The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-03
man q part q tis prayer were:l

man part OF his prayers were: u
die for my country"
Father McCarrrell said that he
found Easement to be a beautiful
character and that he never instruct
ed anyone In his religion who showed
himself quicker or more promising
learner.
Honored with knighthood-a title
since taken from him by King Georges
order-for his many years OF service
for Great Britain as Consul and Con
sul.General, Roger Easement assum'
ed leadership, at a period OF his coun'
try's crisis. in the recent Irish rebel
lion. the plans for which were laid
while Easement was In Berlin, where
he was reported to have negotiated
an undertaking with the German I'm
perlal authorities.
British naval supremacy brought an
abortive close to Easements plans
The German tramp steamship on
which there was transported an arm
ed expedition from Germany nearly
to the west coast OF Ireland in April
OF this year was blown UP by Its
own crew when the latter foresaw that
1t was inevitable that the blockading
English warships would capture It.
The crew were made prisoners. The
tramp had been conveyed from Kiel
by Greman submarine, from which
Easement and companion landed on
Irish soil, where they were taken In.
to custody before their plans matur.
ed.
IN May, Easement was given a pre-
.llulnury nearing ana was cUlnmilteu
IOr LflaI va Ine cuaEse Vi uisn Urea
sVn. Late III June tAe TRIAL mas %
sun, L"sUmeuL piaAu.ns not SuLty
..iIu ultGrliIS d uei..ai tuaL NE mad mU...
ii III uefn4any . luIeIeSts anu Iual H.
4au accepteu ueIman so!d as u Ufibs.
Ine courts veruIcL wac gulity, unu
the sentehce oI uealn ny n4nsmis Was,
alter appeal Uy ms CUuuaeI, cVAuiL la
gu ny t"e CUult VI CriniitiaI AppsaI,
iale III JuIy.
The Loluon press generally approx
ed the laLe leg.iy nAeu ior Lass..,ent,
out III Alnuilca persistent euufts
were maue 70 save TIE nuteu ptisVh.
er from death. In Washington, u RESP.
iution was adopted IN the senate
when requested President Wilson III.
terceue with the British government,
anu numerous petitions were receIr.
cd at The Wnite House from many
sources asking that plan Tor Glen.
ency be cableu. In England, the Mah.
chester GUARDIAN and a number OF
other papers pleaded for mercy and
petitions asking Tor reprleye were
circulated in London. Adherents OF
John itedmond forwarded to Premier
Asquitn petition signed by SIX Bish-
ops, twenty-six members OF Parlia-
ment and nfty-one other persons. in
Guiding number OF educators.
Pope Benedict interceded In Case
ments behalf, endeavoring to obtain
grace for him from the British gov
eminent, influential Irish Nationalist
having urged upon the Pontiff that the
prisoner was not traitor but was Ill.
spired by Irish patriotism.
Roger Easement, prior to the war,
established reputation through his
investigation of the Congo and South
American rubber atrocities committed
on natives by Belgian and British rub.
Der hunters. The then Sir Roger head.
ed a commission Of inquiry which
brought about reform. In 1913 he be-
came actively Identified with the or.
ganization Of the Irish national vol
unteers. He was in the United States
when the war began and addressed
an open letter to the Irish press adj
vising Irishmen to remain neutral. In
October, 1914. he went to Norway and
thence to Berlin. whence came the
news that startled the world-Case'
ment was plotting what his country
looked upon as high treason. His
friends. recalling his years of ser.
vice in Africa and South America,
claimed for him that the tropical sun
sad unbalanced his mentally. Case.
ment was born on September l, 1864.