Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-16


laws, to the evil example Of others in
like case and contrary to the duty
and allegiance of the said defendants"
Easements Long Statement
Easement is reported to have made
a long statement to the authorities and
it is believed that this statement will
| considerably shorten the hearing be-
fore the magistrate The police court
, hearing is merely a preliminary to
the real trial which will take place
later before a panel of the judges CT
the high court of justice.
Attorney General Sir Frederick E.
Smith, A. H. Bodkin and Travers
Humphreys appeared for the prosecu-
ton and Prof. j. H. Morgan and Ar
temas Jones for the defendants. Sir
John Dickinson presided.
Easements Appearance
Shortly after the magistrate had TAX
en- his seat, Easement and his fellow
prisoner were shown into the docA.
Easements appearance was vastly diff
ferent from that Of the nlan who gani-
ed fame in 1912 by his exposure Of the
cruelties practiced on natives in Pu-
tumayo by British rubber company.
He sat in the dock, resting his chin on
his hand and occasionally looking to-
wards the magistrate.
When the attorney general, in open
ing the case for the prosecution men
toned the comforting of the order Of
dropped his head. The attorney gen.
10 npf-
reer.
Opening Crowns Case
In opening the case for the Grown
the attorney general charged that
Easement had conducted a systematic
campaign among tn: Irish prisoners In
Germany with tie purpose of seducing
them from their allegiance. Bailey, he
said, had been seduced in this manner
and had made a statement explaining
Easements actions in detail. Accord
ing to the attorney general. Bailey was
born in Dublin and Joined the Royal
IRISH Rifles in 1904. He served with his
regiment in India and was honorably
discharged On the outbreak Of the Eu-
'ropean war, Bailey was called out as
a reservist and sailed with the original
expeditionary force to France. He was
taken prisoner in September, 1914.
Irish Prisoners in Germany
The attorney general said that Bailey
had related how large number of
Irish prisoners had been collected from
various prisons in Germany and placed
in a large camp at Limberg. Here they
heard addresses by Easement, who
tried to infiame their minds against
the British government. and persuade
them to break their oaths of allegiance
and support him in his projected eXpe-
dition to Ireland.
Easement As Organizer
The attorney general said Easement
described himself as the organizer Of
the Irish volunteers, and impressed
upon the Irish prisoners in Germany
that everything was to be gained for
Ireland by Germany's winning the war.
Those prisoners who joined a brigade
ised by easement, the attorney general
asserted. that they would be sent to
Berlin as guests of the German gov
eminent In the event that Germany
won d sea battle he ould land the bril-
cade in Ireland to defend that country
against England, AMI if Germany lost
the war the government would give
each man so to 6 30 and free passage
to America.
"PIan Of 1915"
This is the plan conceived in 1916"
said the attorney general "by the man
who in 1911 was begging Sir Edward
(JrpV his doom OF
to the King Of the honor of knighthood,
which had just been conferred on him."
When the speaker added that Case
ment's offer was treated with con-
tempt by a vast majority Of the Irish
prisoners. Easement smiled and
glanced toward Bailey
Sir Frederick Smith followed the
story of Easements alleged machina-
lions in Berlin with details of his trip
by submarine to Tralee and Of how
TINS ship was sunk at Tralee and the
crew was captured
Dramatic Touch
The attorney general here introduced
dramatic touch by having brought in
10 the court green rebel flag. which
ne SAID, Easement had brought from
'0i many " lTeldnd. FOr q moment the
prisoner sat with eyes fixed on the floor,
refusing to look at this emblem of re-
oelilon. Then he glanced up at the
nag and smiled derisively. Most Of
the time during the attorney generals
address he sat with his elbows on his
knee, stroking his beard He apneared
obvious of his surroundings. but oc-
caslonally he glanced UP quickly. show.
ing he was listening to the proceedings
his apparent inatten- |
ton
The calling Of witnesses for the crown |
began Immediately after Sir Frederi.,, |
concluded his address Sir Roger heoar
to take a more lively interest in the
proceedings. He seized a pad of paper |
and started to take notes Of the testi.
mony.
eailey's Statement
statement from Bailey was read nv |
the attorney general Bailey said he |
Joined the Irish brigade at the sup-
gestion of Easement, to see whether n |
would be possible to get out of Ger.
many. After a visit to the German
foreign office. he said, he was told to
make ready to depart and was taken on
board the submarine U-19
When they sighted Tralee he said he
was told the visit was in connection