NINE ACCUSED

Northern Advocate, 18 June 1923, Page 5

NINE ACCUSED

IRISH DEPORTEES.

SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY CHARGE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, .June 17. Art O'Brien and < others charged with seditions conspiracy were committed for trial. Michael Galvin was emmmitted on a further charge of illegal possession of firearms. The accused men all reserved their defence. Bail weis refused. Joyce wos remanded for six months t" enable him to enter a sanatorium. — A. and N.Z.

Art O'Brier, resident, and Sean McGrath, secretary, of the Irish Selfdetermination Lougvie. and Se cm O'Mahoney and Michael Gralvin, members of the same organisation, were charged at. the Street Police Station writh seditious conspiracy.

Mr Humphrey Travers, Crown Prosecutor, said that the prisoners were charged with conspiring by force of arms to compel a change in the constitution of the Irish Free Stato and establish a republic. Accused might well have been charged under the Treason and Felony Act, or even for high trason. Accused made speeches in England appealing for assistance to establish a republic in Ireland. McGrath, at Birmingham, attempted to arouse the passions of his audience by calling the Free State Government murderers, who wtere doing the British Empire's dirty work. On him was found a pocketbook containing elaborate instructions for the manufacture of fuses and high explosives, and the use of such explosives; also instructions how to destroy buildings by fire.

Galvin was described as the officer commanding B Company of the Irish Republican Array in England. Among the numerous documents found on him wias a letter written to him by one of the murderers of the late FieldMarshal Sir Henry Wilson, containing the words: "Send along a contingent of your company under a responsible person." References were also made to various railway bridges, goods stations, and motor factories.

The police produced a document written in Irish, English, and French, appointing O'Brien representative of the Irish Republic, in London, signed by De Yalera < • President of the Republic.

Five otlior deportees —Flynn, Mularkev, Joyce, Patrick Fleming and Dennis Fleming—were arrested later on similar charges, and at a further hearing - an official of the Westminister Bank gave evidence that the bank had several accounts in O'Brien's name in February. There was a credit represented by 2r>,Uoo dollars in American notes. Most, of this money was sent by draft by different persons.

Dublin police gave evidence regarding damaging documents found in the possession of some of the prisoners.