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Jeremiah A. O'Leary

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Not to be confused with the American newspaper reporter Jeremiah O'Leary.
Jeremiah A. O'Leary
O'Leary in 1918
Born(1881-07-24)July 24, 1881
Glens Falls, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 13, 1972(1972-03-13) (aged 90)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Lawyer, journalist, politician
Political partyFarmer–Labor
Other political
affiliations		Sinn Féin
Spouse
Gertrude E. Whalen
​
​
(m. 1909, died)​
Children5

Jeremiah Aloysius O'Leary[1] (July 24, 1881 – March 13, 1972)[2] was an Irish-American lawyer, journalist and politician who was arrested and charged with treason under the Espionage Act during World War I.[3]

Long active in Irish nationalist politics,[4] O'Leary was indicted by a grand jury in 1917 and charged with inciting mutiny in the United States Armed Forces.[5] He fled the state and spent several months as a fugitive, but was captured and returned to New York.[6] After a nine-month trial,[7] O'Leary was acquitted on all but one of the charges (the last of which hung the jury)[8] and was released.[9] Later indictments against him were dismissed.[10]

Career

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O'Leary founded the American Truth Society in 1912, an anti-British organization that sought to prevent an Anglo-American alliance and drew support primarily from the Irish and German diaspora.[11] During the 1916 presidential election, O'Leary sent president Woodrow Wilson a telegram attacking him for his pro-British foreign policy, claiming it would cost him the election.[3] Wilson responded as follows:

I would feel deeply mortified to have you or anybody like you vote for me. Since you have access to many disloyal Americans and I have not I will ask you to convey this message to them.[12]

In 1920, O'Leary ran for Congress in New York's 18th congressional district, challenging incumbent Democrat John F. Carew.[13] Running as a Farmer–Laborite, O'Leary campaigned on the release of all political prisoners, opposition to the League of Nations, U.S. recognition of the revolutionary governments in Ireland and Russia, and public ownership of mines.[14] Although early returns from the New-York Tribune showed O'Leary in the lead,[15] he ultimately came in third place with just over 25% of the vote.[16]

Later in life, O'Leary campaigned for the release of Tom Mooney.[17] In 1933, he was appointed to the Triborough Bridge Authority by mayor John P. O'Brien.[18]

Works

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References

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  1. ^ "Whalen-O'Leary nuptials in metropolis on Oct. 6". The Post-Star. Glens Falls. 24 September 1909. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Death Notices". Daily News. New York. 14 March 1972. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b O'Leary, Jeremiah A. (1919). My Political Trial and Experiences. New York: Jefferson Publishing Co. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  4. ^ Documents Relative to the Sinn Fein Movement. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1921. pp. 9, 27–28. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  5. ^ "O'Leary indicted on sedition charge". The New York Times. New York. 24 November 1917. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Jeremiah O'Leary captured June 12 on Pacific Coast". Brooklyn Eagle. Brooklyn. 16 June 1918. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  7. ^ "O'Leary back; may testify". Brooklyn Citizen. Brooklyn. 18 June 1918. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  8. ^ "O'Leary wins near acquittal in long fight". New York Herald. New York. 24 March 1919. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Jeremiah A. O'Leary Out Under $100,00 Bail". New-York Tribune. New York. 28 March 1919. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Ten indictments in wartime cases are dismissed". The Evening World. New York. 4 October 1922. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  11. ^ Cuddy, Joseph Edward (1976). Irish-America and National Nsolationism, 1914-1920. New York: Arno Press. pp. 33, 41. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  12. ^ Farmer, Frances (1956). The Wilson Reader. New York: Oceana Publications. p. 100. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  13. ^ "O'Leary out for Congress". The Herald Statesman. Yonkers. 20 September 1920. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  14. ^ "DAILY NEWS' Political Forum–O'Leary and Carew". Daily News. New York. 26 October 1920. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  15. ^ "O'Leary, Farmer-Labor Man, Leads for Congress". New-York Tribune. New York. 3 November 1920. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  16. ^ "NY- District 18, November 02, 1920". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Mooney Release Plea Wins Sympathy Here". Brooklyn Eagle. Brooklyn. 1 December 1931. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  18. ^ "BATTLE IS MADE HEAD OF BRIDGE AUTHORITY; Mayor Also Names J.A. O'Leary and F.C. Lemmerman to Board for Triborongh Span". The New York Times. New York. 29 April 1933. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
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