New Britain herald., 1916-06-26
BASEMENT 0N TRIAL
 FOR HIGH TREASON
Brains Of Irish Rebellion Pleads
 Not Guilty to Charge INDICTMENT OBJECTED TO
Counsel For Prisoner Claims It Set Forth No OffenSe Known to Law and None of Acts Alleged Was in Domain of British King.

London, June 26, 11:4O a. m.-At 10:3O o'clock this morning a clerk in the court of the lord chief justice called out: '"The king versus Sir Roger Easement" and the trial of the knight who is accused of having instigated the Irish rebellion was under way.
 The court room of the lord chief justice is about the size of the room of the supreme court in Washington The judges bench runs along one side with the high iron rallied docks and the jurors box f1anking it on the left and right. The lawyers sit at tables in the we'll, back of which rise half dozen rows of benches which today were filled with barristers in white wigs and black gowns, and with large number of newspaper reporters. Above is a small gallery filled with spectators. Over the dock, in a small balcony, were half a dozen women, in cluding the wife of the chief justice.
 Viscount Reading, the lord chief justice and Justices Avory and HOr- ridge, in bright scarlet robes and pow dened wigs, took their seats, the case was called, and Sir Roger Easement
  of high treason. The prisoner, who was pale, bowed to the justices and the chief justice returned the saluta- tion. The prisoner stood leaning on the iron railing with folded arms while the clerk read the long indict- ment.
 Similar to Lynch Case.
 The indictment followed in legal points that returned against Colonel Arthur Lynch, who fought against the British in the Boer war When asked if he was guilty or not guilty Sir Roger bowed and murmured ln- audibly. His chief counsel Alexan- der Sullivan of Dublin, arose and ar gued that the indictment set forth as mo offense known to the law" and that none of the acts specified was alleged to have taken place in any ter ritory over which the king has any jurisdiction. After consultation the court ruled that any exceptions to the indictment in a case of such import ance could be taken after the hearing without prejudice to the prisoner Then Sir Roger made a formal plea of not guilty, speaking in firm tones. Jurors from the panel were called for ward. The prisoners counsel object ed to the first, who wore on his coat sleeve the khaki band of men attested for the army and waiting to be called up.
 Several peremptory challenges were made by both sides Another tales man with a khaki band was excused because he had been called to the army for July 8.
 After eleven jurors had been seated in the box there was great difficulty in finding the twelfth. The defense chal- 1enged flor cause'' more than a doz- en in succession. At 11:1O o'clock the jury was completed. Each juror took the oath separately "to true deliver ance make between our sovereign lord the king and the prisoner at the bar"
 Jury Middle Aged Men. The jury is composed of middle aged men, apparently of the small merchant and clerk class. Samuel Saunders being a Jew, took the oath with his hat on, but had to repeat it | because he held the testament in his left hand instead of the right. The | jury was sworn three-quarters of an l h our after the court sat
 Government Opens Case The court was cleared of talesmen 1 and the attorney general, Sir Fred | erick Smith, made the opening address | for the government. He dwelt on the gravity of high treason and said the | jury would have to decide whether | there were any eXtenuating circum- stances or whether the offense was an