SIR HENRY WILSON’S MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18590, 26 June 1922, Page 5

SIR HENRY WILSON’S MURDER

ASSASSINS BEFOEE THE COUET.

PROTECTION OF WITNESSES

PILGRIMAGE TO EATON PLACE.

LONDON, June 23. A crowd is making a pilgrimage to-day to Eaton place. Special interest is taken in the bullet hole in the door of Sir Henry Wilson’s house.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

PROTECTION OF MINISTERS.

EXPLANATION IN PARLIAMENT.

LONDON, June 23. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain stated that, acting under Scotland Yard’s advice, apparenJv owing to the improved Irish situatien, the protection had recently been withdrawn in regard to members of the" Cabinet and otners concerned in the Irish question. Mr Shortt (Home Secretary), questioned, said that the protection had been removed from everyone except the Irish Secretary, Sir Hamar Greenwood. Cries of “Oh!” The guards were now restored.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

MARKED FOR DEATH.

SIR HENRY WILSON’S COURAGE.

LONDON, June 25 Sir Henry Wilson was marked for death, and he knew it, declared Colonel Gretton, M.P. Sir Henry had been warned of the probability of an attempt? on his life, but it had not had the slightest effect in deflecting him from what ho thought to be his duty. Sir Henry Wilson was regarded as particularly dangerous to the schemes of tho extremists. Colonel Gretton alleged that the Government had been warned that gunmen were coming over, but no notice seems to have been taken of the warning. ■—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE CITY SEARCHED,

SEVERAL PERSONS DETAINED,

LONDON, June 23. Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, stated that a considerable number of places in London were searched last night. Fifteen men and one woman were detained. Some arms and incUndiary fuses were discovered. With the exception of the woman, those detained in last night’s raid were later released.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

SENSATIONAL DOCUMENTS. CAMPAIGN OF OUTRAGE. ... LONDON, June 25. Sensational documents have come into the possession of the police disclosing a conspiracy to take the lives of prominent persons; also a campaign of outrage. TRIBUTE TO POLICE. MESSAGE FROM CABINET. LONDON, June 23. Cabinet sent a message to the Police Commissioner paying a tribute to the courage and devotion of the police in arresting the murderers of Sir Henry Wilson A. and N.Z. Cable. MILITARY FUNERAL. CONDOLENCES TO LADY WILSON.

LONDON, Jane 23. Lady Wilson "will not allow the FieldMarshal’s uniform, in which her husband died, to be removed. She is firmly resolved that he shall be buried in it. He will be accorded a military funeral. The King and the Ulster Parliament sent condolences to Lady Wilson. The Ulster members of the 'House of Commons also sent a message.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE MURDERERS CHARGED BOTH MEN EX-SOLDIERS. SMUGGLED , INTO COURT. FORMAL EVIDENCE AND A REMAND LONDON, June 23. O’Brien and Connolly were charged at the Westminster Police Court, and were remanded for six days. They are exsoldiers. O’Brien has been employed as a messenger in the Labour Ministry’s office. He obtained his job on the strength of his army service. He left for lunch yesterday and did not return. Connolly and O’Brien -were smuggled in by a back entrance, thus outwitting the crowd which had congregated at the main entrance. Both were dishevelled and unkempt, their bandaged heads and faces bearing traces of the struggle. Connolly is tall, burly, and broad-shoul-dered, with heavy, clean-shaven features and a mop of black hair. He looked Muickly round the court, as if seeking a familiar face. O’Brien, who has a wooden leg, nervously clutched the dock rail. Mr Travers Humphreys intimated that he had been instructed to prosecute on charges, firstly, of the murder of Sir Henry Wilson; and, secondly, of shooting with intent to murder Constables March and Saver and a civilian (Mr Alexander Clark). Mr Humphreys then indicated the gravity of the possibilities behind the crime when he said: “It will probably be found necessary to ask the court that the names of the witnesses shall not be published. It will certainly be necessary to ask that no photographs shall be taken or published of persons involved in the case.” Detective-inspector Burton gave evidence of charging the accused at the police station, but neither made a reply. Connolly then asked how the wounded people were progressing, and was told that their condition was -favourable. He remarked: “I am glad to hear that.” Formal evidence was given, after which a remand was granted. The accused were immediately surrounded by police, Connolly again glancing around the court. The accused were removed to Brixton Prison from the front exit, again i outwitting the crowd, who were now watching th L rear exit. Six officers rode at the rear of the van, several detectives following in a motor car A. and N.Z. Cable.

