THE MURDER OF SIR H. WILSON

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 432, 24 June 1922, Page 5

THE MURDER OF SIR H. WILSON

GALLANT SOLDIER’S UNTIMELY END

INDIGNATION ALL OVER WORLD

DETAILS OF THE CRIME

ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. men who were soldiers, Received June 24. 3.55 a.m LONDON, June 23. 0 Brien and Connolly were charged at the Westminster Police Court and remanded for six days, ’I hey are ex-soldiers. O’Brien has been employed as a messenger in the Labour .Ministry’s office. He obtained the job on the strength of his army service. Ho left for lunch yesterday and did not return.— A. and N.Z. cable.

CHASE OF THE MURDERERS,

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, Juno 22, H H difficult to disentangle the details of the shooting of Field-Marshal Wilson, Cnief of the Imperial General Stall', though a score of people witnessed the murder and hundreds partook in the chase of the murderers.

iSir Henry Wilson had paid the taxi-cab aud taken out his latch key when the first shot was fired. It missed and penetrated the front door. The field-marshal thou turned round and three shots followed. AH struck Ihe doomed man, who staggered on the pavement and fell. The servants of (he house run out and found their master with his lace in the gutter. The fatal shot pierced his chest. Sir Henry Wilson was iu full uniform and wearing all his medals. His naked sword was lying by his side, as though instinctively he drew it in selfdefence. TWO MEN OPEN FIRE. Meantime several passers-by had seen two idler-, one a man six feel high and the other a little fellow witli a pronounced limp. They were talking together, but did nothing to attract attention until they drew revolvers of the Webley service pattern and opened lire from the roadway, sheltering behind a trestle which kept vehicles from a newly-tarred section of the road. The road-menders say that when ho fell one of them weni to Sir Henry Wilson s assistance, while the other dashed after the murderers, who turned and ran. They threatened the road-mender with revolvers, so he stopped, but did not lose sight of the murderers until they were arrested. ‘■MURDER! MURDER!” Meanwhile people coming from houses and passers-by, attracted bv the sounds of firing, joined in pursuit, shouting; “Murder! Murder!” and “Stop ’em!” The taller mail could easily have outrun his companion, but he made no effort to leave tin 1 limping man. As they dodged (lie traffic they both turned occasionally and tired on the pursuers. The first to fall was L'onsiable March, who hurried up in response to police whistles. Then Detective Sayers, who was in plain clothes, was siiot iii the ankle,

SENSATIONAL DOCUMENTS, REVELATION OF CONSPIRACY, Received June 24. 8.55 am LONDON, June 23. Sensational documents have come into the possession of the police, disclosing a conspiracy to take the lives of prominent persons, and also a campaign of outrage, Mr Aniiten Chamberlain, .-peaking' in the House ol Commons, stated that a consider able number of places in London were, searched last night, and 15 men and one woman were detained. Some arms and incendiary fuses were discovered. Willi the exception of the woman, those detained in lasi night’s raid were later released.

Mr Chamberlain stated dun acting under Scotland Yard's advice, apparently owing to the improved Irish situation, protection had recently been withdrawn in regard to members of Cabinet and others concerned in the Irish question. The Hon. E. Sltortl, Secretary of Home Affairs, when questioned, said that protection had been removed from everyone except himself. (Cries of Oh!) The guards had now been restored,—A. and N.Z. cable. REPRISALS FEARED. DUBLIN DEEPLY SHOCKED, LONDON. June 23. Dublin opinion is deeply shocked In the assassination, but it is not believed ir can bear "it the political situation in South Ireland. It is feared reprisals will occur in Belfast. Officers visited all ihe theatres and cinemas and ordered all British troops to retain to barracks immediately.

