Norwich bulletin., 1922-04-15
ARMED MEN SEIZED FOUR
 COURTS BUILDING IN DUBLIN

Dublin, April 14.-(By the 4, P.)- Early this morning the biggest coul0 yet affected by the anti-treaty party was car- ried out Some 300 armed men, march ing in two forces, seized the Four Courts building, formerly the seat of the National Court of Justice, and the Four Courts ho- tel nearJy. No opposition was encounter ed. Two or three constaDles- on duty We're arrested, but were liberated later.
 Guests at the hotel were rejected and the two buildings were fortified. passers y being pressed into service fillins sand bag and piling up stacks of books and docd- ments
 The seizure was reminiscent of Easter week, 1916, when the same buildings were besieged and similarly fortified. Great alarm was caused in Dublin when the events of the early morning became known, lasting until the explanation was vouchsafcd by the anti-treaty men that the buildings had been taken because they were more fitted for their headquarters l than the present headquarters in Rutland square.
 This explanation, however failed to re- ] asure many people, who are atlorehenslVe that the adjournment of yesterday $ peace conference may prove significant es- pecially as it is alleged that the inde2end- ] NN~N1 1 lence would be avoided
 1 Commandant O'Connor reiterated to- 1 night his assurance that there would be no revolution that the only reason for the 1 seizures was that the Rutland square i premises were too small for headquarters.
 Four hund1e ed men occupied the seized i buildings tonight, many of them haYlns arrived in the course of the day from the country districts in cars and lorries l A van load of bread was seized in the street for the use of the occupants.
 The provisional and British military authorities in Dublin Castle were notlhed of the seizure, but up to tonight no action had been taken.
 The republicans sometime ago adopted the policy of preventing any but repu3' lican courts from operating though by proclamation of the provisional govern l ment the old Kings courts were directe' to function equally with the republic2I courts. County court judges were turnet 1 out of their courts in several of the Irisf 1 counties by men acting under the eXeca 1 tive council of the dissident republican army but the high courts continued tt function in Dublin without disturbance.
 It was finally determined by the repu9 licans to prevent the high courts iron
 holding sessions, mad accordingly. the Fol Courts building was seized early thi
 morning. The occupation of the buildin.
 was made easy, according to the Dublh
 Mail. by a clever ruse. A small party 0
 raiders climbed the railipgs. They dis
 tracted the attention of the police on guard
 but suddenly presented revolyers and com
 pelled the police to raise their hands
 Then larger body of men appeared iron
 the rear, took the keys from the polio |. guard and opened the gates to admit tn man force.
 The fortifying of the building was don
 completely in the open. Forty men wh
 were told off retired to the courtyard op
 posite Bridewell prison, where. in ful
 view of the police stationed there. the
 began filling sand bags whence were take
 by another party into the court. The po
 lice at Bridewell prison had an early in timation of the raid, but were powerles to do anythink beyond notifying the au
 thorities.
 Some firing heard in the city early thi morning provoked rumors of conflict be
 tween theraiders and Free State force;
 These rumors, however. were withou
 foundation. Nevertheless the situatio was delicate and some Of the residents c the locality. fearing trouble, left thei homes. All the raiders were fully equip
 ped with rifles and revolvers. None c them wore uniforms,