THE USAGES OF WAR

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 34, 9 August 1921, Page 7

THE USAGES OF WAR

„ At the close of the before a courtiiutrt'tal in Dublin on 14tb June of Jolvn Jlackeown, a commandant in the 1.8.A., v.-lio was charged with murder arising out of an ambush, ."MackeW'i'i 'Was. listed''if ha wished to make a' statement. He answered "Yes." and asked that his. handcuffs should l>e taken off. His hand wei'O released, and he .then.stood, up to address the Court. He'said he had taken a part in the dpf?nce of his native land, but had neverMn any operations done anything against the usages of war. He had treated prisoners fairly, and helped'tho wounded as he could. Witnesses would be called 'to prove, it, not in mitigation of any pnnfchmerit, but to show that he told the truth.

He then said he had no recollection of having admitted to the bolice that 1» had^shot the district: h/spectov. JVhe-n lie was in the uotluge where-there wiere women,- I|B said, he saw the inspector with a revolver in his hand, and the police with rifles at the "re.ad,y," He did not think, it right to , the women, and rushed out, firing. He shot at no particular man. but saw the inspector fall i-n the fight. The others ran away, arid he escaped. He did, however, remember telling the'police that he was responsible for an ambush for which another man was imprisoned. He said that thY treatment he gave prisoners of war was not the treatment he had received from the police, He escaped from them, was wounded, recaptured, and beaten with rifles. In!conclusion, he', said, : "I make no claim for mercy. I only ask from you the v same teratment-which I apa prepared to .give to yonshonld you fall into my hands. If you decide to execute me, the only request I make is that my body be given to my relatives; so that I '•may be buried with .my , own people.''--Manchester Guardian.