A PRIEST'S CODES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11444, 25 January 1918, Page 2

A PRIEST'S CODES.

SENTENCE ON THE MAN FROM AMERICA. “MIKE” AND SINN FEIN, A Roman Catholic [priest, Father Michael Daly, who arrived at Liverpool®from America on Monday, was on Thursday charged with having in his possession a code capable of communicating naval and military information, and of conveying two letters to the , United Kingdom. Ho was also charged with making a false declaration. The evidence showed that Father Daly was a saloon passenger in a ship which reached Liverpool from Now York. Ho* said to the aliens officer ho had no letters for other persons, but when he was searched a code and two sealed letters were found. Detective Storey said Father Daly told him he was born in the county of Cork, and was ordained a priest in 1015. He left Ireland for America in September of that year, and obtained a chaplaincy in Virginia, and was afterwards appointed an assistant priest. He told the detective lie received the code written on a piece of notepaper from Father Murphy, of the diocese of Richmond, 'Virginia, who was “a great Irishman,” and inclined to be a Sinn Feiner. SOME KEY WORDS.

Father Daly also said ho was not eoing to send information about Ireland by cable to America, but post it in the oruinary way. If he signed his name “Michael” it would moan Sinn Fein was “all right. ” Asked to explain that, he said it would mean that Sinn Fein would lie recognised by the Government, there -would he no rvoolution, and they would obtain a full measure of Home Rule. If lie signed his name “Mike” it would moan tint Sinn Fein was “bad. ” The letter she said, had been given him just before lie embarked at New York to deliver to friends of the senders in Ireland/ He was not a Sinn Feiner, and brought the letters and code in ignorance of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. He did not think Father Murphy would use the information to foment trouble against the American Government in the prosecution of the war. He had often heard Father Murphy “give England hell.” Regarding another code written in a notebook, Father Daly said he received it from Father Muliheiru, an Irishman living in Now York. Father Mullhearn’s code was a, different code with the same idea. “A SERIOUS VIEW.”

In reply to the magistrate, ho said, Father Murphy was about tweuty-nine years of age.

Inspector Holbrook said the word “automobile” was in both codes, which were very short. Father Daly replied that both Father Murphy and Father Muilhoarn had “automobiles. ” The magistrate said it was almost incredible that the existence of Father Murphy’s code should have been unknown to Futhor Mullheurn. The codes were strikingly similar. A military representative said the War Office took a serious view of the case, ana the magistrate said that would ho apparent to everybody. His Worship: I have hoard what the officer says on behalf of the War Office. It must he obvious to everybody that this is a serious case It Is a very painful one for a magistrate. Still I am hereto do my duty cs I conceive it to be. There will bo a sentence of one month on each of the three charges in the second division.