TRIAL OF FATHER O'DONNELL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 57, 1 December 1919, Page 7

TRIAL OF FATHER O'DONNELL

STORY OF THE CASE

EVIDENCE OF WITNESSES

By liolegraph-Presß Association-Copyright

(Rec. November 30, 11.10 p.m.)

v London, November 28. Brigadier-General M'Glynn presided at tho conrt-mnrtial of Cbaplnin O'Donncll. Hip Court consisted of live colonels, a majmvnml two captains. Captain Eastwood, of the Grenadier Guards, acted as Judfjo Advocate,,nnd Sir Alfred Bodkin (Crorn Prosecutor) represented Lieuten ant .Martin, the nominal , prosecutor. Mtrejrs. T, M. Ilealy, K.C., and Colonel I.yneii, with Mr. John ,Coslcllo, reprosimteti the accused.

Sir Alfred Boiikin pointed out that tho <Jhnrgo was brought under Section 35 of tho Army Act against persons subject k> military law usin,; traitorous disilqvnfi words regarding their Sovereign, maiiiig them liable to trial by courtmartial The incident occurred at the International Hotel, Killarney. on October .10, in tho presence of Lieutenant ChwAWs, of tho King's Liverpool Regiment,''ifml Captain Clarko, of the Royal NavaLEoserve, with his wife and others. Mr. ,Hnaly said that as one whose relatives ,na<l fallen with the Australians, ho felt w an honour to appear before, a court; or.mpnsed of Australian officers. Ho rjvrrotfoil that the caso illustrated English officers' treatment of men who had cresset! tho ocean. Mr. Hoaly complained of I'nther O'Donnell's treatment. Ho had fcfcen sent to prison, treated as a felon, and cast into a traitor's'cell in the Twt'er of London. O'Donnell hoped that hds vindication would provo that a'nnan. could be a good Irishman and a good. Australian.

A witness testified to O'Donnell's sobriety.

The Judge ''Advocate remarked that there was no direct ovidence that O'Donnell Tttil' under the influence of liquor. Mr. Hoaly pointed out that th:s had boen suggested, and it was an important matter, '.in view of • O'Donnell's priesthood.

Sir Alfred Bodkin, proceeding, said that O'Donnell was wearing his uniform at the Hme his alleged statement was made. He spoke in a loud voice, Lieutenant CJhambors approached O'Donnell, and askejl him to speak quietly. O'Donnell excitedly replied: "What damned business is it of yours?"

Captaijn. Clarko stated that O'Donnell's .conversation was of a political character, and. amounted to tirade- against tho British Government and hatred against the Kinsr. Captain Clarke also asked O'Donnell! to speak quietly, but O'Donnoll replied: .'Mind your own damned business."

Lieuteffdjit Chambers, on the following day, repoltcd the matter to his superior officer, aral submitted notes of tho convention, which ho hastily took as he listened.

Sir Alfrtul Bodkin said that O'Donnell's connectio In with tho Australian Army made it dear that he was heart and soul with' .Britain against Germany, but his private feolinpe regardim: Ireland appeared to villow him to indulge in langnage of am improper character, under improper circumstances. If the words were uttered, O'Dpnnel] should not be allowed to,wear His Majesty's uniform.

Lieutenant Chambers, in evidence, quoted from notes ho had taken, alleging that O'Dorcnell said, among other things: "The Royojl Family is no use to this or any other country. The tilmft is coming, and that Tory soon, when Ireland will strike out lH>r herself to gain her glorious independence so long dear to every patriotic heart. I will then come over and help the piyople in their struggle against' the tyrannical British Government. Wβ Australians, fought for independence and rights of tt elf-government, which are being denied to tho finest and oldest little country in Me world by a few satellites of King Ortorge, who arc filling their pockets, anil whose hands are red with the Wood of Irish patriots."

Lieutenanfc Chambers, continuing, quoted from a further conversation, in reference the Sinn Fein movement growing in i "Australia, and tho British rail'vay strilie. Jlr. Heal.y closely cross-examined the witness, whfl' admitted that he entered the notes in. the sequence in which they were SDokeni! He did not profess that he took the* words down from tho accused's lips.

Mr. Healv asked: "The phrase 'satellites of Kinq Gpon?o' micht have been 'satellites of Lloyd George'?"

Witness replied: "There fs no such imnression in my mind'. I could not be mistaken/" Mr. Healr: Then O'Donnell delibcratelv insulted His Majesty. Was he drunk or umiler the influence of drink? Witness: A bsolulely sober. Mr. Healf: Did von not say to the manageress .'of tho hotel that ho was three-Darts drunk? Witness: Ko. Witness aq i-eed that O'Donnell had dofaraed His jMnjesty. oisgraccd his uniform, nnd dS 'graced the great Australian force of wlvjiih they all were proud. He was shocked!, and astounded at the language. Mr. Ileal-.!/ : Yet all you said was: "Sneak rmmlly, you are interrnjiting our conversation"? ' '

Witness si id that he was not nvare Hint Ilarslu- with whom Father O'Bonnell was cortrersinir, was a Belfast loyalist, Mr. J. S.'Wiiddoll, who sat at the same table 'with Lieutenant. Chambers, hvze]y couiifcmpd the lntter's evioenne, end added I'lint O'Donnell said that he did not enti«r the war on behalf of Britniu. but liei was out for the rights of small natiorik-'lities. Witness did not see Lieutenant Chambers using his notebook during , dinner. Mr. Ttcalu, in opening his defence, said that Lienlerhnt Chnmhers lino' jumped to Hip conclusion Hint O'Donnoll was n Sinn Foiner. CVDonnell scornfully repudiated the cLiin'ges made. He had not come to conj t to vindicate- his own honour, but to 'tear aside the veil of hypoerisv and tH'ror which hid the conduct of Trish ailn) ini^tratioii. Dttrin? itj. Healy'e speech Father O'Donnell vtfpr. The Couri' then adjourned—Aus.-N.Z. Onlile Assfi. FFatlier has since been found not suiitr.l;' ■'■i'—- in _i _i