EXECUTION OF I.R.A. MEMBER

Southland Times, Issue 24840, 4 September 1942, Page 5

EXECUTION OF I.R.A. MEMBER

Clashes With Police In Belfast (Rec? 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 2. A crowd of several hundred gathered in the morning near the home in Bombay street, Belfast, of Thomas Williams, the Irish Republican army youth who has been executed, and then marched through adjoining thoroughfares singing Republican songs. The blinds of every house in Bombay street were drawn and when the crowd reached the Williams home it stopped for a minute s silence. Dublin cinemas remained closed until 6 p.m. The size of the crowds brought traffic to a standstill. Police attempts to disperse the crowds failed. A large congregation filled, the ProCathedral for Mass for Williams. The Lord Mayor, the Corporation and members of the Dail Eireann attended. STOPPAGE OF WORK Black flags were hoisted on telegraph poles and on houses in Carick HiU, a Nationalist district of Belfast. This afternoon 1000 Belfast members of the Transport and General Workers’ Union stopped work as a protest against Williams’s execution. There was a similar stoppage at Newry, where Roman Catholic shops were closed. Practically all the principal shops and industrial and business concerns at Waterford observed a one hour cessation of work. The Belfast police stated that a lorry preceded by a car both filled with armed men' this afternoon entered Northern Ireland at Culloville, in County Armagh. A sergeant and policemen in a patrolling Customs car followed and encountered the party, which had dismounted from the vehicles around a bend. The men immediately opened fire against the police with tommy-guns and automatic guns. The sergeant returned the fire, but flying glass knocked him out and the driver was seized before he was able to draw his revolver. The assailants, one of whom was wounded, then re-entered the vehicles and recrossed the border. POLICEMAN KNOCKED DOWN Two men were sentenced at Belfast to three months’ imprisonment for riotous behaviour and assault on policemen. It was stated in evidence that they were in a crowd of 300 near the City Hall, which stopped traffic and surrounded a car, members of the crowd shouting and singing. Two women gave American soldiers the Nazi salute and shouted at them. A policeman warning the women received a blow on the back of the head and was knocked down. One accused ran away and the other jammed a bicycle into the policeman s face. The crowd began throwing bottles and other articles. The crowd followed when the accused were being taken to the police station and attempted to release them. . The Magistrate, in imposing sentence, said he was satisfied . that the crowd was a menace to the city s peace. TROOPS IN BARRACKS Armoured Cars In Belfast LONDON, September 2. All United States troops in Northern Ireland were confined to barracks during the execution of Thomas Williams, an Irish Republican Army youth who was sentenced to death following recent incidents in which he suggested firing on the police. All troops have been warned to be on their guard. An order issued in Belfast and Londonderry says that all troops must go about in twos and threes ana must avoid walking alone, particularly after the black-out. Armoured cars are patrolling Belfast. . The police have seized a document which may lead to further discoveries of hidden arsenals. The police last night found scores of small arms dumps, consisting mostly of rifles and ammunition. They arrested another Irish Republican Army suspect today. Special Branch officers from London have reinforced the normal police guards on Government buildings as a precaution against reprisals.