The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-24
Erskine Childers, Leader in
Irish Movement, Is Executed.
He Died Game and Made No
Plea For Mercy.
IS VICTIM OF "IRON POLICY
Was Secretly Tried Before
Court Martial In Dublin.
EamOnn De Valera May Be the
Next "PrOminent Prisoner"

I Dublin, Nov. 24.-Erskine ChiIdrers.
chief aide 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 afterward by the Free
State cabinet.
1t was a raw, foggy morning with
a cold wind blowing when ChiIders
was led from his cell in the Kilmain-
han Jail on the outskirts of the city.
Escorted by little group of Free
State soldiers, Childers was quickly
taken into the jail yard.
The firing squad was lined up,
handkerchief was tied across the face
of the rebel leader and he was placed
with his back against the wall. Half
a dozen shots rang out Childers @
crumpled up. a doctor examined him
and pronounced him dead
Chflders Died Game.
said Childers died game and that his
courage stayed with him to the last
He made no plea for mercy.
Shortly after the execution, brief
communique was issued saying:
''Erskine ChilderS was duly con-
victed by a Free State court martial
of possessing arms for purposes OF
rebellion against the Irish government
He WaS~sentenced to death. The sem
tence was confirmed. This morning
il was carried out.
ChiIders was one of the most active
and spectacular leaders among the
Sim Fein before the Free State gov
ernment was created After the estab-
fishing of the Free State he threw in
his lot with de Valera. Together with
a dozen other active followers, they
organized the irregular army to fight
the Free Staters, then led by Michael
Collins.
Childers had command of a band
of youths on the west coast, and 1t
was his troops" that raided and
wrecked several cable stations. Grip
pling 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
stood. to be planning coup in Dublin |
at the time.
1t is understood the free state army |
to mutiny if Childers was
reprieved. Many persons believe the
does not intend any FUR /
ther executions-for the time being at /
least.
Tried Before Court Martial.
ChiIders 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
rumors arose as to the disposition of
the guerrilla chieftain. His sister |
claimed that he had been put to death |
seer retIy. This was diSproved when
attorneys representing Childers went
into court seeking a writ of habeas
corpus to test the validity of the court
martial that condemned the prisoner.
While these proceedings were under
way a report became current that
Childers and eight other irregular
prisoners had been deported to Ascen-
sion Island, in the south Atlantic.
The court ruled against Childers in
the habeas corpus proceedings. Chill
ders' counsel gave notice of an appeal
and in the meanwhile, the formal
death warrant was read to Childers
in his cell.
Victim of ''Iron Policy"
Childers is the latest victim of the
iron policy" of the new Free state
government, headed by William I.
Cosgrave. president of the Dali. APP
peals were made in his behalf by
prominent residents of both Ireland
and England, but the government re-
fused TO heed them. Irish officials ar
yued that to show weakness now would
be to court further disorders and
Oloodshed.
ernment is even more drastic than
hat of Michael Collins, who claimed
hat any show of leniency would only
ma Ike the situation worse
1t is confidently predicted now that
Eamonn de Valera himself will be the
next prominent prisoner" taken by
rec staters. The irregular leaders are
being rounded up one by one-both
men and women.
Bitter Enemy of England.
Childers, altho an Englishman by +,
birth, was one of the most bitter enc
MES of England in all ireland. HIS
,areer has been most picturesque. He
lid not have the appearance of a sol
lier. He was spare of frame, stoop
and walked with a limp. ,
lis forehead bulged out under a mop I
# hair that was seldom combed- ]
When he talked of the English. his II
-oice rose to s1iarl.
Chiiders had served both in the :
English civil service and in the Eng {
ish army. a fact which led his Irish !
nemieS to call him a renegade Eng
ishman. 1t was not until 1917, when
lie first met de Valera. that he es-
FUSED the Irish republican cause with {
leart and soul.
ChiIders'S wife is a Boston girl She
5 invalid. In \ recent interview :
With the International News Service. :
he supported her husbands views and
aid she would stand by him. "even if
e had to give up his life for the Re !
ublican cause"
IACHINE GUN FIRE ALL NIGHT.