ECHO OF EXECUTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1935, Page 4

ECHO OF EXECUTION

SINN FEiNER’S LAST LETTER. Through a police chief’s goodwill a letter written by a man just before his execution 18 years ago may at last be.restored to the person to whom it was addressed.

Shortly before Christmas, Captain Athelstan Popkess, chief constable of Nottingham, sent to Air. de Valera, president of the Irish Free State, the last letter of one of the Sinn Feiners wlio were executed d’or their share in the 1916 rising. Captain Popkess also sent the following covering letter to Mr. de Valera: —“My dear President, —During the post-war troublous times in Ireland, I waq in Ireland with my regiment, during which, if 1 remember rightly, my duties included a hunt for yourself. Probably tho most repugnant duty of the soldier is the carrying out of raids upon civilian householders. During one of these 1 came by rhe last letter of a patriot written before his execution. To-day, when going through an old box, 1 discovered it. •

“This is tho season of peace and good-will, Mr. President, and I return Houston's letter in that spirit lor disposal as you may think fit. May 1 also hope that this action may help to promote a better feeling between, races who, though secretly admiring each other, have tragically misunderstood each other for so long?” The chief constable received tho following letter in reply:—Dear Sir, —I have received your letter and enclosure, for which I am very grateful, f, toe, look forward to tho establishment of relations of cordial friendship between our two peoples, and I am glad to have evidence that there arc Englishmen of tho same mind. 1 shall endeavour to trace Mr. Walsh (mentioned in tho letter), to whom Sean Houston's letter was addressed, and restore the precious document to him. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year. —Yours sincerely. Eamon de Valera.”

Tho letter which the chief constable sent to Mr. de Valera was as follows: “Kilmainham Prison, Sunday, May 7, 1916. “Dear Mr. Walsh, —Before this.note reaches you I shall have said farewell to this vale of tears, and have departed for what 1 (rust to be a much bolter world than this. “I take this last opportunity of thanking you and all my railway friends for their kindness over tho past year. I ask you all to forgive me any offences which 1 may have committed against you, and I ask you to pray for the repose of my soul. “Whatever I have done. I have done it as a. soldier of Ireland, in what I believed to bo my country’s best inI erest. 1 thank God 1 have no vain regrets. % After all, ’lt is better to be corps e than a coward.’ “Will you see that my mother gets all the assistance you cun get her. and refund her the money from (lie superannuation fund? She will badly need it all—Gratefully yours, 11. J. Houston.”