The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-15
ITALIAN BLACK
SHIRTS MOURN
IRISH MUSSOLINI
O'Higgins' Funeral
Made Imperialist Show

DUBLIN, July 14-One of the most
significant features of the demonstra
tion at the funeral of Kevin O'Hig-
gins, Free State minister of justice
and of foreign affairs, and called the
Irish Mussolini' was the presence Of
contingent of Italian fascists who
marched, blackshirted and with mill
taristic bearing behind the slain mans
body.
Conspicuous also were veterans of
the world war who wore medals and
other decorations won for service in
behalf Of the British Empire. The
funeral was turned into an imperial
ist demonstration
Only bad flying weather prevented
the notorious die-hard Earl Birken-
head from flying to Dublin from Lon
don for the funeral The earl and
the entire British cabinet attended
the services in a London cathedral
at which mass for the soul of the Free
State minister's soul was celebrated.
No clue to the identity of those who
inflicted the death penalty on O'Hig-
gins has yet been secured and there is
considerable doubt that the police will
succeed in getting evidence on those
who shot the late minister of Justice
and forign affairs.
The reason is that O'Higgins out
did the worst of the British rulers in
his ferocity against Irish national
lists who refused to bend the knee to
the imperialist Free State govern
ment. His execution of II young
Irishmen marked him for vengeance
and it is believed that it would be al
most impossible to find a jury that
would convict defendants charged
with the shooting, so bitter is the feel
ing of the masses against the dead
mankiller.
People Breathe Easier.
Foreign correspondents are sending
out stories giving falsified view of
the reaction to O'Higgins's death. In
stead of the general feeling of regret
represented in those stories there is
evident feeling of relief, that such a
monster no longer threatens the lives
of the militant nationalists.
Among the ten arrested on sus-
picion is George Plunkett, son of
Count Plunkett, who received his title
from the pope. All denied guilt.
Innocent of Shooting.
O'Higgins ordered the execution of
Pn,-1y O,Coppor o,,J ;a,,, Mal1a,,roe n 6
reprisal following the shooting of
two Free State deputies in the streets
of Dublin. AS O'Connor and Mellowes
were in prison at the time it was
quite impossible for them to have had
anything to do with the shooting.
The late minister of justice intro
duced the Infamous treason bill pre-
scribing five years imprisonment for
failure to disclose knowledge of de-
signers against the Free State.
When a court of appeals order
granted writs of habeas corpus for
two republican prisoners, which would
set a precedent for 10000 others,
O'Higgins had the Dali pass public
safety" bill that blocked the release
of the interned men for several
months longer.
Stayed Up to Hear Shot.
Capitalist correspondent have sent
out story that O'HigginiI collapsed
when he heard the shots that killed
his former friend Rory O'Connor On
the contrary he stayed up all night
so that he would be certain that the
execution took place. After O'Con-
nor's death it was discovered that he
left all his possessions to O'Higgins.
O'Higgins was an ardent admirer
of the die-hard section of the British
cabinet, particularly Birkenhead and
Churchill. He called the former
'Treland's best friend"