IRISH FREE STATE

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 48, Issue 14625, 27 March 1922, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

SHADOW OF CIVIL WAR. POSITION FULL OF PERIL. Press Association—Electric Telegraph— Copyright(Received .Monday, 0.15 a.in.) LOIN DON. Sunday. Irish events thrust the political crisis into the background. The Northern Cabinet has been summoned to meet on Monday to discuss the invitation of the British Government to Sir Janies Craig and Mr. Michael Collins to come to London with any colleagues they wish in order that the Government may examine with them every aspect of the situation. Meanwhile Sir James Craig has telegraphed to Mr. Winston Churchill assurances of earnest consideration of Downing Street’s hopes for a. successful outcome of the new conference, based on the Government's firm determination to avert the terrible shadow of civil war, together with the Premier’s opportune recovery and return. Some well-informed quarters are hinting that he is speeding Track to London because he is keenly desirous of attempting the role of mediator between the North and South.

Unfortunately in Ireland events seem to be hastening from bad to worse. Correspondents describe the position as full of peril, which only prompt action can avert. The Observer 's correspondent, who is touring the danger zones, telegraphs:— “Animosities were never so keen and unless something is done a sanguinary outbreak is inevitable. Active military preparations are going on along the northern frontier. ’ ’ Bridges have been blown up and roads blocked, while troops are drilling through the belief, which the correspondent thinks is not justified, that the - Southern Irish Republican Army is secretly massing troops -some distance from the border for another extensive raid. The same paper ’s Belfast, correspondent thinks that the Northern Cabinet is certain to accept the London invitation, being sincerely anxious to restore peace.—United Service.

MURDER OF MCMAHON FAMILY. A SHOCKING AFFAIR. LONDON, Friday. Not since the murder of sixteen officers in Dublin on Black Sunday has such a thrill of horror stricken Ireland as lias been caused by the murder of Owen McMahon, a well-known Belfast saloon-keeper, and his three sons. Protestants and Catholics alike condemn the murder, which is clearly a reprisal for the assassination of two constables in Belfast yesterday.

Mr. MeMaHon was a Nationalist in politics, ,a keen sportsman, and very popular with all classes. The murderers gained admission by smashing the glass hall door and lifting the latch. The inner door, which barred their way, was smashed in with a sledge hammer. The house was in' ■' darkness at the time. Mrs! McMahon, hearing a noise, said it was a bomb. . The wife and husband got up at tlie same time and went downstairs. They met masked men on the stairway. The murderers then collected the women—Mrs. McMahon, her niece and daughter, aged fourteen years, and the maid servants —and put them in a back room on the first floor.

The murderers then went up the stairs, awakened seven, men at the revolver’s point, and compelled them ; to come downstairs in their shirts and join their father. The masked mpn were carrying candles, whieh they brought with them. When all were gathered in the parlour there was a pause. The leader told the terror-stricken men to use a few moments to pray, for their souls. They lined them up against the wall. On one side of the fireplace was Mr. McMahon, then a son and a barman. On the other side were two other sons, and on a chair near the door a fourth son. All were shot. One, Jeremiah, aged fifteen, died immediately, but the others lingered on. The masked men missed a boy of eleven, who was shrieking, with fright and ran round the table, _ Two otl/er shots at the boy ricoehetted off the surface of the table into the Avails. The boy was finally found under the sofa petrified with fear. All was over in six minutes. The murderers then climbed over tho paling fence of the garden and disappeared into the darkness, while the police, hearing .Mrs. McMahon’s screams fro in, the Window, entered at the front door.

On a chair in the hall they found a young man in his night shirt gasping out his life. The scene in the parlour was even more horrible. Mr. McMahon was writing in agony. On the floor were five dead or dying. Before they left, the murderers unlocked the dor of an upstairs room") and when she came downstairs Mrs. McMahon saw the horrifying spectacle. Slid collapsed, and is still unconscious. One boy is expected to recover. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. i. £IOOO REWARD OFFERED. LONDON, Saturday. Tho Ulster Government is offering a reward of £IOOO for information that will lead to the conviction of the murderers of Mr. Mc3lnhon. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. ORANGE HEADQUARTERS SEIZED. (Received Monday, 9.25 a.m.) LON 1) ON, Sun<iay. Forty men, identified as workmen expelled from Belfast, seized the Orange headquarters, a largo building in Parnell Square, Dublin, and ejected the occupants.—Aue. and N.Z. Gable Assn. “THE WORLD RECOILS WITH HORROR.’’ (Received Monday, 9.25 a.m.) 5 LONDON, Sunday. Tiie Times says editorially: “Me are appalled at the awful murder of the Roman Catholic family of McMahon irBcl fast. 'The civilised world recoils

.jdth horror, stricken before the lengthening tale of barbarous outrages which, have disgraced Irelantf, north and south, alike, during the last three years.”— The Times. FURTHER MURDERS IN BELFAST. (Received Monday, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. Further shooting has occurred in Belfast. This morning Margaret Savage was hilled by a bullet entering the window of her residence. A soldier was found murdered in tho. streets. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. , A SECRET CONVENTION. —. v f (Received Monday, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. The LR.A. Convention assembled in the Mansion' House in defiance, of the Da if Eireann Cabinet's prohibition. Two hundred delegates from the commands in revolt attended. The utmost secrecy was preserved regarding the proceedings. —Aus. and; N.Z. Gable Assn. CATHOLICS MURDERED. LONDON, Saturday* There were three murders at Tyrone to-day. The victims were all Catholics. The murders were presumably reprisals for the murder of loyalists. A police patrol of fifty was ambushed near Pomeroy. Tho lighting lasted for six hours." Several members of the patrol were wounded and one was captured. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. —— t • A SERIES OF OUTRAGES. (Received Monday, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. . The Presbyterian school house in. Raphael street, Belfast, was blown up, while a large produce merchant’s premises were destroyed by fire. Two bridges at Carrickmore were blown up. . Scott, a loyalist, while feeding cattle on the Caledon-Aughiui cloy sector of the. frontier, was killed by snipers. Ausgad N.Z. Cable Assn. • ... CANTHAR (Regd.) An ideal hair tonic, specially prepared to produce a vigorous growth of hair and kedp 'ihe scalp 1 healthy and, free from dandruff. If imparts that lustre and softness so much desired; is cleanly in use, and is a superior refreshing drosing. 3/6 per bottle—At Gordon’s Ph armacy, 31 asteri on.