CURIOUS SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1922, Page 4

CURIOUS SITUATION.

MONEY RAISED IN AMERICA FOR IRISH REPUBLIC CLAIMED BY FREE STATE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received Dec. 28, 5.5 p.m. New York, Dec. 27. The Irish Free State has informed Mr. Justice Mullan, through counsel, that no guarantee in regard to Stephen O’Mara s life could be given. Mr. Justice Mullan expressed surprise, and the belief that it is extremely doubtful whether the Free State would come into court as plaintiff and then kill one of the defendants. He authorised the appointment of a commission to proceed to Dublin and take O’Mara’s testimony, but refused to indicate his action in the event of O’Mara being executed before the commiasion fulfilled its purpose. • On December 19, Mr. Justice Mullan, of the New York Supreme Court, ruled that if the Irish Free State executed O’Mara before th© following Wednesday it would lose twenty-three hundred thousand dollars. This curious situation arises from a suit brought by the Free State to obtain control of money raised in America for the Irish republic. Mr. Justice Mullan gave the republic representatives in New York the right to present a testimony from O’Mara, who is imprisoned by the Free State. The Free State’s attorney cabled to Dublin and received a reply that if a Supreme Court commission arrived in Dublin while O’Mara was still in custody, the taking of a testimony will be permitted. The court ruled that this was not satisfactory, and ordered, the Free State attorney to cable again to learn whether the Free State would guarantee to keep O’Mara until the commission can arrive to take the necessary testimony. The court decided that if O’Mara was executed in the meantime, the moneys will remain with the adherents of the republic.