was not a very difficult matter in a short space of time we had practically all the reliable or the reliables ones organised into an organisation of productivity. His reinstatement on the stock exchange, however, did not affect him in any sense, because he did not ever go back to it. But while he was a member of the Exchange his younger son Joe died and this caused him tremendous grief; to such an extent that myself and Major Enright tried everything possible in our efforts to console him. The other son was Eamonn McGarrity but the one carrying his name had passed on when medical science was unable to cure him. It was extremely lucky for the Clan that a man like Joe McGarrity existed because the economic conditions were not conducive sufficiently enough to enable our members to be of any real financial help. In addition a lot of those who were well-supplied with the nations wealth had passed away by that time. After his return from Ireland late in 1939 he was obviously a very sick man. While his interest in Ireland seemed to be unflagging, nevertheless his physical strength was rapidly deteriorating, until he passed on in August 1940. Due to the utter confusion caused by some of our irresponsible members of the time and during the war, and the early stages of the war, some of our friends felt that it was better Joe had passed on because if he had lived during WWII he would only have ended up in endless trouble. Particularly so, after Ireland had declared neutrality a step that was very hard to understand here but at the same time in America it had caused a terrific lot of hostility towards our people. Even a lot of our own people, particularly many Irish-Americans became so antagonised that it was impossible to reason with them in any shape or form. Our people were simply at the mercy of this kind of atmosphere with the result that activity during the war on Ireland's behalf was down to the barest possible minimum. All connection with Ireland had been practically cut off. Had Joe lived he would have been horrified [Belt No. 5 Page 3] that members of the Clan na Gael claimed that the 4,000 Dollars which he put up for the Sean Russell Bond was actually claimed by the Clan na Gael unlawfully. Even to the extent of going into Court and giving evidence which was altogether untruthful. I was the only living witness, outside Jim McGrannery, when Joe handed over the 4,000 in 100 Dollar Bills and Jim was smart enough to note down the serial numbers of each one. These same bills were produced in court when the Clan na Gael tried to claim that it was their money. It really belonged to the McGarrity family. Jim McGrannery refused to put me on the stand although I was the only living person to witness the entire deal. He apparently felt that they would shy away from nothing to try and destroy my evidence. [Belt No. 6 Page 1] .... Jim McGrannery was. The case was called before the Federal Court in Philadelphia, in which the Clan tried to claim the $4000 which Joe McG. had given to Jim McGrannery. Jim McGrannery had held this money and up to then had not taken anything for his services. However, the Clan managed to get two political attorneys who were very bitter against Jim McGrannery and the late Joe McG. With the result that one of them made a very vicious attack against Joe McG. This attack was all the more outrageous as it was directed against a dead man not able to defend himself. It completely stunned me that anybody would stoop to such low tactics. However, a very loyal friend of ours, Bill Carroll of Philadelphia got on the witness stand and defended Joe McG. pointing out to all the long years of Joe's tremendous kindness and generosity and his unparalleled help to Ireland and any Irish cause that needed help. Unfortunately, the Clan produced three witnesses, each of whom had benefited financially by Joe McG's business enterprises. Still, the three maintained that they had handed over the money in bills of small denominations of $5- and $10-. This of course was a most ridiculous statement since Jim McGrannery had held those $4000 in bills of $100, each serial number noted and dated at the time. The excuses given by the Clan members that the money had been collected all over America in small sums was absolutely untrue. However, the worst part of the entire proceeding was that these three men had gained so much by Joe's friendship and now had gone to Court and sworn to something which was a blatant lie. The very fact that the Jury, who sat on this [Belt-No. 6 Page 2] case, did not seem to even understand the first thing about it - with the result that the Clan got [possession] of the money. Then what happened? The Clan fell out amongst themselves and one section brought the other section into Court to claim the money. Consequently, a great part of these $4000 - less Jim McGrannery's fees - was then lost for solicitors fees in New York City by the two sections of the Clan opposing each other. What ever was left was retained by the Secretary of the Clan, since deceased, who in turn gave it to his wife who refused to hand it over, and rightly so, because the money did not belong to the Clan, it actually belonged to the Joe McG. family. Subsequent efforts by visiting IPA representatives to get this remaining
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