PRIEST ON TRIAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10450, 1 December 1919, Page 8

PRIEST ON TRIAL

THE O'DONNELL GASE REMARKABLE CONFLICT OF TESTIMONY. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received November 30, 11 V- m ->, LONDON. November 2b. Colonel J. P. McGlinn presided at the court-martial of Chaplain lather O'Doivnell. The court consisted ot hvo colonels, a major and two captains. Captain Eastwood, pf tho Grenad/er Guardß, acted as judge advocate, and Mr M M. Bodkin, K.C., represented Lieutenant Martin, tho nominal prosecutor. Mr Tim Healy, K.C., and Mr Patrick Lynch, K.C, with Mr John Costello. represented tho -accused. Jlr Bodkin pointed out that _tho charge was brought under section 35 of the Army Act against persons subject t.o military law using traitorous and disloyal words regarding tho Sovereign, making them liable to trial by court-martial. The incident occurred at the- International Hotel, Ki-llarney, on October 10th, in tho presence of Lieutenant Chambers, of the King's .Liverpool Regiment, ■ and Captain Clarke, of the Royal Naval Reserve, ■with his wife and others. Mr Healy said that as one whose relatives had fallen with the Australians he felt it an honour to appear before a court composed of Australian officers. He regretted that tho case illustrated English officers' treatment of men who had "crossed tho ocean. Hr Healy complained of Father O'Donnelfs treatment. Ho had been sent to prison, treated a 3 a felon and cast into a traitor's cell in the Tower of London. Father O'Donnell hoped that his vindication would prove that a man could boa,, good Irishman and a good Australia"— ~ ~,~ A witness testified to Father O Donnell's sobriety. The- judge advocate remarked that there was no di:#ct evidence that O'Donnell was under the influence of liquor. , ' . , , Mr Healy pointed out that this had been suggested, and was an important matter in view of Father O'Donnell's priesthood.

THE ALLEGED CONVERSATION. Mr Bodkin, proceeding, said that Fa,ther CDonnell was wearing a , ."uniform at" the time his alleged .'. statement was made. He spoke "in..,a loud voice. Chambers approached Father O'Donnell and asked him to -speak quietly. Father O'Donnel excitedly replied: "AVhat damned business ia it of yours?" Clarke would Btate that Father O'-Donneli's -onveisation was of a political character, and amounted t* it tirade against the British Government and.hatred,against.thq King. Carko also asked Father O'Donnel to speak quietly, but Father O'Donnel replied, "Mind your own damned business." Chambers on the following day reported the matter to a superior officer and submitted notes of the conversation, which he hastily took as ho listened.

Mr Bodkin said that. Father O'Donnell's connection with the Australian Arnjy made it clear that he was heart and soul with Britain against Germany, but his private feelings regarding Inland appeared to allow him to indulge in language of improper character un der improper circumstances. If th»> word 3 were uttered Father O'Donnell should not bo allowed to wear His Majesty's uniform. STKONG EVIDENCE.

Chambers, in his evidence, quoted notes he had taken alleging that Father O'Donnell said among other things, "The Royal family is no us« to this or any other country. The timo is coming and that very soon when Ireland will strike out for herself to gain the glorious independence so long deal tn every patriot heart. I will then come over i.nd help the people in their struggle against the tyrannical British Government. We Australians fought for independence' and the rights of selfgovernment, which are being denied the finest and oldest little country in the world by a few satellites of King George, who are filling their pockets, and whoso hands are red with the blood •of Iriali patriots.'" " Chambers, continuing, quoted a, further conversation with referenece to the Sinn Fein movement growing in Australia and to the British railway strike. QUESTION OF GOOD EARS. Mr Healy closely cross-examined the witness, who admitted that he entered th notes in the sequonce in which the words "were spoken. He did not pro- ' fess that he took words down from accused's lips. Mr Healy a9ked: Then the phrase "Satellites of King George" might havo "' been Satellites of liloyd George" r ■\Vithes3: There is no such impresai.on in my mind; I could not be mistaken. Mr.Ho.aJy; Then Father O'Donnell deliberately insulted Hia Majesty. Was he drunk or under the influence of liquor t Witness: Absolutelv sober. Mr Heaty: Did you not say to the manageress that ho was three-parts .drunk ? Witness: ..No. Witness agreed that Fathcx_o'Donnell had defamed. His Majesty, disgraced the uniform and disgraced tho great Australian Force, of which wo all were proud. Ho was shocked and astounded at tho Janguago. Mr Healy: Yet' all you said wad. "Speak quietly, you are interrupting our conversation?" /Witness said that ho was nob aware that 3farsh, with whom Father O'Donnell was conversing, was a Belfast loyalist.. J. S. Waddell, who sat at the samo table -with Chambers, Jargely confirmed his evidence, and added that Fatbei O'DonneJl said that he did not enter the war on behalf of Britain, but ho was out for the rights o small nationalities. Witness did not see Chambers using a notebook before dinner. Mr Healy, in opening tho dofence, said that Chambers had jumped to the conclusion that Father O'Donnell was a Sinn Feiner. Father O'Donnell scornfully repudiated the charges made. Ho had not come to court to vindicate his owfi honour, hut to tear asido the veil of hypocrisy and terror which hid tho conduct of tho Irish administration. During Mr Ilealy's speech Father ODonnell wept. The court adjourned. Father O'Donnell has since been found not guilty and acquitted-