A horse cam age coining out of n garage barred ihe murderers' escape. The men instantly decided lo jump in. and shouted lo the driver, “Drive on.” The man. however, pile"ed that something was wrong, and said he was not going to. One of the murderers replied: “Drive on or wo will drop von !” The driver says he made up his mind to drive the men to the Gerald Road Police Station. Perhaps they suspected this, and they jumped out at the corner of Eaton Place. THE PURSUING CROWD. The pursuing crowd now numbered hundreds, including two members of the American Embassy, who say it took thorn some moments to realise that it was not a carefully-arranged piece of cinema acting. The end came when a motor-car drove across the murderers’ path. They fired, hut the police had the men cornered._ One policeman throw his truncheon, which hit the smaller man on the side of the head and he fell on the road. In a nionlent a number of constables and members of the crowd fell upon him. The- tall man 15led bis last shot at the men struggling on the ground, but a policeman triieheoned him, while another man in the crowd broke a heavy milk bottle over the assassin’s bead. The infuriated crowd tried to lynch the man. who cried pitifully: “Have mercy!” “A lot of mercy you showed!” was the ret' >rt. Both prisoners, bleeding badly, were carried to the police station. t ‘DM MON'S LEARN THE NEWS. The House ol Commons was stunned by the news, which it heard when Sir W. Sutherland hurried in and whispered to Mr Lloyd George and Mr Austen Chamberlain. Like a flash the tidings ran round the benches and the House quickly tilled. Meanwhile questions were being asked and answered. but none heeded them. Mr Asquith, speaking with obvious didienliy, addressed a cptestion to Mr Chatnberlain, who gave the facts and paid a tribute to Sir Henry Wilson’s career. He tbeh moved ihe adjournment. Mr Asquith was in u-urs as he left the House, and other eliwe friends of the field-marslutf were deeply moved.

The Daily Express's Belfast correspondent stales that for months past FieldMarshal Wilson was regarded as a marked man there, and teas closely guarded. The Irish Independent says: “The leaders cannot pretend to know the motive behind this horrifying deed, but it is obvious from various public references that it is attributed to the bitterness aroused by ihe part’lion of Ireland and the Belfast pograms. Whatever the cause, tho tragic ending of Sir Henry Wilson’s career is extremely regrettable and is in every way deplorable. This unchristian act may produce infinite harm. It certainly will tend to inflame passion and intensify the existing troubles instead of modifying a difficult situation.”— A. and N.Z, cable,

THE KING’S CONDOLENCES. LORD CARSON DEEPLY MOVED, LONDON, June 22 Immediately Ihe King heard of the tragedy, he sent an equerry to convey to Lady Wilson his and the Queen’s sincere condolences and shock at the brutal assassination. Sir Henry Wilson was a great personal friend of the Royal Family. Mi' Lloyd George telegraphed to Lady Wilson; “1 am deeply shocked at this ghastly crime. I can iind no words to express my consternation and grief. Please accept till my sympathy in your terrible trouble.'’

Lord Birkenhead, in tin* House of Lords, replying' to Lord Carson idler the. latter's reference to this enndnal, murderous attack, said he understood the men were arrested in circumstances rendering their complicity certain. Lord Carson was deeply moved. lie remarked: “The facts are eloquent—all too eloquent.”

Lord Salisbury moved a resolution expressing ihe House’s detestation of 1 the murder, and sympathy with Lady Wilson, This was adopted. Sir James Craig, in the Ulster Parliament. said Field-Marshal Wilson hud laid down his life for Ulster. He declared that Field-Marshal Wilson told him months ago that lie would do all he could iu Listers cause. He was one more stalwart who fought iu the desperate battle I litter was fighting, but it would make no difference to them iu their work. The speaker hoped there would be no further doubt in anyone's mind as to what Lister was up against.—A. and N.Z. cable FEELINGS OF AMERICANS, SADDENED AND HORRIFIED. NEW YORK, June 22. Americans are saddened and horrified at Field-Marshal Wilson’s ussa-.-mation. They express the deepest condemnation of the net and point out that the late feld-marshal was one of the fairest men in England, and one of Ireland's best friends. It is declared that if the Irish Republicans committed this crime, it will be a serious setback to the Irish State,

