WARNED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11246, 26 June 1922, Page 7

WARNED

THE LONDON MURDER ACCUSES BEFORE COURT AUTHORITIES HINT OF POSSIBILITIES BEHIND THE CRIME. PRECAUTIONS FOR SECRECY'. By Telegraph-—Press Assn. — CopyrightAustralian and N-Z. Cable Association. (Received June 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 23. Connolly and O’Brien were smuggled in through the back entrance of the Police Court, thus outwitting the crowd which congregated in the. main entrance. Both accused were dishevelled and unkempt, with bandaged heads, and faces hearing traee« of tho struggle. Connolly \& a tall, burly, broad-shouldered, heavy man, with clean-shaven' features and a mop of black hair. He looked quickly round the court, as if seeking a familiar face. O’Brien, who has a wooden leg, nervously clutched the doekrail. THE CHARGES PRECAUTIONS REGARDING PUBLICITY. Mr Travers Humphreys (a senior Counsel to the Treasury) intimated that he had been instructed to prosecute. The charges would be—firstly, the murder of Sir Henry "Wilson; and, secondly, shooting v. itii intent to murder Constables Marsh ilud Sayer and Alexander Clark, a civilian. Mr Humphreys then indicated the gravity and possibilities behind the crime when he said it will be probably found necessary to ask the court that tke'-nntncK of witnesses be not published. It will certainly ho necessary, he added, to ask that no photographs taken be published of persons involved in the case. A REMAND GRANTED THE PUBLIC OCTWITTED. Detective-Inspector Burton gave evidence of the charging of accused at the police station, when neither made a reply. Connolly then asked how the wounded were progressing, and when told favourably, h© remarked, “I am glad to hear that.” Only formal evidence was given. When a remand was granted, the noowed were immediately surrounded by police, and Connolly again glanced round tho court. The prisoners were removed to Bfiixton Prison, from the front exit, thus again outwitting the crowd, who was now watching the rear exit. Six officers rode in the rear of the van, and several detectives followed in a motorcar. A MARKED MAN ! GOVERNMENT WARNED. Field-Marshal Wilson was marked for death, and he knew it. He declared to Colonel J. Gretton, M.P., that he had been warned of the probability of an attempt- on his life, hut it had not the slightest effect in deflect--1 ing him from what lie thought was his duty. Sir Henry Wilison was regarded , as, particularly dangerous to the schemes of the extremists, and Colonel Gretton alleges that the Government had been warned that gunmen were coming over from Ireland, but no notice seems to have been taken. TRIBUTE TO THE POLICE CROWDS VISIT EATON PLACE. The Prime Minister and Cabinet, sent a message to the Police Commissioner, in which a tribute was paid to the courage and devotion of the police in arresting tho murderers of Sir Henry Wilson. Crowds, to-day, were pilgrimaging to Eaton place, and were interested in the bullet-hole in the door of Sir Henry Wilson’s house. FOULEST OF GRIMES "The Times” stigmatises the deed as the foulest of Irish political crimes, a.nd says that the deep and lasting indignation of public opinion will reprobate the murdereiß and those who tolerated the system of political murders of which this crime is tho outcome. OTHER JOURNALS' OPINSGN& The "Mail” says tli9 murder will renis-e tho passionate anger of tlie English people, who are slow to wrath and who have almost infinite patience. The ‘Herald” says it is. terrible to think that Ireland’s cup of happiness is once moro dashed from her lips. ACCU9ED ARE EX-SOLDIERS O’BRIEN A GOVERNMENT MESSENGER. LONDON, Juno 23. Connolly and O’Brien, the arrested assassins, are ex-soldiers. O’Brien has been employed as a messenger in the office of the Ministry of Labour, having obtained the job on the strength of his army service. 'He left fox lunch yesterday, and did not return. SENSATIONAL DOCUMENTS CONSPIRACY DISCLOSED. LONDON, Juno 23. Sensational documents have comd into tho possession of ths police, disclosing ft conspiracy to bah* tire lives of prominent persons, And. also a campaign of Outrage. 1 Many members of tho House of Commons, besides .Sir Henry Wilson, have lately received threatening lottcrs from Sinn Reiners. These Were particularly humorous ih Sir Henry Wilson's. case, as ho was military adviser to the Ulster GdvoTnihont, but he took no notice of them. The general impression in the Lobby yesterday was that this was only tho first of a series of outrages in Britain by Irish extremists. A desiro is expressed for a Government statement regarding steps to safeguard the country from a campaign of violence. IRISH SECRETARY’S SAFETY OTHER GUARDS WITHDRAWN. LONDON, ,Tuno 23. Mr Chamberlain, speaking in the House of Commons, said that, acting on tba adrioo af SooilanA Yard, *,pp«r«»i» * ti.'. e-i •‘u-U «Y.(('■tvoiiuy.-'

