Letter from D. C., Stafford, England, to James Ryan, 9 August 1916 Letters 1916-1923 D. C.

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James Ryan (1891-1970) studied medicine in UCD. He was appointed chief medical officer in the GPO during the Easter Rising. After the Rising he was imprisoned in Stafford and, later, Frongoch and was released in August 1916. Ryan was later a founder member of Fianna Fáil and a government minister. The letter writer is from Stafford, where Ryan spent some time in prison and the letter was written after his return to Ireland. It makes reference to the campaign to secure amnesty for the release of the remaining 1916 leaders. It also refers to the execution of Roger Casement who was arrested before the outbreak of the Rising and hanged in England in August 1916. Reference is made to a campaign in the press to 'blacken' Casement's name and the infamous 'Black Diaries' that were used in evidence against Casement at his trial.

 University College Dublin Archives Dr James Ryan Papers, P 88/48(1) https://letters1916.ie/item/3460 English D. C. 1916-08-09 Acton Trussell, Stafford, England James Ryan Male Politics Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Politics

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 Perhaps if you know anything definite of "Crowley" you will let me know. His people would be pleased to know something definite about him. All here are very pleased at your release and all hope you will be able to keep the flag flying. Yours very sincerely D.C. The Grange Acton Trussell Nr. Stafford 9 Aug. 1916 Dear Jim, Thanks very much for your letter. I had already heard from Fr. Moore that you had been released and was glad to hear it. Fr. Moore told me that of the Stafford contingent only about 100 remained in internment, all the others having been released. I hope this is not an exaggeration but it seems too good to be true; though it is evident a large number have been set free. Is there no possibility of any public agitation in Ireland for a general amnesty? They hanged Casement alright, though most of us expected they would not have had the pluck to do so. That they all had the wish we knew. Still I have no doubt he was quite prepared to die and the failure of the reprieve petitions did not worry him much. The most disgraceful thing about the whole affair was the inspired attempt on the part of a section of the press to blacken his character. We were treated to all sorts of hints as to the horrible life of vice he had led as shown by his entries in his diaries, etc. Even The TImes was moved to protest against it as being generally disgraceful and un-English. Is there any movement a foot to subscribe Ginnell's price. I think it would be great to organise a penny subscription and I have no doubt the necessary 24,000 pennies would be forthcoming. It would probably make the authorities regret they had interfered. And after all we would have reason to thank the Stafford Commandant. By the way, did you know of any man named Crowley connected with the Sinn Fein movement. in Dublin. If there was such a person you would of course know of him My reason for inquiries is that These are some friends of mine of that name in the South of Ireland — formerly they lived in Banteer now at Rathmore. Several of them have been at Siemans one in particular called by the family He was rather a mild case and left Stafford some years ago. Very little has been heard of him since but of late there had been rumours that he was acting as a sort of go-between for the Volunteers & the Irish Americans or at any rate in some such capacity. In fact the day you were leaving Stafford one of them to whom I was speaking at the carriage window on learning I was from Co. Cork Exclaimed 'Oh your friend Crowley got away alright'. I had not time to question him better. Of course the expression "your friend" was just a phrase and only a wee coincidence Acton Trussell, Stafford, England Letter from D. C., Stafford, England, to James Ryan, 9 August 1916 James Ryan Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 26 May 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 3 June 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 25 June 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 2 July 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 11 July 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 19 July 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, c. August 1916Letter from Seaghan Z to James Ryan, 12 July 1916Letter from 'Teresa'(Agnes Ryan) to James Ryan, 20 May 1916Letter from Katherine Brady to James Ryan, 5 July 1916Letter from Joe to James Ryan, 25 May 1916Letter from Denis McCullough to James Ryan, c. June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 19 May 1916Letter from Madge Calnan to James Ryan , 8 June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, c. June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, 1 June 1916Letter from Madge Calnan to James Ryan, 17 June 1916Postcard from 'M' to James Ryan, 27 May 1916Letter from 'Teresa' (Agnes Ryan) to her brother James Ryan, 4 June 1916Letter from Peggie O'Sullivan, Birmingham, to James Ryan, 1 July 1916Letter from Josephine Mary (Min) Ryan to James Ryan, 29 May 1916Letter from Chris Ryan to James Ryan, 13 June 1916Letter from Jim to James Ryan, 11 July 1916Letter from R. Hickey to James Ryan, 26 May 1916Letter from Mary M to James Ryan, 1916Letter from K.B to James Ryan, c. early June 1916Letter from Maudie Davin to James Ryan, 6 July 1916Letter from Kathleen Teebay, Stafford, England to James Ryan, 4 July 1916Letter from James Ryan to Liam Ó Briain, 1 June 1916Letter from Michael Collins to James Ryan, 23 August 1916Letter from Michael Collins to James Ryan, 2 September 1916Letter from Eamonn T. Dore to James Ryan, 19 September 1916Letter from Sean T. O'Kelly to James Ryan, 26 August 1916Letter from Sean T. O'Kelly to James Ryan, 15 September 1916Letter from Sean T. O'Kelly to James Ryan, 22 October 1916Letter from Mairín Ní Ribhógh to James Ryan, 2 August 1916Letter from Major C. Harold Heathcote to James Ryan, 13 September 1916Letter from Major C. Harold Heathcote to James Ryan, 19 September 1916Letter from Cis M. Coyle to James Ryan, 11 June 1916Letter from Phyllis Ryan to James Ryan, Tuesday 6 June 1916Letter to James Ryan from Frances KellyLetter to James Ryan from MargaretLetter to James Ryan from May GrayLetter from Eamonn T. Dore to James Ryan, c. September 1916Letter from Mort O'Connell to James Ryan, 9 October 1916Letter from Maura [Power] to James Ryan, 18 October 1916Letter from Kathleen Teebay, Stafford, England to James Ryan, 1 August 1916Letter from Kathleen Teebay, Stafford, England to James Ryan, 7 October 1916Letter from D. C., Stafford, England, to James Ryan, 9 August 1916Letter from Peg O'Sullivan, Birmingham, to James Ryan, 2 October 1916 D. C. Letter from D. C., Stafford, England, to James Ryan, 9 August 1916