IRELAND

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1920, Page 2

IRELAND

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LORD MAYOR OF CORK’S DEATH

(Imperial News Service). LONDON, March 22

In the House of Commons, Mr MacPherson (Chief Secretary for Ireland), wi-s asked by Lord Robert Cecil if lie had any further information regarding the murder of the Lord Mayor of Cork. He replied that he had nothing to say.

Mr T. P. O’Connor asked if it is iot true that, shortly alter the crime a number of soldiers visited the residence of the late Lord Mayor and insisted on examining the whole of the premises, despite the relatives’ bereavement and protest. Mr ?«lacPh >rson replied in terms of lesentmein at Mr O’Connor’s question. He asserted that it was a monstrous suggestion to condemn the soldiers, as they would merely he acting under orders.

Mr MeVeagh: “A police murder!” Mr MaePherson said: “If the authorities had not thus entered upon the scene, an accusation would have been made that the British Government had not attempted to detect the murderers, because the deceased was a Sinn Feiner. He declared a thorough search was made only in order to discover evidence likely to* lead to tracing the Lord Mayor’s murderers.

LONDON PAPER’S INSINUATION LONDON, March 21

Referring to the Mayor of Cork’s murder, the “Daily Mail” says it considers this and the other recent murders reveals the existence of some secret black-hand society, sworn to kill those considered traitors to the Irish Republic. It says that recently a notice was posted up on a Cataolic Church at Mitchelston, in County Cork, threatening death to any eN'ilinns giving information against Sinn Feiners to the police or the soldiers. The notice was mockingly signed, “Competent Alilitary Authority.” It adds that similar notices have freely appeared in south-western districts and says it is significant to recall how a well-dressed man was mj’steriousjy murdered in a Dublin street two days after a seizure of Dublin Castle correspondence containing secret Government reports. MOTIVE OF MURDER. LONDON, March 22 The “Daily Mail’s” Dublin correspondent states: The Cork public is mystified over the Lord Mayor’s murder. Tliov p"o now asking wlint is the motive of.the murder of Mr McCurtnin, who has been paid the tribute of being a Sinn Fein leader.