"BLACK HAND" IN IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 153, 24 March 1920, Page 7

"BLACK HAND" IN IRELAND

MURDER OF THE LORD MAYOR OF CORK

WARNING TO " TRAITORS TO

IRISH REPUBLIC"

By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, March 22. Tho "Daily Mail's" Dublin correspondent states that the public of Cork are mystified by tho murder of the Lord Mayor, and are asking what was the motive for killing a man who is praised ns a Sinn Fein leader, The "Daily Mail" considers that this and other recent murders reveal the existence of secret "black hand" societies, sworn to kill those who are considered traitors to the Irish Republic. Recently a notice was posted in. the Catholic church at Mitchelston, County Cork, threatening death to any civilians who gave information to the police or soldiery, and mockingly signed. "A competent military authority." Similar-notices have since freely appeared in the southern and western districts. It is significant to recall that a well-dressed man was mysteriously murdered in a Dublin street two days after the of Dublin Castle correspondence containing secret 'Government ire/porfe.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS MINISTER'S RESENTMFA'T OF A MONSTROUS SUGGESTION. i London, March 22. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr. J. I. Macpherson, Chief Secretary for Ireland, iii reply to Lord Robert ..Cecil, said he had no-further .informa"tion regarding the murder of 'the Lord Mayor of Cork. Mr. T. P. O'Connor asked if shortly after the crime a number _of -soldiers visited the residence and insisted on examiningl the whole of the premiss, in spite of the bereavement and of protests. He inquired if it was in order to destroy evidence. Mr. Macpherson replied reflecting his general resentment at the latter part or the question.' It was a monstrous suggestion, he said, to condemn soldiers who were merely' acting under orders. Mr. MacVeigh (Nationalist, Down County): "A police murder!" Mr. Macpherson said: "If tho authorities had not entered the.scene the accusation would have been made that the British Government had not attempted to detect tho murderer because .the- deceased , was a Sinn Feiner. A thorough search was made in order to discover evidence likely to trace tho murderers." —Aus.rN.Z. Cable Assn.