through sheer hell all due to the mistakes of his partner and some clerk, yet, his first concern was how to help effectively. Throughout the time all this was going on - and in a copybook example of ingratitude - this certain “one-time friend" from whom Joe had borrowed money kept pestering him with letters, messages, and verbal reminders asking for full repayment, although he knew that Joe did not have any money at that time nor any hope of getting a substantial sum. So, Joe made a personal appeal to this so called friend, whom he had befriended for so many years, only to be rejected point blank. The man asked for repayment of his loan and nothing else. While this icecold attitude made me "see red" it was in keeping with Joe's gentleness to express no more than his feeling of hurt and disturbance. As a matter of fact Joe asked me to contact this man who was in the law business and engaged in Clan activities including the recovery of certain Clan na Gael equipment in Hoboken at [147] a pier there. He also was entrusted with some very important papers. When I met him he told me he would have to go away for a few days in order to collect these papers and that he would need advance payment of $350.00, a Sum which I paid him (and which I had borrowed from an aunt of mine at the time). This same man also held actual Power of Attorney from Larry de Lacey to Joe McGarrity. Major Enright, Luke Dillon, John T. Ryan and Major Kinkead covering the details of this whole equipment affair in Hoboken. Right from the start I had always regarded that Power of Attorney document a most dangerous paper to leave in anybody's hands and I was determined to take it away from the man. My visit on Joe's behalf gave me a good opportunity to discuss and, hopefully, solve the problem as I planned it. (It must be said here that this document proved beyond a doubt that the Clan recaptured 500 Thompson machine guns from the U.S. Government which they had previously captured off a ship docked at Hoboken. Subsequently, the Clan na Gael forces had removed, unlawfully, these very same 500 machine guns from the customs men. Now. and with that famous document, our "guilt" could be proved in full and this was the reason why I wanted so desperately to have it destroyed.) But on with the story. At first, our friend refused point blank to hand over the document no matter what I said; but then I pointed out to him his OWN precarious position as the dangerous paper included his own name too. That did the trick! I finally got him to agree to my suggestion, namely, to burn it, and that in my presence. In we went to his bathroom where I produced a box of matches and he the document and soon we had a pretty, little Bonfire going. Matter of fact, we almost set the bathroom on fire in the process! I returned to Philadelphia to give Joe the good news. Immediately, the same lawyer got on to me again. He recognised the fact that I was fully aware of his attitude in constantly pestering Joe with his demands for money. He also [148] knew that I was familiar with Joe's constant help to him over the many years. Consequently, and when I met him, the atmosphere was obviously rather tense and strained. When he asked me for still more money, I threw the question at him, "And what for?" to which he gave me some vague excuse that it was "for expenses incurred". There and then I reminded him that I already had given him $350.00 out of my own pocket, that I had no more money, and I that he would not get any more. "Well, get it from the Clan then" he said. "I will certainly NOT, since they know nothing about this whole transaction, and I want to keep it that way", I told him. Of course, he did not like it but he had to accept my decision. That was the last time I ever saw or spoke to the man. I do know, however, that some years later and when this same man lay dying, he asked for Joe McGarrity to come and see him. It so happened that the message was passed on to me and, of course, immediately telephoned Joe in Philadelphia. Typical of Joe. he jumped on the next train to New York and visited and comforted this former friend before he died. Just so, as if nothing had ever happened and as if the man had never hunted and pestered him when Joe was down and out. This, indeed, was just one more example of Joe's almost superhuman and saintly way to practice TRUE charity and Christianity. (Years later Joe once told me that when he was sitting at the man's bedside the fellow looked up at him and had said quietly "You know, Joe. I rather see you here than anyone else now, where the end is near for me”). It was around that same time, toot that Joe was approached by a U.S. Marshall in Philadelphia who stated that a Thompson machine gun, owned by the Clan na Gael, had been taken and passed on into the hands of some criminal elements. Joe checked with me and I told him that I just not believe that whole story. Involved were two Thompson machine guns. One was located in Detroit, which I [149] actually picked up myself and brought back
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