The Washington herald., 1922-06-23
British Police Hold Two
As Assassins of Mill
tary Leader.
TRAGEDY CANCELS
WALES RECEPTION
Commons Breaks Prece-
dent and Adjourns at
Receipt of News.

LONDON. June %. - England is
shocked and enraged over the as
sassination of Field Marshal Sir
Henry Wilson at the hands, the
War once believes. of Sim Fein
agents.
Scotland Yards best operatives
are searching England for two or
more possible accomplices and are
holding two men giving the names
of James O'Brien and James Con-
molly as the assassins. One OF these
carried a letter indicating he Is
a member of the Irish republican
army.
On the theory that the slayihs
of Marshal Wilson may be part of
a general plot. the authorities have
requested all newspapers to re-
frain from disclosing the move
ments of Premier Lloyd George.
and additional plain-clothes guards
have been thrown around the pre-
mier's residence at 10 Downing
street and in Whitehall. Color is
given the theory of a general plot
by the frustrated attack on the
residence of Sir James Craig. Ul-
ster premier. Tuesday.
Sim FeIn Hated Him.
The field marshal had incurred
the enmity of Sim Fein elements
because Of his activities as military
adviser to the Belfast government
and by his defense Of the Unionist
cause in commons. where he sat
as a member from Ulster.
So great was the horror over the
house nf
commons broke a precedent and
adjourned as soon as the news was
received and peers in the house of
lords denounced the crime in heat
ed terms.
King George Immediately sent an
squerry to condole the widow, and
London, which is in the midst of
the gayest social week of the sea-
son. Joined with his majesty in
mourning the loss of the famous
military leader.
Unionists in commons are expect
ed to force debate on the outrage
at Fridays session. and there is
general fear that reprisals against
Catholics in Ulster will bring about
a tense situation.
The assassination was the most
dramatic within contemporary
memory.
workmen on the quiet sidewalks
of Eton Square noticed two men
lettering in the vicinity of the
field marshars residence, which
stands on a corner near the center
of the square. a few doors from
the residence of Lord Carson.
Used Soft-Nosed Bullets.
A taxicab approached. bearing the
field marshal, who was returning
from the unveiling OF the Great East
ern Railway memorial. The two men
took places on either side of the door
way of SIR Henry's house As the can
drew up, the field marshal. in uniform,
wearing the ribbons earned in a score
Of campaigns in his long military
career. stepped out and paid the driv-
er- The two men lurched forward
drawing service revoIvers and opened
fire. The first shots missed. The
field marshal attempted to reach his
doorway but was struck twice and
terribly mutilated. the assassins hav-
ing used soft-nosed. or nose filed bull
lets to make their deadly work more
certain.
Then the two assaiIants turned to
the cab and ordered the dIzed driver
start the car. The engine allied TO
work and the two men backed down
the street. covering the collecting
crowd of workmen and pedestrians
with their revolvers.
Policeman Is shot.
A policeman rushed out of the Car
son House and attempted to capture
the two assassins. He was shot in
the leg
Then began a chase which had all
the thrills of lurid movie. The as
sassins walked slowly down the street.
few yards apart, with the crowd
less than so yards behind. pausIng
and lodging occasionally whenever the
two men swung around and fired de-
liberately into them.
At a street crossing a taxicab,
cruising around in search of a fare,
crossed the street just in front of the
procession and the driver noticed the
policemen ahead blowing their whis-
ties and throwing their truncheons-
none OF these police being involved in
the chase to capture the armed ban
dts.
The cabdriver tried to bar the prog
ress Of the assassins by stopping di-
rectly in their path. They fred sew
eral shots into his tires and when he
persisted in his efforts to stop them
he was shot in the groin. police
man rushed forward but was felled
with a terrible wound in his stomach,
apparently the victim of a dunn dunn
bullet.
Scores Take Up Chase.
The assassins turned quickly into
Ebury street, a broad. mi-business
thoroughfare. Meantime scores of po-
hcemen in their shirt sleeves. attract
ed by the police whistles. had rushed
out of the static house a hundred
yards away. Some Joined in the
chase. while one dashed the opposite
direction and reached the next street
corner ahead Of the assassins.
As the two fugitives appeared
the policeman sprang forward and
hit the first assassin. knocking him
down. The policeman leaped on
top of his captive and a handful
of civilians pitched into the fray,
capturing the second assassin while
the two principals rolled on the
pavement. pulling, hitting. kicking
and c'awing at each other, while
cries OF Lynch him" went up from
;he excited spectators.
The policeman was finally rescued
and the assassin, still fighting, was