The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-24
Irish Member of the British Parlia-
ment Who Went to south Africa
and Aided the Beers.
MAY ESCAPE THE GALLOwS
But PROBABLY WILL SPEND RE-
MAINDER OF LIFE IN PRISON.
Remarks of Justice Wells, Who
Too Much Free Speech.

LONDON, Jan. 23.-Colonel Arthur
Lynch. member of Parliament for Galway.
who fought with the Beers against his
own government, was to-day found guilty
of treason and sentenced to death.
At the trial to-day counsel for the de-
fense made no attempt to deny that Colonel
Lynch supported the Beers. but contended
that his naturalization was in no way
prompted by reasonable intent and was
solely for the advantage he would thus Sc
cure for journalistic purposes. Subse-
quently the defendant actively supported
the Boer cause in the belief that he was
legally naturalzed burgher.
Replying to the prosecution the solicitor
general. Sir Edward Carson. maintained
that Colonel Lynch joined the Boer army
as a discontented Irishman, thereby COM
mitting a most cowardly and most serious
act of treason" His naturalization, con-
tinued the solicitor general, was only
fiimsy pretext. Counsel then proceeded to
detail the prisoners alleged acts of ad-
herence to his country's enemies.
The lord chief justice summed UP very
briefly. He said that If in war time
British subject joined the Kings enemies
whatever his purposes, he was guilty of
an unlawful act Naturalization during war
time afforded no excuse whatever for SUBJ
sequent acts. There was abundant evi-
dence. he said. of overt acts in aiding the
Kings enemies.
The jury, after having been out half an
hour, returned a verdict of guilty When
asked If he had anything to say to why
he should not be sentenced to death, Col
onel Lynch replied: THANK Won T will
say nothing" The sentence of death was
passed on each of the four counts in the in
dictment In delivering sentence Justice
Wells said the charge of high treason, of
which the prisoner had been guilty. was
happily rare. No civilized community had
yet failed TO punish severely detection from
fare or secret intrigue In the darkest hour
of his countrys condition, when engaged
in a deadly struggle. Lynch joined the
ranks of his foes and shed the blood of his
fellow-subjects fighting for their country.
and sought to dethrone Great Britain from
her place among the nations. The only
palIiation which could be offered was that
IL had been the fashion for some years
TO treat lightly matters of this kind, and
men had been encouraged to play with Sc
dtion and toy with treason The nation
had treated with contemptuous Indifference
treason and acts of sedition, but il was one
thing to talk sedition and quite a differ
ent thing to bear arms in the ranks of the
countrys foes.
Lynch throughout bore himself with nm
faltering composure. He walked out stead
lily between the jailers and passed the
bench where his wife and other relatives
were seated. Mrs. Lynch has been given
permission to see her husband. Although
formally sentenced TO be hanged Lynch s
sentence will no doubt be commuted.
After the prisoner had been removed
Lynch and his counsel had a conference re-
garding the course to be adopted i'm the
future, and later IL was announced that
no action would be taken at present Coun-
sci can proceed with applying for a writ of
error but it is thought that this may be
rendered unnecessary by the communication
of the sentence TO a short term of impris-
onment, in which case IL is probable the
prisoner will accept the situation.
Lynch's conviction creates a Parliament
ary vacancy in Galway. and Ii is under
stood that Capt. Shave Taylor. organizer
of the recent land conference, who is now
in America. will be a candidate, with the
approval of the various political parties.