THREATENING LETTERS. Many members of the Commons besides ,Sii- Henry Wilson have lately received threatening letters from Sinn Eeiners. These were particularly numerous in the victim’s case as he was military adtiset to the Ulster Government, but he took no notice of them. The general impression in the lobby yesterday was that this was only the First of a series of outrages iu Britain by Irish ’extremists. The desire is expressed for a Government statement regarding stops to safeguard the country from a campaign of violence, ; . Scotland Yard's famous “Hying Squad ron” on Thursday evening, reinforced by a special branch which, until the sigruug* of tho Irish Treaty, was engaged in preventing- crimes by the Irish Republican Army, carried out a systematic search of dillerent parts of London with high speed moioi-

Gerieral Pershing said: “This is an outrage that will shock civilisation. Sir Henry Wilson was known as a fair minded and upstanding soldier. His death fills me with a profound sense of personal loss. The newspapers consider the as assination of Sir Henry Wilson the greatest misfortune to Ireland. The World says: “The echoes of the murder will be a" long tiling in dying out. They will be heard in Belfast and Westminster. The curse of Ireland to-day is gunmen and bands of irreponsible so-called soldiers.” The Times says: “The brutal assassination is one more illustration of the malign fate which historically ha- pursued Irish self-government.” The Herald says; “The assassination is furl her ghastly evidence ol the malign spirit still haunting parts oi Ireland.”—A. and N.Z, ruble.

* Lord Arthur IlilL w ho confirms the drawn sword incident, said Lady Wilson ran out without a hat and with a cup of water lo her husband, who was too far gone to drink and who died immediately. Lady WiLon did not aetually witness the shooting but heard the shots, and rushing to the window saw her husband reeling with Ids drawn sword in his hand. He staggered across the pavement; and collapsed in a heap on the kerb. ~ T i Plr Henry WiLon previously told Lord Hill that he had been threatened more than Ol Fii.l, 1-Marshal Wilson will be accorded a public military funeral.

PROTECTING LORD CARSON. LONDON, June 23. Field-Marshal Wilson had no special police protection, but constables on duty in the vicinity were ordered to watch for suspicious characters near the house. They wore armed and posted after the murder outside Lord Carson's residence, which is in iho sumo stroot. n , . Major the Hon. Lord C.lenusk, rom,minder of the King’s Company of the Grenadier Guards, lives six doois fioin Sir Henry Wilson's house. He says; Un June'3 itiv window was chipped in a peril,iar way, Two days later Sir Henry Wilson’s was cut in a similar mannei. A. and N.Z. cable. CONDEMNATION OF DEED, STATEMENT BY MR GRIFFITH. LONDON, June 25. Mr Griffith, leader of the prd-treatyites, in a statement said: “Although I icldMarshal Wilson's political views were opposed to those of the vast majority of my count rynien. 1 know that the vast majority are unanimous in condemning and deploring thi- anarchic deed.” Mr Rory O’Connor, when asked tit Dublin, declined to make a statement on the- subject, remarking that he was wo burr,—-A. and N,2, cubit.

CONSTERNATION IN FRANCE, PARIS, June 22. The assassination rained consternation, ami bombed political circles. -M. Poincare intends k> aiiend the funeral. lie mid President Millerami sent condoling telegrams to the widow. Marshal I'och aas deeply moved, lie said; “It- is nnbelieyable that such a splendid soldier and noble comrade should have fallen by an assassin s revolver,”—A, and N.Z, cable. ADVIt'K TO PREMIER OF NORTHERN 111 ELAND.

