IRISH INTRIGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1920, Page 9 (Supplement)

IRISH INTRIGUE.

ACTIVITIES IN LONDON ' STOLEN PLANS RECOVERED. ° REVELATIONS IN COURT. Startling developments followed the seizure of four service rifles in the lodgings of a young Irishman ftt Brixton, London, upon his departure to a Clapham address and his subsequent, arrest for being in .unlawful possession of tlieru.

When the Irishman, Michael O'Keilly Simiugton, appeared at Lambeth the magistrate was asked to adjourn the rifle charge sine die and to consider instead the graver accusation of stealing plans belonging to H.M. Office of Works and relating to the Irish Office in London.

Sir Archibald Bodkin, public prosecutoi, was present during a portion of the hearing, but the case was in the hands of Ml-. Travers Humphreys. Simington, he said, was fimployed an assistant clerk of H.M. Office of Works between April and August of 1916 ><vhen he joined the Army), and aga'n cn demobilisation in March, 1019. He left of his own accord on July !) this year, fending the following covering letter with his resignation to the head of his department: "You will doubtless be surprised to learn that I have forwarded my resignation. This course has been forced on me by a variety of private considerations, and in a personal sense is reluctant, hut the private worries I have hinted at in my last conversation with you have reached a crisis." When the man's former lodging? in Kellett Road, Brixton, were searched,, and four Lee-Enfield service rifles found,' the landlady handed to the police other things which Simington had'left behind, including an old wooden box' which he had asked her to keep for him.

PLAN'S FOUND IN A BOX. Among other things found in the box .vere nine plans relating to buildings in Old Queen Street, Westminster, which had been drawn in 1910, when a question of interference with light and air of Government buildings had arisen. Simington had no right with those plans. It might naturally be asked wily anybody should take away plans made for a. purpose which had long lapsed. "Motive is also interesting in these eases," said Mr. Humphreys, "and I do not think it is very far to -eek when one knows the contents of some documents found in possession of Sim - inglon when he was arrested.

"Nos. 8K arid 38. Old Queen Street are the Irish Office—the official office in London of the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland—and the plans relate to these premises and adjacent buildings.'' Simington appeared to be a , person who had a very keen interest—counsel was afraid of a sinister character—in Irish affairs^

IRISH ACTIVITIES AT CLAPHAM. Minutes of meetings of the Clapham branch of the Irish Self-Determination l.cagoe of Great Britain, which seemed lie "The English branch of what is referred to as the Sinn Fein movement in Ireland," were found at Mayflower Road. They showed that in December of last year Simington was appointed press agent to the branch, and a little Inter (January 18, 1020) secretary. There were other minutes later on showing that he was a most active person, and that among other things he was anxious to make a success of the Irish Loan, a loan in the interest of the so-called Irish Republic. He was a subscriber to what was called the "Munitions of War Fnnd for Ireland," and there was a document which was headed "Irish Republic Five Per cent. Registered Certificates, 1010 (Internal)," which appeared to be a receipt for 10,s from a Mr. Mitrphy, being the amount payable upon application for one share. This was signed by a; gentleman who called himself the "Minister of Finance of the Irish Republic." If further evidence were required of Siroiifgton's connection with the movement, a flag, which was called the "Flag of the Irish Republic," was found in his possession.

WARNED O,F DANGER. There was one document wliieh showed that the members of the Irish SelfDetermination League of Great Britain were aware that there was some danger attending their activities. It read:

'•There are rumors abroad that our activities arc causing the British authorities some uneasiness, and that they may make spme inquiries. To be on the safe side precautions should be taken, and I would advise for the present that your registers of members and documents should be placed in safe hands.' -

It so happened that the police had been able to find documents showing the members of the Clapham branch and of other branches.

Evidence having been given as to the finding of the articles in Simington's room at Kellett Spencer, clerk in the Engineering Department ofH.M. Office of Works, identified the plans. The landlady at Mayflower I'oad told the Court how she found (he Irish ilag, and then the Magistrate ordered a Temand, refusing an application for bail.