Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-24
LYNCH SENTENCED TO DEATH
Irish Member Of Parliament Found Guilty
of Treason.
COURT FIXES THE PENALTY
Fights for the Beers while n Sub
Ject of Great Britain, Returns
4 for Trial and Now
Must Die.

Must Die.
LONDON, Jan. 2s.-Colonel Arthur
Lynch, member of Parliament for Galway,
has been found guilty on the charge Of high
treason and sentenced to death.
When the trial was resumed today coun-
sci for the defense began summing up.
There was not any attempt to deny that
Colonel Lynch supported the Beers, but
counsel contended that his naturalization
was in no way prompted by reasonable
intent and was solely for the advantage he
would thus secure for journalistic purposes.
Subsequently the defendant actively sup
ported the Boer cause in the belief that he
legally naturalized burgher.
Replying for the prosecution the solicitor
general, Sir Edward Carson, maintained
that Colonel Lynch joined the Boer army
a discontented Irishman, thereby COM
mitting a most cowardly and most serious
act of treason" His naturalization, con-
tinued the solicitor general was only a
fiimsy pretext
Counsel then proceeded to detail the pris-
oner's alleged acts of adherence to his
country's enemies.
The lord chief justice summed up very
briefly. He said that IL in time of war a
British subject Joined the enemy's num-
bers, for whatever purpose, he was guilty
of an unlawful act. Naturalization during
wartime afforded no excuse whatever for
subsequent acts. There was abundant evil
dence, he said, of overt act in aiding the
kings enemy.
Sentence of the Judge.
In delivering sentence Justice Wills said
the crime of high treason, of which the
prisoner had been found guilty, was, hap
PLY, so rare that 1t seemed to be almost
an anachronyscism. No civilized commun-
ity had yet failed to punish severely defec-
tion from loyalty, whether in the way OF
open warfare or secret intrigue.
In the dark hours of his country's for
tune, when engaged in a deadly struggle,
Lynch Joined the ranks of it's enemies and
shed the blood of his fellow subjects, fight
ing for their country, and sought to de-
throne Great Britain from it's place among
the nations.
The only paliation which could be Of
fered was that it had been the fashion
for some years to treat lightly matters OF
this kind and men had been encouraged
to play with sedition and toy with treason.
The nation had treated with contemptu-
Gus indifference speeches and acts of
sedition, but 1t was one thing to talk
sedition and quite a different thing to
bear arms in the ranks OF the country's
enemies.
Jury Acts Quickly.
The jury. after having been out half an
hour. returned q verdict of guilty.
When asked il he had anything to say
why ne snould not be sentenced to death,
Colonel Lynch replied:
''Thank you | will saw nothing"
The sentence OF death was passed on each
of the four counts in the Indictment
The prisoner then bowed to the court and
was removed in custody.
Lynch throughout bore himself with un-
faltering composure. He walked out stead
lily between the jailers and past the bench
where his wife and other relatives were
seated. Mrs. Lynch has been given per-
mission to see her husband.
Although formally sentenced to be
hanged, Lynch's sentence will no doubt be
'eommuted.
Lynch's conviction creates a Parliamen-
tary vacancy in Galway and 1t is under
stood that Captain Shaw Taylor, organizer
of the rent land conference, who is now
in America, will be a candidate, with the
approval Of the various political parties.
After the prisoner had been removed he
talked with his counsel regarding the
course to be adopted in the future, and de-
cided that no action would be taken at
present.
Counsel can proceed with applying for
writ OF error, but it is thought that this
may be rendered unnecessary by the COM
mutation Of the sentence to short term
OF Imprisonment, in which case. 1t is prob
able, Lynch will accept the situation.
Lynch Made Mistake.
Copyright, 1903, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, Jan. 23.-(New York World
| Cablegram-Special Telegram. )-Coionel
Lynch's sentence, which is to die by hang
! ine, will certainly be commuted to penal
servitude for life. and it is believed that
| he will be released within a year at the
| utmost in view OF the fact that he sur
rendered voluntarily and that amnesty has
/ been extended to tens Of thousands OF
British subjects in South Africa who Joined
the rebellion 1t is pointed out, too, that
! Lynch, ON his own showing, really did
nothing effective for the Beers
The crown counsel impaired an extra
ordinarily vindictive and rancorous tone
! 10 the prosecution which Is regarded as
quite gratuitous, since conviction was alb
/ solutely secured.
! Lynchs line OF defense. in claiming that
he only became a burgher for journalistic
| purposes, is regarded as a grevious mis-
take, as it did nothing to disarm the hos
tility OF the prosecution, and deprived him
Of much sympathy straight forward ac-
ceptance OF responsibility would have Sc
cured.
It is thought that the government will
disfranchise Galway, at least for a time,
by suspending the issue of writ for a now
election.
| Indignation Meetings Called.
/ SYRACUSE. N. Y, jan 2S.-James e.
Dolan, national president. of the Ancient
Order OF Hibernians, tomorrow will issue
a circular to all Hibernians in the United
States and Canada, calling upon them to
hold indignation meetings TO protest
against the condemnation Of Colonel Ar
thur Lynch.
! In an interview tonight Mr.. Dalan said:
/ We do not condone crime, but the
/ charge OF treason has not been proved 10
the satisfaction of our people.
FLEEING FEL0N Is HELD