The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-11-22
Mrs. MacSwiney
Released
Charges Dismissed by United
States Commissioner at
Washington

Washington, Nov. 15.-The cases
against Mrs MMriel MacSwiney and
eight other women, members of the
American Association for Recog-
nition of the Irish Republic, ar
rested for picketing the British
embassy yesterday were dismissed
after q short hearing today by
United States Commissioner George
II. Macdonald because the proof
did not measure up to the intent
of the law
When arraigned Mrs. MacSwiney,
who is the widow of Terence Mac
Swiney. late lord mayor Of Cork,
who died IN prison in 1920 after
a hunger strike, and the others,
pleaded not guilty to the charge of
violating q federal statute design
ed to protect foreign representa-
tives in this country from assault
or violence. The charges resulted
from their marching around the
British embassy with banners de-
crying the English Free State in
ireland and demanding the release
from an Irish Free State prison of
Miss Mary MacSwiney, sister Of
the late lord mayor, who is now
herself on hunger strike in a
Dublin prison.
The case For the government was
based upon the contention that the
statute was aimed to prevent the
"shaning and insulting of for
ign representatives home Office or
servants" as tantamount to the
"shaming or insulting of the rep
resentative. in person 1t was
also argued that the banners car
ried by the women before the en-
bassy were insulting to Sir >Auck-
land Geddes, the British ambassa-
dor even though he may have been
absent from the embassy at the
time.
The defense, represented by
John F. Finerty, president Of the
american Association for the Rec
ognition of the Irish Republic, Of
fered evidence. to show that the
British ambassador was not in the
building at the time of the demon
stration. 1t also was contended
that no warrant or other legal au-
)thority had been issued yesterday
for the arrest of the women, that
holding three of the prisoners over
night in house of detention was IL
legal.
After being discharged from Gus
tody Mrs. MacSwfney expressed Ella
..tion but said she had expected moth
ling else. In reply to questions
from friends who crowded about
to congratulate her she said that
after a short rest in Virginia, made
! necessary by recent illness she
| would continue her tour of the
country speaking in behalf Of the
Irish Republican movement. She
said, "It would certainly win out
in the end-for the Irish Free
State is really nonresident" Her
only worry, she added, was for the
safety of Miss Mary MacSwiney
| who, she said. was not strong
| enough to continue long her hung
er strike now in the 18th day, and
for her four year old daughter
Marie, Of whom she has heard nc
| word for several days. Marie, she
explained was at. the home of a
woman in Ireland which was re-
/: Gently attacked by Free State
troops"
| Mrs. MacSwiney, Mrs. Mary Anr
Nolan of Jacksonville, Fla, and
Miss Minnie Kearney of Washing
ton spent last night in the house
! of detention when they refused
bond for their appearance at the
! ring. They were appreeiative o,
their treatment while in custody
/ they said. The other six womer
were freed soon after their arres
on bond furnished by the Ameri.
!. can Association for the Recog-
milton Of the Irish Republic.
-o-o-
| More than sO0,o0O,ooo postage