in the bay
TO meet Childers' yacht. So on that
Saturday afternoon I went over 10
Howth with two others, and tried
10 bargain with boatmen for n
launch. But there was a storm,
and never a boat could we get
Finally we persuaded one old
fellow to take us out and have n
run around the harbor-to gee II
IL was as rough as it looked! He
was on the point Of casting on the
lines when, unfortunately, hs
caught sight Of n revolver sticking
out Of one Of our pockets That WAS
enough for him! We hadn't been
too convincing in our explanations
for wanting to make the trip any
hOw-and when he guessed the
truth that we intended TO keep him
out in the bay. once we got him
away from shore, he quickly put
his engine out Of commission. He
wasn't wanting TO be n hero In the
least.
"On we went 10 Dunloachrle and
again met with no success, Not q
b0atman would go outside In the
storm. and not one Of them would
hear Of us going alone. Up loo
Bray, however, While Cullen man.
aged 10 get a boat-an open motor
boat-and he II was who finally
picked us up the following day NJ
ITowth, after Wild night out by
himself In Dublin Bay.
so fas as / know Willle cull@'s
name has never been mentioned 10
connection with the running,
but It ls my opinion his bravery
ought to be made known. without
him and the boat ] don't knoF what
ypouId bqva IaDupnnf
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
OFFICER SHOOTS
YOUTH IN BACK

"On the same day Colthurst ar
rested a boy whom he suspected of
having sim fein information. When
the boy denied it Colthurst ordered
him to lneeI in the street and--as
the boy raised his hand to cross HIM
seIf--shot him in the back.
In both these cases the British
authorities refused to order an in
quiry.
Meanwhile was vainly seeking
my husband. All sorts OF rumors
reached me--that he had been
wounded and was in a hospital, that
he had been shot by a looter, ar
rested by the police. also heard
that he had been executed, bnt this
l refused to believe-it seemed in
credible. l clung TO the belitf that
even II he had been condemned TO
die he would be tried before 2 jury.
for martial law did not apply To non
combatants--and that I would be
notified. OF course the reason Of
the silence is now clear. II was
hoped my husbands case would be
like that Of so many others who dis
appear and whose whereabouts
could never be traced. Thirteen days
after the murder OF my husband
and the other two editors, Mr. Ten.
naut stated IN the house Of com
mons In answer 10 a question that
no prisoner has been shot in Dublin
without a trial.
"Ail DAY Wednesday and Thursday
I inquired In vain. and Friday
cams without my having any posi-
tiv. Information ~ my husbands
fate. on Friday tried TO see n
physician connected with the Porto
hello barracks, but the police stop
ped me. / discovered was under
police superVislon-ss | continually
was for several years aftsrw ards.
Meantime houses wefe being faitc'i
snd riiltred Nine MarkIssiezs
home vas broken into on We'ines'
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
RELEASED FROM
INSANE ASYLUM

"By this time Colfhurst had been
released from the insane asylum
cured So far as ! know II Is the
only case on record Of Il man found
guilty of staying. but insane, who
has ever obtained his release from
an English criminal lunatic asylum.
II was the fact that he had been re.
leased that undoubtedly led the
British authorities 10 permit me TO
return TO Ireland. Public opinion
in England itself was aroused. II
was going too far--CollIiurst nj
Liberty and his victims widow i'm.
prisoned,
Since then | have been arrested
several times; my home has been
ralded several timcs, and on one
occasion ! suffered conclusion Of
the brain as result of having
been dubbed With the butt ens OF
rifle In the hands Of ROYAL
Irish constable
The last / heard 81 Culthurst hs
was occupying minor official post
in Essex Ills stay IN the Hoard
moor asylum lasted abou, IS
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
TRIO SLAIN BY
FIRING SQUA ID

