DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16389, 11 July 1927, Page 11

DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY

MURDER OF O'HIGGINS PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS MADE POIGNANT DEATHBED SCENE FATHER'S .ASSASSINATION RECALLED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 11. ■"> ii.ni.) LONDON. July 10. Mr. O'Higgens' attackers chose for the crime the crossroads in Siinssuci Avenue, know by the ominous name of "dark corner," because it is thickly overhung by. trees. Their car was last seen going at a terrific speed along Donnybrook road. The tragedy is more poignant in view of the assassination of his father. Dr. O'Higgens, in 1923. at the hands of seven armed men. The' father, though aged 70, tried to wrest a revolver from Hie hands of tho leader, but the others riddled him with bullets.

Mr. Kevin O'Higgens had a narrow escape from death in May. He and Mr. Cosgrave -.were addressing an open-air meeting in O'Conneil street, and Tiepublicans repeatedly hissed them. Then from a noisy quarter a smoke bomb was hurled. Brigadier General Daily caught it like a cricketer, and stamped out the fuse.

When. Mr. O'Higgens was carried into his house his vitality was such that'his wife and other friends nl the bedside seemed more stricken .than the dying n an, who made his will, spoke to every one individually, and asked for his children, who were out walking with their nurse, Later the two girls were brought to the bedside, and the fathei kissed them farewell, then relapsed into unconsciousness.

Almost Ins Inst words were: "I die for my country, and go to join Michael Collins."

Mr. O'Higgins was regarded as the strong man of the Government. He possessed immense energy, and during Inst election lie spoke in practically every constituency and made it .'i point to lace every heckler. He was always provided with police protect ion, but evaded his guardians as often as possible. His coinage gave the, murderers every opporl unity.

A detective usually accompanied Mr O'Higgins to mass, hut mi this occa sion had been sent on an errand.

The assailants' car was well disguised, bearing a fictitious number. While Plenimmg sought assistance, McNeill, knelt on the pavement and wrote a will at Mr. O'Higgins" dictation which a bystander witnessed.