Evening star., 1916-05-14
IRISH REBEL TRIALS
NOW BEING RUSHED
Marked Relaxation in Enforce
ment OF Martial Law
in Dublin.
PREMIER ASQUITH STILL
HOLDING CONFERENCES
Secrecy Enshrouds Decisions That
May Have Been Reached-Snipers
Fire Few Shots.

DUBLIN, May 13.-Premer Asquith
continued today his conferences with
authorities here who are in the closest
touch with the course of events in
connection with the recent rebellion.
No definite information became avail
able, however. as to any decisions that
may have been reached.
. The trials of the few remaining men
accused the rebel ringleaders who are
to be dealt with in Dublin are being
proceeded with rapidly by the courts
martial.
A marked relaxation in the enforce
ment of martial law in Dublin has been
observed since the arrival of Premier
Asquith. An order issued today permits
the people to be on the streets until
midnight and as early as 4 o'clock in
the morning, giving them many more
hours of freedom at night This con-
cession is generally attributed to sug-
sestion from Mr.. Asquith.
Gen. Maxwell. commanding the British
forces in Ireland. today issued a procla-
nation forbidding all parades and po-
litical or athletic meetings in Ireland
without written police authority.
Prominent Men Acquitted.
1t has been learned from the adjutant
general that several prominent men
accused of completely in the rebellion
were acquitted by military judges be-
cause direct evidence of such completely
was not produced. although the cir
cumstantial testimony is declared to
have been of the strongest character.
Despite the fact that the courts
martial are closed to both press and
public, the adjutant general pointed out
that the proceedings of the courts were
public property, as all the documents
and evidence are sent to the Judge ad-
vocate general for examination and
should the fact warrant such a pro-
cedure sentences may be quaShed or
revised even after the comma nding gen.
eral has confirmed them. Naturally. he
said, this could not be effective when
death sentence was carried out. but
in virtually every instance so far, he
declared. the prisoners sentenced to
capital punishment had admitted their
guilt.
Officer to Be Tried.
There was no desire on the part of
the military, the adiutant general said.
to screen the proceedings of the courts
from public view, and the military au-
thorities felt entirely assured that their
acts would bear the closest scrutiny
Some cases may have arisen. he admit
ted. where military officers of Junior
rank had exceeded their powers. and
these cases were undergoing investiga-
tion. especially the case of the death
Of F. Sheehy Skeffington. The officer
connected with this case was immedi-
ately placed under arrest by Cen Max
well. commanding the British forces,
the adjutant general added. with a
view to the officers trial by court t-mar-
tial in the event that the facts justi-
fed such a procedure.
Shippers last night fired few shots
in the neighborhood of Broadstone sta
tion. a suburb of Dublin. Otherwise
there were no incidents. Looters ar
rested during the recent rising are be-
ing tried in patches daily by civil mag
istrates Dozens of them have been
sentenced to fines or short terms Of
inn r1rJ 60 epf