THE “DAILY RECORD” TO THE RESCUE
Three days after the explosion, the “Daily Record,” which had from
the first given exceptional prominence to everything connected with
the outrages, issued a special supplement, in which, in a letter to
the people of England, the editor said that in view of the infamous
conspiracy which had been formed against the welfare of the British
Empire, and against the lives of British citizens, the proprietors
of the “Daily Record” had some months ago decided to bring all their
resources, capital, and energy to bear upon the discovery of the
promoters of the conspiracy. In the carrying out of this investigation,
the services of the very ablest English and foreign detectives had been
engaged, their instructions being that, so long as absolute secrecy was
observed and ultimate success attained, the question of expense was to
remain entirely unconsidered. As a result, he was now able to supply
the names and, in three cases, personal descriptions and portraits of
seven men who were beyond all question the leaders of the movement,
and one of whom--though which he regretted he was at present unable
to say--the notorious Captain Shannon himself. The proprietors of the
“Record” had not intended, he said, to make known their discoveries
until the investigation had reached a more forward and satisfactory
stage, but in view of what had recently occurred they had decided that
it would not be right to withhold any information which might assist
in bringing the perpetrators of the diabolical outrage to justice. In
conclusion, he announced that the proprietors of the “Daily Record”
were prepared to offer the following rewards:--
First, they would pay to any person, by means of whose information the
capture had been effected, a reward of £3,000 per head for the arrest
of any of the seven men whose names appeared on the list.
Secondly, to any person who would give such information as would lead
to the arrest of Captain Shannon, and at the same time furnish proof of
his identity, they would pay a reward of £20,000.
And in offering these rewards they made no exception in regard to the
persons who were eligible to claim them. So long as the person claiming
the reward or rewards had supplied the information which led to the
arrest or arrests of the individuals indicated, the money should be
faithfully paid without question or reservation.
Needless to say the publication of this letter, with the names, and
in three cases with portraits, of the men who were asserted to be the
leaders of the conspiracy, and the offer of such large rewards, created
a profound sensation not only in England and Ireland, but in America
and on the Continent.
One or two of the “Daily Record’s” contemporaries did not hesitate to
censure the action which had been taken as an advertising dodge, and a
well-known Conservative organ declared that such a direct insult to the
authorities was calculated seriously to injure the national prestige of
England; that the Government had made every possible effort to protect
society and to bring the perpetrators of the recent outrages to book,
and that the result of the “Record’s” rash and ill-advised procedures
would be to stultify the action of the police and to defeat the ends
of justice.
On the other hand, the public generally--especially in view of the
fact that the “Record” had succeeded in discovering who were the
leaders of the conspiracy (which the police had apparently failed to
do)--was inclined to give the editor and the proprietors credit for the
patriotism they claimed, and it was confidently believed that the offer
of so large a reward would tempt some one to turn informer and to give
up his confederates to justice.
What the “Daily Record” did for England the “Dublin News”--which had
been consistently loyal throughout, and the most fearlessly outspoken
of all the Irish Press in its denunciation of Captain Shannon--did
for Ireland. It hailed the proprietors and editor of the “Record”
as patriots, declaring that, in view of the inefficiency which the
Government had displayed in their efforts to protect the public, it
was high time that the public should bestir itself and take the matter
into its own hand. It reprinted--by the permission of the “Record”--the
descriptions and portraits of the “suspects,” and distributed them
broadcast over the country, and it announced that it would add to the
amount which was offered by the “Daily Record” for information which
would lead to the arrest of Captain Shannon the sum of £5,000.