THE ARRESTS AT LOUGHREA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1553, 15 February 1887, Page 3

THE ARRESTS AT LOUGHREA.

s The following are details of the extras ■ ordinary scene accompanying the arrest r of Mr Dillon, M,P., Mr O'Brien, editor e of United Ireland, Mr Harris, M.P,, and ir Mr Sheehy, M.P., at Loughrea, on the afternoon of the 16th December, and the i- proceedings in the Police Court in the 1, evening. An unusually large force of y police was present at a meeting which had been held earlier in the day, and this n fact gave rise to the belief that some special movement was contemplated. Immediately after the meeting, ‘ rent a- offices" were opened in the house in *« which the local branch of the League held is I their meetings. At three of them the I members presided j Mr William O’Brien

tuck > h >«« of the other. WUhin a very nhort t me largo crowds of tenant farmers and the rents were handed in, 'subject to the c mditioeh of the Plan of Campaign.” The eutrunce w 8 Oiowded, ■iod t’l" members had a busy time of ii receiving the re- ts. Suddenly a great I'OTuhotiou «'in» created, A large body <>f poPce marched down the main street, and it was observed that quite a number of constables in plain clothes bad mingled with the people in and about the “ rent offices.” The premises *oro invaded by the police, headed by a county inspector, and they proceeded to make for the offices. Inspector Davis entered the room in which Mr John Dillon was seated, and, without a word of warning, seized hold of a bundle of notes that lay before him. At the seme moment a policeman standing behind Mr Dillon seized him by the coat. The scene which followed is almost be* yond description. In each of the offices a posse of policeman, chiefly in plain clothes, rushed at the tables, and, without the production of any authority whatever, laid hold of the money, books, and documents, or whatever happened to be on the tables. Mr William O’Brien and Mr Sheehy occupied the rooms above those in which Mr Dillon and Mr Harris were seated. In Mr Harris’s office the police rnshed in. The County Inspector seized the hon, member by one arm and a constable by the other. Mr Harris vigorously resisted, and by doing so distracted attention from the money and papers. Mr Peter Kelly then seized the money, and succeeded in transferring it to someone, who conveyed it into safe keeping. The excitement of the people was naturally Tf-y great, and it was with the greatest difficulty Mr Harris succeeded in preventing bloodshed. The four prisoners were conveyed to,the Court-house under a heavy escort, i'he police fixed bayonets, the crowd gathered around the place, and for a time the scene was alarming. The proceedings in the court took place in a small room dimly lighted by candles. Mr N. L. Townsend, Resident Magistrate, took his seat at the head of the table, and a wearisome delay look place whi ! st the clerk of the Petty Sessions was being found. Excepting the priests, the police, and the representatives of the Press, no or.e was allowed into the room. The clerk having arrived, District Inspector Davis was pwors, and rend the warrant under which the arrests were mad». The Inspector said he went with to tho-Natianal League Rooms, Loughrea, to arrest the four, defendants, and or entering the room where they were, saw books and money on a table. He seized the £1 notes on Mr Dillon’s table, and so did the defendant ; and, as Mr Dillon would not remove bis hand, witness used force and got the notes, but two of them were torn. The smount seized was £BB. Mr Dillon said there was a large sum of gold besides the notes, which had not been accounted for. He charged Inspector Davis with being J drnnk, and said another constable seized him from behind and shook him. County Inspector O’Brien and several members of the constabulary produced the books and money which they seized in the scuffle. One of the constables had his attention diverted for a moment, of which advantage was taken by one of the defendants, and the money was carried away. The police stated in answer to the defendants, that their power extended to searching their prisoners’ persons had they chosen to do so. Mr Dillon protested against his money being taken, and applied for a summons against the inspector and another constable for assault. Mr Townsend said that that question would be settled on the 23rd instant, to which day the defendants would be remanded. Bail was accepted in £IOO each and two sureties of £SO each. After the Police Court proceedings a serious accident happened to Messrs Dillon and O’Brien about midnight, while driving from Loughrea to Athenry Station. The shafts of the vehicle broke suddenly, and both gentlemen were flung violently to the ground. Mr Dillon came down on his tight side, and was badly shaken. Mr O’Brien’s head struck the car ; bis hands were torn and scratched by the frosty ground, and his left arm was sprained. Both gentlemen had to walk over a mile to Athenry. Mr Dillon was thrown forward, and, falling under the heels of the horse, he was either kicked in the side by the animal or fell on some atones, with the result that he was unable to leave his room for some days.—Home Wows.