New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-04

slept scundly and whose nerves were
at case. The night before. when no
word Of reprieve came, Easement had
become morose and gloomy. But as
the hour Of his death approached his
mood changed and he faced the end
with resigned calm.
BY o'clock q small crowd had gath.
cred in front of the prison building
The execution had been set for Q.
There was Keen excitement at $40,
when telegraph messenger arrived
at the prison gate and il was rumored
the awaited reprieve had come. But
the report proved unfoundcd.
At eight minutes before 3 the prison
bell began to boom its solemn warning
OF impending death over the heads Of
the great throng that had by that time
gathered outside the prison walls. eS-
tending for two blocks The first
notes of the bell were greeted with
wild outburst of cheering. and at fire.
qucnt intervals thereafter frequent
cries of hysterical exultation rang out
from the crowd
A few minutes after 9 o'clock. the
bells tolling ceased. There came
long. tense pause. portentous OF the
tragic event that was passing within
the walls. Then, clamoring through
the tense silence that had fallen on
the waiting throng. came single
sonorous elanG of the great bell. Ii
was the signal that the drop had been
sprung the death Of the man
Great Britain declared a traitor was
accomplished.
Irish Kneel In Prayer.
Before the reverberations of the
bells single note had ceased, a group
of thirty Irish men and women, gath
cred a little aloof from the jeering
mob about the prison gates, dropped
upon their knees and with uncovered
heads began a silent prayer for TIE
rcpose of Easements soul.
Father McCarrell headed the little
procession that escorted Easement to
his doom in the prison yard. Case
ment followed. with n warder at each
arm Behind came other priests, who
had administered the last rites, chant
ing the litany for the dying. to which
Easement responded in low tones:
Lord. have mercy on my soul"
A. Easement stepped forth into the
brilliant sunshine of the prison yard
he lifted his head and tensed his frame,
while he inhaled the crisp. morning air.
Its a beautiful morning. he said
and those who heard him found in mis-
tone wistful note of pathos.
At the execution shed the specially
appointed executioner, named Ellis,
barber from Rochdale, stepped forward
quickly and pinioned Easements arms.
The priests, the Under Sheriff of Lon
don and the Under Sheriff of Middle
sex took their positions in front of the
90. H'O'I Wifb cfp CQeep1ant
mounted the gallows. And one minute
later he had paid with his life for
what. to his mind, was a righteous at
tempt to bring freedom to the Irish
pcOple-but what. in the eyes Of the
British government, was conspiring TO
foment an armed revolt in Ireland and
reasonably seeking German aid TO that
enc.
An official statement issued from the
Press Bureau tonight adds:
The government carefully and re-
pcatedlv considered all the circum-
stances IN the Easement case before
reaching decision not TO interfere
with the sentence.
He was convicted and punished for
treachery of the worst kind 10 the
empire. l4C ndu SeINtu Hii4iHb
agent OF Germany"
After declaring that Easement had
organized German assistance for the
Irish rebellion, the statement con-
tinucs:
Conclusive evidence has come into
the hands Of the government since the
trial that he had entered into an agree
ment with the German government,
which explicitly provided that the
brigade which he was trying to raise
among Irish soldiers held as prisoners
might be employed in Egypt against
the British Crown. Those among the
Irish soldiers who resisted Easements
solicitations Of disloyalty were sub
jected to treatment of exceptional
cruelty by the Germans. Some OF them
since have been exchanged as invalids
and have died in this country, regard
ing Easement as their murderer"
In conclusion the statement points
out that the suggestion, which has been
"conclusively disproved," that Easement
went 10 Ireland to try to stop the up
rising was net raised at the trial, nor
was the plea of insanity.