SIR HENRY WILSON

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1922, Page 5

SIR HENRY WILSON

FUNERAL AT ST. PAUL’S.

NATIONAL MOURNING.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, June 24.

The “Morning Post” states: The Cabinet received with consternation, a message from Lady Wilson declaring that the presence of any Cabinet Minister at her husband’s funeral would be distasteful to her. She refused a request to reconsider the matter, until it was pointed out, on behalf t)f the Alinisters, that the absence of His Majesty’s Ministers from a State funeral, would be disrespectful to the King.

The “Post” adds: “Air Chamberlain called on Lady Wilson after the tragedy to express his sympathy. He was shown into a room wherein the widow’s niece entered. She asked who he was. When told she exclaimed : ‘How dare you come to this house !’ Air Chamberlain thereupon loft it.”

Lady AVilsou will not allow the removal of the Field Alarshal’p uniform in which Sir Henry died, she being firmly resolved that he shall be buried in it.

The King and the Ulster Parliament sent condolences to Lady Wilson. and the Ulster members of the Honse'of Commons also sent messages.

The “Pall Alail Gazette” has been officially informed Sir H. Wilson will be buried in St. Paul’s.

DOAITNTON’S TRIBUTE

The Alayor Air J. D. Lynch, has received the following telegram from the Prime Alinister: —■ “Funeral of the late Field Alarshal Sir Henry Wilson takes place to-day. At the request of the Imperial Government all flags °n Government buildings in New Zealand will be halfmasted from 11 a.m. to 1 30 p.m. I will be glad if you will similarly half-mast flags on the municipal buildings.

AV. F. ATASSEY."

The Alayor immediately arranged for the Premier’s request to bo carried into effect.

CONDOLENCES FROM ALLIES

LONDON, Juno 24

Al. Alilhrand lias sent a message to the King saying : “The tragic death of this splendid soldier moves profoundly all Frenchmen, who -will never forget the sympathies which he, on many occasions, displayed towards Franco, and the admirable role Im played in the organisation of victory.” The King responded.

The King of the Belgians sent a. message to the King expressing indignation at the shocking murder of Sir H. AVilsou •who, he said, was a distinguished. able General, who rendered such services to the Allies.

The King replied : The British nation appreciated the knowledge that you share our sorrow. We are appalled that Sir IT. Wilson was the victim of such a dastardly crime.

“FOULEST OF CRTATES.”

LONDON. June 24

“The Timos” stigmatises the assassination as “the foulest of Irish political crimes,” and says that “deep lasting indignation of public opinion will reprobate the murders and those wjio tolerated a system of political murders, of which this crime -was the outcome.”

The “Daily Alail” states : The murder will rouse the passionate anger of English people, who are slow to wrath, and of almost infinite patience. The “Herald” comments: It is terrible to think Ireland’s cup of happiness has once more been dashed from her lips.

A MURDER GANG

Reed 10 a.m

LONDON, June 24

The “Daily Alail” referring to tho burial of Sir H. AVilson in St. Paul’s Cathedral, says: The whole nation will approve. The “Alail” warns the public that the last has probably not yet been heard of the murder gang. It seems clear that there is an organised conspiracy, but no effort to terrorise the British people has the’ slightest prospect of success. The “Alail” adds: The outrage is expected to ipaterially effect the Government’s position. Nothing since the General Election has so weakened party allegiance. There is a possibility that the Home Secretary’s (Mr E. Shortt) resignation will be demanded.

Sir H. Wilson will be interred in the north transept beside Field Marshal Roberts. The “Times” states : The burial is the only act of reparation that an outraged nation can offer. No' event has evoked such indignation, anger and grief.

It is stated that Sir H. Wilson was marked for death, and knew it. It is also declared Colonel Gretton, a prominent “Die Hard” Unionist M.P., had been warned of the probability of an attempt on his life, but that it had not had the lightest'effect in deflecting him from what he thought his duty to Sir H. Wilson, who was regarded as being a particularly dangerous man to the scheme s of the Irish Republican extremists. Colon'el Gretton alleges the Government had been warned that gunmen were coming over, but no notice seemed to have been taken.

