The Washington times., 1922-11-24
IRREGULAR
SILENT AS
He FACES
SQUAD
Wife of de Valera Aid Faints
When She Hears Fate in
Jail Yard.
BY DANIEL O'CONNELL.
International News Service.

DUBLIN, NOV. "a. - ErSklne
Childers, chief aid of Eamonn
de Valera in the Irish Republican
movement, was executed at z
o'clock this morning by a Free
State firing squad.
Official announcement of the
execution waS made shortly after
ward by the Free State cabinet.
Raw. Foggy Morning.
1t was q raw. foggy morning
with a cold wind blowing when
Childers was led from his cell in
the Kilmainhan Jail on the out
skirts Of the city.
Escorted by a. little group OF
Free State soldiers. Childers was
quickly taken into the jail yard.
The firing squad was lined up
a handkerchief was tied across the
face of the rebel leader. and he was
placed with his back against the
wall.
Half dozen shots rang out.
Childers crumpled up. A doctor
examined him and pronounced him
dead.
Wife Faints At News.
A priest was present and asked
Childers IL he wished the last sac
rament to be administered. Childers
a g cd hn ha
did not.
Relatives were not allowed to
visit the condemned man in his
cell and Mrs. Childers did not know
that her husband was dead until
noon. when officially informed by
the commanding adjustant general
of the Free State Army. She
tainted upon hearing the news.
Childers was informed at 8
o'clock Thursday night to prepare
for his death. He was told that
he was to be executed shortly after
daybreak Friday. The prisoner lost
his stoicism for a time and pro-
tested violently against such sum
mary proceedings"
Later he Gained down. He was
asked IL he wished a clergyman to
remain in his cell throughout the
night to pray with him.
No" replied Childers. DO not
send him in
Persons who saw tie execution
said that Childers dieG game and
that his courage stayed with him
to the last. He maze no plea for
mercy.
Shortly after the execution, a
brief communique was issued. say.
ing:
"Erskine Childers was duly
convicted by a Free State court
martial OF possessing arms for
purposes Of rebellion against the
Irish government. He was
sentenced to death. The sentence
was confirmed. This morning 1t
was carried out"
Childers was one Of the most ex.
elusive and spectacular leaders
among the Sim Fein before the
Free State government was created.
After the establishing of the Free
State he threw his lot with de
Valera. Together with dozen
other active followers they organ.
lied the Irregular army to fight
the Free Staters. then led by
Michael Collins.
Idu Va a oahu
of guerrillas on the West coast
and it was his troops" that raided
and wrecked several cable stations,
Gripping communication between
the United States and northern
Europe.
Childers was captured two weeks
ago near Wicklow, while attending
an Irregular war council" with
de Valera and several others.
They were understood to be plan.
ming a coup in Doublin at the time.
1t is understood that the Free
State army threatened to mutiny
IL Childers was reDrieved.
Many persons believe that the
government does not intend any
further executions-for the time
being. at least.
Appeal For Life Lost.
Childers was brought to Dublin
and secretly tried before a court.
martial. Owing to the secrecy with
which the affair was conducted
and the refusal Of the government
to issue any official information.
various runors arose ~ to the die.
position OF the guerrilla chieftain
His sister claimed that he had