WILSON’S SLAYERS.

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1922, Page 3

WILSON’S SLAYERS.

SPEECHES FROM THE DOCK SCENES TN THE COURT. LONDON, July 21. Joseph O’Sullivan and Regiualc Dunu, the murderers of Field-Marsha Sir Henry Wilson, received sentence ol death at the Old Bail-ey this week Both the prisoners admitted that thej shot the HelU-Miirshal, but refused oth eiwise io plead, so by the direction of Mr Justice Shearman, they were treated as prisoners who made the profession of being “not guilty.” Jt was one of the shortest murdei trials on record. The proceedings last■ed only three hours, during which there was an adjournment of 20 minutes, wherein Dunn and O’Sullivan, baulked of an attempt to make a political declaration of faith, withdrew their instructions to their counsel. When all the witnesses for the prosecution had given evidence, Mr Artemus Jones (defendants’ counsel) asked if Dunn could make a statement from the dock, but the Judge refused this, utter reading the statement proposed io be made, saying it was political in nature. It was against Justice Shearman’s refusal that Mr. 11. W. Massingham (editor of “The Nation”) wrote strongly, saying the statement would have shown Dunn’s action vas the same in nature as that of the Black and Tans in Ireland in killing people, ami was the logical consequence of the British Government's policy in Ireland. Justice Shearman said: “He can make a statement from trie dock, or give evidence, but 1 shall stop him it it has no bearing on the ease. I shall not allow this to be read.” “A BLOW’ FOR IRELAND.” Speaking in a deliberate and wellmodulated voice, Dunn said: “I suppose 1 must cut out the patriotic attitude that I feel inclined to use under the present circumstances, but I must state that I ieel still under tire same circumstances proudly conscious that I am an Irishman. You have all heard the accounts from the divisional k inspector, who has been asked what is * my character, and you will agree that this is the first timo .1, or my friend for that matter, has appeared in any criminal court. That I take a particular pride in, besides my national pride in being a member of the Irish race. .1 had endeavoured to give an honest statement of the matter from my national point of view, but it seems that that privilege is denied me. I, for m y part, am sorry for you, as gentlemen, and members of the jury, are denied the chance of hearing an honest Irish man’s statement. .Several of you, 1 have no doubt, have endeavoured to do your best in the recent great European war. I also took my share in that war, lighting fm- the principles for which this country stood. Those principles 1 found, as an Irishman, were not applied to my own eountrv, and I have endeavoured to strike a blow for it. I have no doubt that from the evidence which has been put before ybu by the prosecution, and from the legal point of view, you will return a verdict of guilty against my self and my comrade here. But I wish to assure yon that even your verdict and the verdict of the judge here will not. be sufficient to denounce me before the members of my race, to which I have the honour to belong, as a criminal. As I slated before. I have never appeared in any criminal court yet. and my in lc.it ions hnre never never been criminal as such. I am not a mean assassin who c-mleavoured to slink away. Bear that in mind, gentlemen of the jure. SERICHSLY CONSIDERED MOTIVES. ‘ ‘ I have been, I daresay, termed by various journals a cut-throat and an assassin, and all the Test of it. But I wish to state that the motives which impelled me in this action were seriously considered, as, I believe, the motives which impelled the taking of human life in the great European war were seriously considered. I received no money for this particular piece of

I business. So, in conclusion, 1 wish to state that, as I surmise you will fin-', me guilw, although some of you may have been my comrades in the late European war, 1 trust that the Higher Court, which is the only court that 1 matters, and which does not belong to . this world, will judge me by my former actions in this world and will conl sider the purity of my intentions.” O’Sullivan .asked if he had anything to say, replied: “What I had to say was contained in the documents you have, and as you will not allow thjury to hear that, I have nothing further to say.” The judge said he did not wish there to 1 • any imaginary grievance about the icaunig of the statement. O’Sullivan had now in effect asked that it should be read. It was the practice to allow prisoners to read statements from the dock. His opin ion was that this statement was irrelevant, and that no good purpose could be served by reading it. L'nless the Attorney-General wished it to be read, he proposed to adhere to tins . decision. The Attorney-General said he was reluctant to take any course which might have the appearance of placing the prisoners at any disadvantage. He could not see that this statement gave them any advantage. After an absence of only three minutes the jury found both prisoners guilty. Asked if they had anything to say why sentence of death should iot be pronounced according io law, Dinin said: “I have these words to say: There exist ami have •existed certain living exceptions io this general rule of justice. Captain Colthurst, who murdered Mr Skellington, and Captain Hardy, who murdered Brigadier’ The Judge: You arc asked to say it there are any legal grounds -why judgment should be postponed. You are not. at liberty to use this occasion for political purposes, and 1 shall not allow you to do it. Dunn: ‘ The only thing 1 can call to | mind, my Lord, is this: The motive i for this crime being described bv you 1 ’ ‘ i as political and not relevant to thej court should be put for arbitration before a court which would no competent to deal with (he matter, a court of the highest powers in Europe, who would consider the rights and wrongs of ridding the human world of a scourge. That is all 1 have to say.” O’Sullivan said: “All I have done, my Lord, I have done for Ireland, and for Ireland I am proud to die.” The black cap was placed on the judge’s head, and he passed sentence of death on Dunn. When he cam? to the word ‘‘And may the Lord have mercy on your soul,” Dunn said quietly: ‘‘He will, my lord.” The judge then passed sentence of death upon O’Sullivan, wno, at the conclusion exclaimed defiantly: ‘‘You may kill my body, my lord, but my spirit you will never kill.”