Irish Sensation

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 177, 12 July 1927, Page 5

Irish Sensation

Mr. O’Higgins’ Death

Body Lying in State. REPUBLICAN OFFICERS ARRESTED. CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY. [By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.) (Received 12, 12.10 p.m.) London, July 11. Mr. O’Higgins’ body was moved from his home to the Mansion House, where it is lying in state in the dim light of six candles, the hands clasped across the breast and surmounted by a golden crucifix. An army guard protects the body until Wednesday. President Cosgrove was the first to pass his old colleague. His Majesty the King has sent the following message to the Government of Ireland:—

“I have learned with horror of the tragic death of Mr. O’Higgins. Please convey to Mrs. O’Higgins the very deep sympathy of the Queen and myself for the cruel loss she nd her children have suffered.” The “Daily Mail’s” Dublin correspondent says that, arising out of Mr. O’Higgins’ death, the Government has arrested nine senior officers of the Republican organisation, and charged them with conspiracy.— (Sydney “Sun” Cable). NINE YOUTHS ARRESTED. INQUEST PROCEEDINGS. JURY’S RIDER. The police have arrested nine youths on suspicion of connection in Mr. O’Higgins’ murder. At the inquest Mr. McNeill gave evidence that the murderers were not masked. A verdict of murder wag returned against three unknow n persons, the jury adding a rider that it was a cruel outrage, and expressing the hope that the murderers would soon be brought to justice The coroner, Dr. Ikennan. said it was a horrible tragedy, and a com mentary on the mentality of the inhabitants of the Island of Saints and Scholars. Mr. de Valera, interviewed, said: “The assassination of Mr. O’Higgins is murder inexcusable from any standpoint. I am confident that no Republican organisation would give any countenance to a crime that cuts at the root of all responsible government.”—(A and N.Z.)

CONDOLENCES FROM GENEVA.

(Received 12, 9.25 a.m.) Geneva, July 11. The Empire delegates telegraphed their condolences to Mr. W. T. Cosgrave and the relatives of Mr. Kevin O’Higgins.—(A.P.A. and “Sun” cable.) THE DARK CORNER. WHERE THE ATTACK TOOK PLACE. OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. London, July 10. Mr O’Higgins’ attackers chose for the crime the crossroads in Sans Souci Avenue, known by the ominous name of The Dark Corner, because it is thickly overhung by trees. Their car was last seen going at a terrific speed along Donnybrook road. The car was later found abandoned at Milltown. An official account of the murder states that a motor-car owned bv Captain McDonnell was stolen in Dublin on Saturday night. There is no information where the car was kept before mid-day on Sunday, when it was driven from Blackrock road to Booterstown Avenue. Five men were engaged, two of whom were scouts and signalled when Mr O’Higgins was observed coming down the road. Three fired when he turned the corner, and he fell to the footway beside a lamp-post. The en made for the car assuming he was dead. Mr O’Higgins raised his hand slightly, whereupon they returned. each firing a further shot. One penetrated the head through the ear. another struck above the heart, and a third pierced the abdomen.

“T FORGIVE MY MURDERERS ” Genera] Duffey, commander of the Civic Guard, spoke to Mr O’Higgins at his bedside for a few minutes and discussed the position which had arisen. The Vice-President’s last words to General Duffev were: *‘l am dying. Cood-bye. We have done good work. Continue on the same lines. I forgive mv murderers.” He then added a message for his wife. When Mr O’Higgins was carried into the house, his vitality was such that bis wife and other friends at the bedside seemed more stricken than the dying man, who made his will and s’>'ke to everyone individually. He asked for the children, who were out walking with a nurse. Later the two girls were brought to th© bedside and the father kissed them farewell and then relapsed into unconsciousness

Almost his last words were: “I die for my country, and go to loin Michael Collins ” From the first the doctor knew death was a matter of hours. Mr O’Higgins himself had no doubt. There was a wound in front .of rhe right ear. the bullet lodging the brain, two in the neck and four in the chest, one bullet remaining slightly above the heart. FATHER WAS ASSASSINATED. The tragedy is more poignant In view of the assassination of his father. Dr. O’Higgins, in 1923. at the hands of seven armed men. Fhe father though aged 70, tried to wrest the revolver from the hands of the leader, but the others riddled him with bullets. < Kevin had a narrow escape from death in May. He and Mr Cosgravp were addressing an open-air meeting in O’Connell street, and Republicans repeatedly hissed them. Then, from a noisv quarter, a smoke-bomb was

hurtled, Brigadier-General Dalv caught it like a cricketer and stamoed out the fuse.

Mr O’Higgins was regarded as she strong man of the Government. He possessed immense energy, and during the last election he spoke in practically every constituency and made it a point to face every heckler. He wag always provided with police protection. but evaded his guardians as often as possible. His courage gave his murderers every opportunity. Mr Patrick Hogan Mr Patrick O’Neill and other Free State Ministers. were at Mr O’Higrins’s house, and rushed out at the sound of shot*. A detective usually accompanied Mr O’ Higgins to mass, but on this occasion he had been sent on an errand The assailant’s car was well disguised, bearing a fictitious number. While Mr Flemming sought assistance. Mr McNeill knelt on the pavement and wrote a will at Mr O’Higgins’g dictation, which bystanders witnessed.

President Cosgrave. in a statement to the public said Mr O’Hicrgins was the second Minister of the State who had been struck down bv an assasin “In this hour of national loss the Irish people will not falter. Mr O’Higgins, in dauntless courage, has followed the path blazed bv Griffith and Collins, even unto death. The Irish people may rest assured the assassin’s bullet will not succeed in terrorising the country. Men will be heartened bv the noble example to maintain his high traditions and devotion to the welfare of the nation.” It is most significant that Mr O’Higgins, as Minister of Justice, was responsible for the administration of the law in 1922-23. when there were 77 executions of Irregulars. It is generally believed that this is the explanation of the murder. SENSE OF DUTY.

Apropos of Mr O’Higgins’s sense of dutv. Mr J. H. Thomas tells I*)* Mr O’Higgins had a bosom friend. Rory O’Connor, charged in connection with the siege of the Four Courts. Every effort was made to obtain respite from the death sentence. as he had been Mr o’Higgins’s best mate less than six months before. As the Minister responsible for the executions. Mr o’Higgins only replied: “He must die to-mor-row morning.” Mr Thomas added. Mr O’Higgins sat up throughout the night. When a message came that his friend had been shot. Mr O’Higgins collapsed. The climax came when O’Connor’s will was read —he left everything to the O’Higgins family. The car used bv the assassins was a Morris-Cowley, which had been stolen, but had a faked number suggesting that it belonged to the Government. The Republican Army haji announced that it repudiates responsibility for the outrage. GHOST OF EVIL DAYS. “The Times.’’ in a leader, savs: “The cold-blooded shooting of the Vice-President was a ghost of the evil days returning. It rudely shattered the illusion that the lega••nd had been paid. It proclaims to Ireland that time has still much healing work to accomplish. Mr O’Higgins repeatedly risked his life for his country’s came as he saw it. first as a foe of Britain and then as the foremost chamnion of the treaty. He lived and wrought powerfully and set the country on the lines he thought best. Dying, he could regard a large measure of achievement. While Mr Cosgrave and his colleagues will have difficulty in finding a substitute, their hands are likely to be strengthened in the eyes of their countrymen.—(A. and N.Z. and “Times” cable.)