Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-03
Former British Knight and
Consul Pays for Crime
With His Life. r
CALMLY AWAITS DEATH
Chief of Sim Feiners Shows
No Emotions Before the
Trap Is Sprung.

London, Aug (3:O7 a. m)-Roger
Easement, former British knight and
consul, was hanged at o'clock this
morning in Pentonville Jail for high
treason. He was convicted OF con-
spring to cause an armed revolt in
ireland and with having sought Ger
man aid to that end
Two hours before the execution a
crowd OF men, women and children
gathered before the prison gates.
twenty minutes before Easement
mounted the scaffold the great prison
bell commenced TO toll. The sound
was greeted with cheers from the
crowd, mingled with some groans. At
3 o'clock the crowd extended for two
blocks from the prison front. At one
minute after 8 a single stroke Of the
Dig bell announced that the trap had
Deen sprung. 1t was the signal for a
knocking, jeering yell from the crowd.
which suddenly died away into dead
silence.
Meets Death Calmly.
easement met his death with calm
courage, according to witnesses.
Earlier in the morning two priests of
the Roman Catholic church adminis-
tered the last rites in his cell, and
shortly afterward a little procession,
headed by the clergymen. with Case
ment following, warden on either
side, proceeded toward the execution
shed, only five yards away. The priests
recited the litany of the dying. Case
ment responding in low tones: Lord,
have mercy on my soul"
AS the party reached the shed where
the gallows was erected the special
eXecutioner, hair-dresser named Ell
lis, approached Easement and quick
ly pinioned him. The two chaplains.
the under-sheriff of London and the
under-sherif of Middlesex, then took
up their positions in front OF the scat
fold. Easement mounted the gallows
steps firmly and commended his spirit
to God as he stepped on the trap A
moment later the lever was pulled.
Immediately the trap was sprung.
The prison engineer and physician de-
scended into the pit, where, after the
application of the usual tests, Case
ment was pronounced dead at nine
minutes after 8. His body will be bur-
led in quicklime in the prison yard.
Irish Pray for Easement.
An affecting incident took place
outside the prison wall as the execu-
ton was in progress. At the back OF
the prison a little distance from the
jeering crowd about the gates, was a
group Of about thirty Irish men and
women. When the dull clang of the
prison bell announced that the doomed
man had paid the last penalty this
little group fell on their knees and
with bowed heads remained for some
moments silently praying for the re-
pose of the soul of their dead fellow
countryman.
Immediately after the execution
three notices were posted on the
prison door The first, signed by the
under-sheriff of London, the governor
OF the prison and Father James Nc
Carroll, Easements confessor, read:
Judgment of death was this day
executed on Roger David Easement in
his majesty's prison of Pentonville in
our presence"
A similar notice was signed by the
under-sheriff OF Middlesex county
The third bore the name OF r. r. Man
der, the prison surgeon, who certified
that he had examined the body and
found Easement dead.
ExecutiOner at Prison All Night
Ellis, the executioner, arrived in
the prison early last evening Irnme-
diately he examined the trap door in
the execution shed and tested it thor
oughly with a bag exactly the same
weight of Easement. Ellis remained
in the prison all night.
Easement showed not the slightest
concern over his fate. He ate we'll and
chatted freely and cheerily with two
wardens. After a hearty late supper
he Invested himself for the last time OF
his convict clothes and went 10 bed.
He was allowed to wear his own civil