THE IRISH TROUBLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1711, 30 December 1919, Page 5

THE IRISH TROUBLE.

THE PHOENIX PARK AFFAIR.

CONFLICTING STORIES

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Uiatraiian-New Zealand Cable Association, LONDON, Dec. 29. Considerable mystery suriounds the phcenix Park affair, and probably only tlio inquest will throw light on the matter. It „s now doubtful if the shots were meant ■criously as an attack on the Vice-Regal Lodge as they proceeded from a spot on the outer edge of the park on the Dublin side over a. mile from the Lodge. It is now 'slated that Captain Boast challenged the man who refusiid to halt. The man is said to have seized Boast by the throat, firing at the saijao time, yet there is no trace of a weapon. Another version is that the dead man is Laurence Carey, a demobilised soldier, who was employed within the park and was probably returning Loin Lsiivities. This r. port is unconfirmed, and there is no official report.

HOW CAPTAIN BOAST WAS KILLED. Australian New Zealand Cable Association LONDON, Dec. 28. Shortly after midnight on Saturday the occupants of the Vice-Regal Lodge were awakened by shots from the main road through Phoenix Park about half a mile away from the lodge. A guard turned out, including Captain’ Boast and two men. It was impossible to see far owing ,to the pitch darkness. Boast’s party crossed the polo ground and suddenly came face to face with a gang of men whose numbers wore not ascertainable. An encounter occurred close to the monument marking the spot where Cavendish and Burke were murdered. Both parties fired with only the width of the road separating them. _ A bullet ’entered Boast’s heart. Two soldiers continued firing until the attackers dis persed, leaving the dead body of a comrade in which six bullets were embedded. The dead body has not been identified. Deceased was about forty years of age and was wearing civilian clothes and military putties and bandages round his head instead of a hat. Subsequently three men loitering inside, the park gates wore arrested. it is not known whether they participated in the outrage. The authorities intend dosing the park nightly at 6 o’clock. The reticence of the Dublin authorities regarding the attack has resulted in many

conflicting accounts. It is* rumoured that only cao man attacked, who was armed with .in automatic pistol. No weapons were foundi where the man was killed and no shjofcs ' st.ruyk the lodge. The police withI hold the names of the three unarmed men who were arrested two hours after the shooting. They declare they were not aware of the outrage and were merely walking in the park after a dance. Captain Eoasfc was aged nineteen. THE CIVILIAN IDENTIFIED. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association Received December 30. 9 a.m. LONDON, Doc. 29. ,Tho civilian killed in Phoenix Park has been identified as Laurence Kennedy, a labourer. Ho complained on Saturday that he had been maltreated at the miliitary barracks, and was treated in the hospital for scalp wounds. • His movements after leaving the hospital are unknown.