Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-08-09
NOTED FRESHMAN EXECUTED.
England Takes Life Of Man Who
Plotted With Germans.

| former British knight and consul
was hanged at 8 o'clock this morn
| ing in PentOnsill. Jail for high trea-
to cause a revolt in Ireland and hay
ing sought German aid to that end
A great crowd gathered in and be-
| fore the jail, and one minute after
! 3, when the toll Of the bell announc-
ed the trap had sprung, the crowd
cheered mockingly. Easement met
his death with calm courage. Mount
ing the gallows steps, he commend
ed his spirit to God. IL die for my
country were his last words, ac-
cordins to eye-witnesses.
Early this morning two Roman
Catholic priests administered the
last rites in Easements cell AL
though the Easement family were
Protcstants and he was brought up
i'll that faith, he recently became a
convert to Catholicism. He was reg
istered as member of the Catholic
church June 20 and took his first
communion this morning.
Honored with knighthood-a title
since taken from him by order Of
King George--for his many years Of
service for Great Britain as consul
and onsul-general, Roger Easement
assumed leadership at period OF
his cOuntry's crisis. in the recent
Irish rebellion, the plans for which
were laid while Easement was In
Berlin, where he was reported to
have negotiated an understanding
with the German imperial authori-
ties
British naval supremacy brought
an abortive close to Easements
plans. The German tramp steamship
on which was transported an armed
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 it
was inevitable that the blockading
English warships would capture it,
The crew were made prisoners. The
tramp had been conveyed from kiel
by a German submarine, from which
Easement and a companion landed
on Irish soil, where they were taken
into custody before their plans ma
tured.
In May Easement was given pre-
liminary hearing and was commit
ted for trial on the charge of high
treason. Late in June the trial was
begun. Easement pleading not guilty
and uttcring a denial that he had
worked in Germany's interests and
| that lie had accepted German gold
as brihe.
The courts verdict was guilty, and
was. after appeal by his counsel,
| confirmed by the court OF criminal
| appeal. late in July.
The London press generally ap-
| proved the fate legally fixed for
Easement, but in America persistent
efforts were made to save the noted
prisoner from death. In Washing
ton, a resolution was introduced in
the Senate which would have Presi-
dent Wilson intercede with the Brit
| ish government, and numerous petit
tions were received at the White
House from many sources asking
that plea for clemency be
| cabled. The Senate resolution was
not adopted. President Wilson took
no official action. In England, the
| Manchester Guardian and a number
Of other papers pleaded for mercy,
| and petitions asking for a reprieve
were circulated in London. Adhe-
rents Of John Redmond forwarded
to Premier Asquith a petition signed
by six bishops, 26 members of Par
lament. and 81 other persons, in
| cluding a number Of educators
Pope Benedict interceded in Case"
| ments behalf, endeavoring to obtain
grace for him from the British gov
ernment. influential Irish National
lists having urged upon the pontiff
that the prisoner was not a traitor,
but was inspired by Irish patriotism
Roger Easement, prior to the war,
| established reputation through his
| investigation of the Congo and South
American rubber atrocities commit
ted on natives by Belgian and Brit
ioh n,t1N I, IN