The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-08-08


was convicted OF conspiracy TO cause
an armed revolt in ireland and WIKI
having sought German aid TO tAat
end.
Before the execution great crowd
Of men, women and children gathered
before the prison gates. Twenty
minutes before Easement mounted the
scat1oli the great prison bell com-
menced to toll. The sound was greet
81 with cheers from the crowd. min
giei wiki some groans. 1t one min
ute after O'Clock single stroke Of
the big bell announced that the trap
mad been sprung 1t was the signal
for mocking, jerring yell from the
crowd which suddenly died away into
silence.
Easement net his death with calm
courage, according to eye witnesses.
Early in the morning two priests of
the Roman Catholic church admins
tered the last rites in the cell of the
condemned man and shortly after
ward little procession headed by the
clergymen with Easement following,
warden on either side, proceeded to
the execution shed, only five yards
away. The priests recited the litany
of the dying, Easement responding in
low tones:
Lord have mercy on my SOUL
According to one of those present
Easements last words were: 81 die
for my country"
The Last Moments.
AS the party reached the shed where
the gallows were erected, the special
excutioner, a hair dresser named
Ellis approached Easement and quick
ly pinioned him. The two chaplains,
the undersheric of London and the un-
dersheriff of Middlesex then took their
positions in front of the scaffold
Easement mounted the gallows steps
firmly and commended his spirit to
God as he stepped on the trap. A mo-
ment later the lever was pulled.
Immediately after the trap was
sprung the prison engineer and ply
sician decendel into the pit, where
after the application Of. the usual tests
Easement was pronounced dead at
nine minutes after nine. According to
the custom in the case of prisoners
hanged for crimes similar to that Of
Easement MS body will be buried in
quicklime in the prison yard, but pro-
ba3ly no decision will be made until
the inquest.
An effecting incident took place out
side the prison wall as the execution
was il progress At the back Of the
prison little distance from the jeer-
ing crowd about the gates,w was a group
of about thirty Irish men and women.
When the dul cLang of the prison bell
pronounced that the doomed man had
paid the last penalty this little grour
fell on teir knees and with bowed
heads remained for some moments
silently praying for :hc reposc of the
soul OF their dead fellow countryman
Immediately after after the execution
three notices were posted on the pris-
on door. The first signed by the under
sheriff OF London, the governor Of the
prison and Fater James McCarrelI,
Easements confessor read:
Judgment OF death w2s 1als DAY
executed on Roger David Easement in
his majesty's prison OF "entorv!le in
our presence" a similar notice was
signed by the undersAerlf q Middle
sex county. The third bore Tie name
Of P. r Mander the prison surgeon,
who certified that ne aad examined
the body and found Easement dead
Easement Was Calm.
Easement showed not the slightest
concern over his fate. He ate we'll
and chatted freely asd cheerily with
two wardens in his condemned cell.
After hearty late supper he divested
himself for the last time Of his con-
vict clothes and went to bed. He
was notified that he would be allow
ed to wear MS own civilian clothes
for the execution though he would not
be permitted 10 wear a collar.
All The members Of Easements fam
lily were P-o.estants ana he was
brought up in that faith 1nt became