Shortly after 10 the next morn.
Ing Colthurst again demanded my
husband from the guard, together
with the two other editors. Besides
Wilson and Dobbin, Lieut.. Tooley
was in charge of the guard OF is
men. To them he stated he was go!
ing to shoot Skeffington and the
other two. According 70 their own
testimony these subordinate officers
delivered the three prisoners to Colt
hurst without protest. They also
told off seven men with rifles to ac-
company Colthurst TO the barracks
yard.
LAS the three prisoners walked
away from the firing squad, and
when they had reached the end OF
the yard, Colthurst gave the order
to fire--and all three dropped in
their tracks dead.
1.-THE British authorities pre-
vented my ever seeing my husbands
body, and when / attempted to have
an inquest held refused permission.
"Colthurst presently made a re-
port of the triple murder after Maj.
Rosborough ordered him to do so,
and it was duly sent to headquarters
1t Dublin Castle The report was al
together a fabrication and, subse-
auently, he was ordered to make a
second report Meantime, however,
he kept his command without even
reprimand
Later in the day Of the murder
Of the three editors Colthurst was
in charge of troops in Camden street
when Councillor Richard O'Carroll---
one Of the labor leaders in the Dub
I'm city councils dered.
Marched to the barracks yard, his
hands above his head, O'Carroll
walked to his death, Colthurst shot
him in the chest. To a soldier who
expressed doubt as to the effect of
Colthurst's bullet the latter replied.
Never mind, he'll die later Then he
ordered the unconscious man to be
dragged out into the street and left
there. The driver OF bread van
picked him up, but the military in
terfered. and took him back to Por-
tobello barracks. Ten days later he
died--in his wife's arms. They had
sent for her at the last. and she ar
rived in time to hear him whisper a
dying statement in her cara state
ment that she later repeated TO me.
Three weeks later Mrs. O'Carroll
gave birth to son.
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08

would consider was q full public
inquiry into my husbands muir
der. He finally said he would
give his answer to Mr.. Dillon, and
so our interview ended
"Out OF this interview came the
setting up Of the commission OF
inquiry, with Sir John Simon at
its head. But Asquith narrowly,
restricted the scope of the inquiry,
as / have pointed out. My counsel
was not allowed to examine or
cross-examine any withess.
"All witnesses who might have
were either dead or scattered to
points where they could not be
reached. And yet the report Of the
commission established many Inn
pOrtant facts-the promotion OF
Colthurst, the dismissal Of Sir Fran
els Vane. and the raids on my house
for discriminatory evidence after the
murder. Doubt was cast on the in
sanity OF Colthurst, and grave CEN
sure passed on the military.
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
HOUSE SACKED
BY SOLDIERS

"Colthurst ordered us removed to
the front roorn-to be shot IL we stir
red. For three hours they searched
the housewife we stood motion
less closely guarded by men with
drawn bayonets, with others out
side the house with ieveled rifles
pointed at us. The house was
sacked, everything Of value being
emoved-books, pictures, toys, linen
and household goods.
II could hear officers and men
jeering as they turned over my pri-
vate possessions. One Of the sol
diers Ia Belfast mani seemed
ashamed, and said, I didn't enlist
for this. They are taking the whole
bloomin' house with them.
"AlI my private letters. including
many from my husband before our
marriage, his articles, manuscript
play, the labor of lifetime. were
taken. Colthurst had brought my
husbands keys, stolen from his
body. and with them opened his
study. which he always kept locked.
Throughout the raid Colthurst's
demeanor was that of a sane man.
He addressed several questions to
me and was coldly insolent in man
ner. But he was quite self-possessed.
His men took his orders without
question.
MY sisters are certain he was
sane when he questioned them at
the drumhead court-martial. He was
not the same man. unquestionably,
a friend would have found him on
the golf links. for instance. But
British officers are all like that. 1t
is only on occasions like this that
one sees them as they really are.
OF insanity there was no sugges-
ton. Colthurst was simply the
Engllshman with the veneer re.
moved.
1T was during this raid that he
came across some papers which later
he falsely endorsed as having been
found on Skefiingtons person. This
was proved at the inquiry.
"A second raid was made May /
during my absence, and this time
a little temporary maid was taken
under guard to the barracks. She
was held there a week. the charge
against her being that she was found
in my house.
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
Widow Skeffington Uses Disguise to

The Omaha Sunday Bee today presents the fifth in
stalment of Michael Collins Own Story"
Preceding installments of the story, as told by the
young Irish leader shortly before his assassination to an
American newspaper correspondent relate how Collins,
from his youth up, insed with the love of country
II was this patriotism which held him in Ireland at time
when he had aluring opportunity to to the United
States. -
Collins and Prof Eoin MacNeill also explained how
the Easter week uprising instead of being gnomnious
failure became spur to Irish patriotism because England
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
SISTERS PLACED
UNDER ARREST