PRESS COMMENT.

CURSE OF IRELAND. LONDON. June 23. _ The Times stigmatises the assassination as the foulest of Irish political crimes, and one which will cause deep And lasting indignation. Public opinion will reprobate the murderers and those who have, tolerated the system of political murders. of which this crime is the outcome. —The Times. The Daily Mail states that the murder will rouse the passionate anger of tho English people, who are slow to anger and who are of almost infinite patience. The Daily Herald (Labour) comments: “It is terrible to think that Ireland’s cup of happiness should once more have been dashed from her lips.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. NEW YORK, June 23. The newspapers consider the assassination of Sir Henry Wilson a great misfortune to Ireland. Tho New York World says: “The echoes of the murder will be a' long time in dying out. They will be heard in Bal-

fast and Westminster. The curse of Ireland to-day is the gunmen and the bands of irresponsible so-called soldiers.” The New York Times says: ‘‘The brutal assassination of Sir Henry Wilson is one more illustration of the malign fate which historically has pursued Irish self-govern-ment.” The New York Herald says that the assassination is further ghastly evidence of the malign spirit which still haunts parts of Ireland.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

STATEMENT BY MR DE VALERA.

HYPOCRITICAL CIVILISATION, LONDON. June 23. (Received June 24. at 5.5 p.m.) Mr de Valera has issued a statement in Dublin to the effect that the killing of any human being is an awful act, but as awful when the victim is a humble worker as when the victim is placed on tho seats of the mighty and known in every corner of tho world. “It is characteristic of our hypocritical civilisation that only in the latter cases are we expected to cry out and express our horror and condemnation. For my part I have nothing but loathing for such a conventional statement, when the plain means to secure that such awful happenings shall not occur are deliberately put aside. I do not approve, but do not pretend to misunderstand.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.

TAXI DRIVER AT SCOTLAND YARD. LONDON, June 23. (Received June 25, at 5.5 p.m.) The driver of the taxi-cab which .conveyed Sir Henry Wilson home called at Scotland Yard and made a long statement. —A. and N-Z- Cable. FRANCE’S SYMPATHY. LONDON, June 23. ...(Received June 25, at 5.5 p.m.) M. Millerand sent a message to the King saying: “The tragic death of this splendid soldier moves profoundly all Frenchmen, who will never forget the sympathies which he, on many occasions, displayed towards France, and the admirable role he played in the organisation of victory.” The King responded.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

LADY WILSON’S GRIEF.

ATTITUDE TO CABINET MINISTERS,

LONDON, June 23. (Received June 25, at 5.5 p.m.) The Morning Post states that Cabinet received with consternation a message from Lady Wilson 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 the Ministers, that the absence of His Majesty’s Ministers from the State funeral would be disrespectful to the King. The Post adds: “Mr Chamberlain called on Lady Wilson after the tragedy to express sympathy and was shown a room into which the widow’s niece entered. She asked who he was and when told she exclaimed, ‘How dare you come to this house?’ Mr Chamberlain thereupon left.” —A. and N.Z. Cable.

MESSAGE FROM BELGIUM. LONDON, June 24. (Received June 25, at 5.5 p.m.) The King of the Belgians has sent a message to King George expressing indignation at the shocking murder of FieldMarshal Sir Henry Wilson, “the distinguished , and able general who rendered such services to the Allies.” The King replied : “The British nation appreciates the knowledge that you share our sorrow. We are appalled that Sir Henry Wilson was the victim of such a dastardly crime.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. INTERMENT IN ST. PAUL’S. LONDON, June 24. (Received June 25, at 6.5 p.m.) The Pall Mall Gazette has been officially informed that Sir Henry Wilson will be buried in St. Paul’s.

DOMINION'S SORROW. MESSAGE FROM GOVERNORGENERAL. . (Peb United Pbess Association.! WELLINGTON, June 25. The Governor-General has sent the following telegram to the Secretary of State for the Colonies : The Government of New Zealand has learned with horror of the dastardly murder of Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson, and the consequent loss’ to Empire of the services of a very distinguished officer. lam asked to express the deepest sympathy with Lady Wilson in her great sorrow. (Signed) Jellicoe. The flags on a number of Dunedin business premises were flown half-mast high on Saturday as a tribute of respect to the memory of Sir Henry Wilson. It is anticipated that the half-masting of flags will be general on the day of the funeral.