Sir James Craig, Premier of Northern Ireland, received'the following letter in March lust from Sir Henry \\t!-.n, who was visiting Belfast with a view u> preparing a scheme for the restoration of law and order;— . , "You have asked me for my opinion and advice on lie- present and future, ilete they are : “Owing to the action of Mr Lloyd George and his Government, the twenty-six comities of the South and West of Ireland are reduced to a welter of chaos and murder, difficult to believe and impossible to describe. A further conseunenco of the course pursued by Mr Lloyd George is seen in the state of unrest, suspicion, and lawlessiiccs which has spread over the frontier into tin- six counties of Ulster. Tito dangerous condition winch obtains in the twenty--is conn lies will increase and spread miles : “(1) A man in those counties rises who can crush out murder and anarchy and ro•smbliili law and order (with a thousand

years of lrl-li history to guide us ii is sah in predict that this will not happen); am unless

“12; Great Britain re-establishes law am oi di r m Ireland.

“Under Air Lloyd George ami his Gov <_’}!imm 1 111 1 1 1 i■ i- frankly and laughably ini possible, becum-e moil who art only cupabli id io-ntg mi Idmpiro art! obviously iucapabh of iioI<! 111 • an Kmpire, and still more in ca | m 1 il(> of regaining' it. In (lie face of such a state of affairs, wind is my advice?

"(Ini Greal Britain warmly on your side I here never was a more fair-minded oi more generous people than the men am women who live in Km.land. Scotland, am Wains, (let them on your side. Tell them and get others to tell tin in. (he real trull: of what, is now going on in the South am West, and wind is really passing in Ulster. Get those splendid Britons on, your side, for with Greal Britain with you there hnoiliimr which cannot l/e done—as witness the last Great War—whilst, on the othe! hand, with Groat Britain indifferent, hike warm, or hostile, there is but little that can be done.

“While 1 have bean groally impressed by the inagnilicent manner in which the citizens generally have enrolled in the special constabulary, and with the way in which they hade met the serious situation tip to the present, 1 suggest you should main (a) considerable alteration in the command and administration of all our tinned forces —R.I.C. ‘A’ Specials, ‘IV Specials, etc. ; (h) re-class and readjust the various categuru - of your police, and greatly strengthen

some of them; (c) redraft your laws for the carrying of arms; (d) take increased p over lor rapid and drastic action against the illegal importation and carrying of arms, bombs, etc. On these four points I am Mil mining separate and detailed proposals for your consideration. “With Great Britain in active sympathy with yon in your efforts to maintain law and order, and with the great addition in sicttigdi which 1 hope my propo-als will give yon, I think thru, in the very near 111101'“ yon will see a wonderful recovery in the situation, which at the moment must cause yai great anxiety.' 1 AIR MASSEY’S APPRECIATION. “To sa\ that 1 was greatly shocked on reading the news of Sir Henry Wilson’s murder is a very mild way of expressing inv feelings,” said Air .Massey last evening, “d'o me the deceased was a personal friend, and one who-e friendship 1 thoroughly appreciated. As ( hief of , the Imperial General Staff it was Sir Henry Wilson’s duty to report to and confer with the Imperial War Council of 1918 on matters conneeied with the very serious stale of tilings that then existed. Again in 1919, when the Peace Conference was sitting in Paris, Sir Henry Wilson was military ad-vi-er to the British delegation, and possessed tins confidence in Iho fullest degree of every one of its members. An exceedingly able and gallant soldier, and an enthusiaslic British citizen, there was no one conreeled with the army who contributed more than he to the defeat of our enemies. Gay and light hearted, e\ er ready w ith a joke, alwavs willing io help those needing assistance, he was one of the most popular as he wtts one of the ablest officers in the British Army. Always ready to sacrifice himself, he did his full duly as he understood it t<» his country and King, and as a remit lie has died at the hands of a murderer, but I feel certain that loyal British eh Pen- in every part of the Empire will never fail to honour the memory of Sir Henry Wilson as that of a distinguished officer, a patriotic citizen, and u gallant gentleman.”