ITO allay my terrible anxiety, my
two sisters, Mrs. Kettle and Mrs.
Culhane. agreed 20 try 10 get into
P0rtobello barracks. on their mr..
rival they were Immediately put
under arrest and drumhcad court.
martial had upon them. Colthurst
presided. Their crime was that they
Ind been seen talking to sim fem.
ers Culthurst refused TO give them
any Information. declaring he knew
nothing whatever OF Sheehy Skef.
fington. Finally they We're marched
of under armed guard and admon-
ished not 10 mention what had taken
pHce.
/ "That afternoon I managed 20
find the father Of the murdered boy,
coade. He told me he had seen my
husbands body in the barracks NOR.
tuary when he had gone for his
sons body. This n priest later con
firmed, but he could give me no
other information"
II went home shortly after 6
o'clock and was putting my little
boy TO bed when the maid noticed
soldiers lining UP around the house"
continued Mrs. Skefington. THE
maid became terrified and dashed
out the back door. carrying my son
With her. ran after them, for ]
knew the house would be surround
ed, and feared they might be shot
down II seen running. ..-
"As l ran down the hall yolley
was fired through the front door and
windows. The shots were fired with.
out any demand having been made
on us to open the door.
"They broke in the windows with
their rifle butts and swarmed all
over the house. some going to the
roof. Colthurst was in command.
He rushed upon us and ordered us
to throw up our hands. Behind him
was a squad Of men with fixed bay.
onets. The raiders numbered about
40 and included Col. H. T. ~ Allat,
Royal Irish Rifles, who was later
killed in the vicinity Of South Dub
lin Union. On this occasion, how
ever, he exercised no command:
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08

leading up TO the Staying of Francis Sheehy skengon as
told by the widow Skengton. while sympathetic TO the
idea of Irish republic distinctly opposed 10 the use
of military methods achieve that end according to the
widows statement.
Skeilington was arrested the Monday Of the Easter
uprising. Upon the demand Of Capt j. C. Bowen-Colt-
hurst, Royal Irish Rifles he turned to that officer
Cohurs after tying his prisoners hands behind his back
led him out Of Portobeo barracks with raidng party
along the Rathmnes road
The instament closes with an account of the brutal
Staying by Cohurst of Irish lad j. j. Coad. II, whom
the party met opposite the Rathmnes Catholic church
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08

put me right just as the train was
about 10 pull out Of the station.
Had ] remained aboard, | should
have been deported to England the
moment / was in Canada.
"The American people were very
kind TO me. individually and collec.
lively they are extremely warm
hearted, hospitable and sympathetic
/ made many enduring friendships
with Americans that have stood the
test of time. found American wo.
men especially helpful--women Ike
Jane Adams and Mary McDougall
Of Chicago; Alice Park of Palo Alto
and Katherine Lecky and DIR. Ger
trude Kelly Of New York. II for
any reason ! had to live outside Of
ireland l should choose the United
states as second home.
The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-08
SAYS AMERICANS
ASHAMED OF WAR

what other nation sends with
such eagerness so many Of its ma.
tionals-to be presented at the Eng.
lsh court each year? Where else
is so much newspaper space devoted
to the ecstasies of those who have
had this priceless honor conferred
upon them?
"Why, you well-read Americans
won't even discuss the revolutionary
war! They are actually ashamed
of it. Most OF the American PEG.
pie are pleased that American school
books distort the facts OF that fight
that smashed British rule In Amer.
lea. II Is a thing not to be talked
about--in most American circles.
It's not done'-that most abOmina-
bit OF all Englnnds abomniablc
catch phrnses--is enough 10 tell
present day Americans 10 ensure
their not doing II!
"But in revolutionary times there
was always a so per cent minori,
~ against George Washington,
America would never have won her
independence II 1t had not been for
the stubhornness Of one man. Wash
ington did not lead a people tn,
spired by love ~ freedom-ho com.
PEELED an unwilling people 70 FOL.
low him And today an England.
loving America II ashamed Il ever
happened
This is why do not care 60 ad
address tho American people on
any subject whatsoever, Perhaps
this explanation make my reason
plain
Watched him shuttle away down the
corridor of the National University
huildiuE an undofsiEcd, enagiWed5
unhappy figure wondered whnt
sort ~ American N0mar must be
his wife
II was Hs a result % ms effective
Interview with Erskine ChiIdtra that