Iv clue to the improved Irish situation, protection lvad rereip.ly been withdrawn with regard to Cabinet Ministers and others, concerned with the Irish question. Mr Edward' Shortt, Home Secretary, in reply to a question, said that the protection had been removed From everyone except the Irish Secretary (Sir Hamai* Greenwood). The guards had now been restored. LONDON SEARCHED ARMS AND FUSES FOUND. LONDON, June 23. Mr Chamberlain announced in tho Hoiwc -of Columns that a considerable number oV places in London was searched last night, and fifteen men and one woman were detained. Some arms and incendiary fuses were dig* covered. With the exception of tho woman, the people detained have been released, LADY WILSON’S DECISION LONDON. Jim© 23. Lady Wilson will not allow the removal of the Field-Marshal’s uniform in ■which her husband died. She is firmly resolved that lie shall be buried in it. TAEf-DRIVER’S STATEMENT (Received June 2d, 0.0 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 23. The driver of th-e taxi-cab which conveyed Field-Marshail Wilson home called: at Sootland Y'ard and made a long statement. *' FRENCH SYMPATHIES MESSAGE TO THE KING. (Received June 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 23. President Millerand. of France, •sent r. message to the King saying: “The tragic death of this ispleiidid .soldier moves profoundly all Frenchmen, who will never forget the sympathies which he on many occasions displayed toward* France, and the admirable role he played in the organisation of victory.” The King responded to the message. ATTENDANCE AT FUNERAL CABINET MINISTERS NOT ’WANTED. (Received June 25,.5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 23. The “Morning Post” states that. Cabinet received with consternation a message from Lady Wilson, stating that the presence of any Cabinet Minister at her husband* s funeral would be distasteful to her. She refused a. request to reconsider the matter until, it was pointed' out, on behalf of Ministers, that the absence of His Majesty’s Ministers from ths State funeral would bo disrespectful to tho King. Tlie “Post” add* that Mr Chamber* lain called on Lady Wilaon after the tragedy to express his sympathy, and was alSoivn into a room. The widow’s niece entered, and she asked who ho was. When told she exclaimed: “How dare yoii come to this house l” Mr Chamberlain thereupon left. CLASS DISTINCTION DE VALERA’S VIEWS. (Received J'unfe . 25,. £.5 p.mi) LONDON, June 23., Mr D© Valera issued a statement in Dublin to the effect that the killing of any human being is an awful act, hut hot as awful when the victim'is a humble worker as when the victim, is placed on the seats of the mighty and known in every corner of the world. It is characteristic of our hypocritical civilisation, he said, that only in tho latter cahe are wc expected to cry out and Express our horror and condemnation. “For my part,’’ he added, “I have nothing but loathing for such a conventional statement, when it is plain that means to secure that euch awful happenings shall not occur »to deliberately put aside. I do not ‘approve but do not pretend to misunderstand.’* KING OF_BELGIUM INDIGNATION EXPRESSED. (Received June 2fi, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 24. ‘ The King of the Belgians sent a message to the King expressing indignation at tho 'shocking murder of Sir Henry Wilson, the 'distinguished a.n,d ablo general who rendered such services to the Alliefl. The King replied: ‘‘The British nation appreciates the knowledge that you share our sorrow. We gr© appalled that Field-Marshal Wilson was a victim of such a dastardly crime.” PLACE OF BURIAL ST. PAUL’S SELECTED. (Received June 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 24. The “Pall Mall Gazette” has been officially informed that Field-Marshal Wilson, will be buried in St. Paul’s. “LOSS TO EMPIRE” GOVERNOIGG ENERAL’S TELEGRAM. Tho Governor-General has to-day sent the following telegram to the Secretary of State for tho Colonies regarding tho assassination of FieldMarshal Sir Henry Wilson: —“Government of Now Zealand have learned with, horror of the dastardly murder of Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilean and the consequent loss to the Empire of the services of a very distinguished ofiicor. lam 'asked to express deepest sympathy with Lady Wilson in her great sorrow.” MR MASSEY’S REGRETS “AN ABLE AND GALLANT SOLDIER.” “To say that 'I was greatly shocked on reading tho nows of Sir Henry WilBon’s murder is a very mild way of expressing my feelings,” said Mr Massey. “To ine tho deceased was a personal friend, and one whoso friendship I thoroughly appreciated. As Gliicf of tho Imperial General Staff, it was Sir Henry Wilson’s duty to .report and confer ivith tho Imperial War Council of 1018 oh matters connected with tho very serious state of things that then existed. Again, in 1019, when the Peace Conference was sitting in Paris, Sir Henry Wilson was military advisor to the British delegation, and possessed the confidence, in the fullest degree of every one of its members. An cxreYdingly able and gallant soldier, and an enthusiastic British citizen, there was no one connected with t.ho army who contributed more than him to tho defeat of our enemies. Gay and lighthearted, ever ready with a joke; always willing to help those needing assistance, he was ono of the most popular, ae he was one of tho ablest, officer.* in. tLn British army. Always wuuro u "i • ~».e iuilUi tainttjß

ready to Sacrifice himself, he did his full duty, as he understood it, to his country and King, and, as a Toault, ho has died at tho hands of a murderer, hut i feel certain that loyal British citizens in every part of the Empire will never fail to honour the -memory of Sir Henry Wilson as that of a distinguished officer, patriotic citizen, and gallant crcnHenaan^’-