Cabinet sent a message to the Police Commisioner paying a tribute to the courage and devotion of the police in arresting the murderers of Wilson. Crowds arc making a pilgrimage to-day to Eaton Place, being most interested in a bullet holo in the door of the Field Marshal’s house. DE VALERA’S STATEMENT. LONDON, June 23. Regarding the shooting of Field Marshal Wilson, Mr de Valera has issued a statement in Dublin to the effect that, “the killing of any human being is an awful act, but it is as awful when the victim is a humble worker as when the victim is placed on the seats of the mighty and is known in every corner of the world. It is characteristic of our hypocritical civiliation that only in the latter eases are we expected to’cry opt and express our horror and condemnation. For my part I have nothing but loathing for such conventional statements, when the plain means to secure that such awful happenings shall not occur are deliberately put aside. I do not approve ; but do not pretend to misunderstand.” . T.R.A.’S DISCLAIMER. LONDON. June 24. The T.R.A. headquarters in Dublin issued a statement that the shooting of

Sir Henry Wilson was not done at the instance of “the I.R.A. If it had been the I.R.A. would acknowledge the fact. The statement added “The death is to be deplored, not because it occurred apparently at the hands of Irishmen, but because he is the victim of the Imperial policy pursued by the British Government in Ireland. There i s no use trying to saddle the responsibility on Ireland, or any other group of Irish people. It would be hypocritical to condemn such actions as the shooting of Wilson, while the causes that provoke such deeds remain.” CONSTABLE NOT DEAD. LONDON, June 25. The previous report that one of the constables who was shot by Wilson’s assassins., was dead arose through his sinking into unconsciousness. & He is not dead. ACCUSED IN COURT. SAFEGUARDING WITNESSES. LONDON, June 23. Connolly and O’Brien were smuggled in by a back entrance to the police court, outwitting a crowd which congregated at the main entrance. Both looked dishevelled and unkempt. They were bandaged on their heads and faces, and bore traces of their struggle.

Connolly, is a tall, burly, broadshouldered, heavy man, with cleanshaved features, and a mop of black hair. He looked quickly round the court, as if seeking some familiar face . O’Brien, who has a wooden leg, nervously clutched the clock rail.

Air Travers Humphreys intimated that he had been instructed to prosecute on charges of the murder of Wilson, secondly, of shooting with intent to murder Constable ALarsh. and Sayer (a civilian), and Alexander Clark.

Air Humphreys indicated the gravity of possibilities behind the crime, when he said: It will probably be found necessary to ask the Court that the names of the witnesses .-hall not be published. It will certainly Le necessary to ask that no photographs be taken or published of the persons involved in the case.”

Detective Inspector Burton gave evidence of charging the accused at the police station. Neither, he said, made any reply. Connolly had then asked how the wounded people were progressing, and was told their condition was favourable. He then remarked: “I am glad to hear that I”

Formal evidence was given, and when a remand was granted, the accuesd immediately were surrounded by police. Connolly again glanced around the Court. '1 he accused were, removed to Brixton Prison from the front exit, again outwitting the crowd, who now were watching the rear exit. Six officers rode at tho rear of the van, several detectives following in a motor car. LATEST OUTRAGES. LONDON, June 23. Lawless, an ex-soldier, aged fifty, who was a harmless tailor, with no politics, ■was in lied with his wife in Rutland Street, Dublin, when two armed men knocked at the door of the bedroom. The husband rose and opcn.ed tho door, and the wife followed. The men said to her : “Come out I we’ll shoot you too !” She, did not believe they would shoot, and turned to get clothing. Immediately two shuts were fired, and the busband cried : “Aly God, Alary, I’m shot,” and fell dead. The men then ran away. William Kirkwood, a Protestant, the manager of flourmills in Belfast, was murdered at midday, outside the mills. A gang recently raided the mills, and shot two Protestant workers, one fatally. A gang of armed men entered the Irish National Foresters’ Hall in Belfast during an afternoon, held up the caretaker, sprinkled petrol and ignited the building, which was partially gutted, despite the efforts of a fire brigade.

Some bombs were thrown into a draper’s premises in Raphaoe, County Donegal, in the Free State territory, during one morning. The building with the stock in trade, together with an adjoining hotel, was burned to the ground. A young man, who was formerly a special constable in Belfast, was taken out of a house where he was lodging in Wingate, County Wicklow, and shot dead.

Some masked men held up a mad train from Belfast near Randlstown, seized mail bags, and decamped. Police and military travelling in two lorries at Cushendall, County Antrim, v’ere ambushed at night when enteiing Alain Street. A fierce fire was opened on them from all quarters. The Crown forces retaliated, killing four, rebels and wounding three.

CORK ELECTIONS

LONDON, June 23

The difficulty in connection with the Mid-Cork election, owing to tampering with Mr Collins’s papers, has been settled. The matter has been left to the returning officer's adjudication. Mr Collins with 17,106 headed the poll. Bradley (Labour) 7,513 was next. lhe six other successful candidates consist of two supporters of the Treaty, two Republicans, one Independent and one Labour.