Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-05-15
Prosecution Asserts He Alone
Planned the Irish
Rebellion
PLOTTED TOLAND FORCES
ON COAST OF IRELAND
German Auxiliary Sunk, Load
ed With Guns and
Munitions
By Wilbur S. Forrest

(Unlted Press starr C0rreSpOnuent)
London, May l5.-Clad in seedy,
dark suit with frayed sleeves, Sir
Roger Easement, former British con
sular agent, is on trial today in the
Bow Street police court on charge of
high treason which is punishable by
hanging, He entered the room smiling
and nodded to acquaintance among the
spectators. Easement s stubby, gray
beard rendered his best smile CHASTITY
He wore British army shoes.
This is the first treason case in the
Bow street court since that of Arthur
Lynch, rebel leader after the BOer
war. The tiny courtroom was packed.
Easement was so wedged in, among at
taches and lookers,On that he could
scarcely move. The United Press seat,
for instance, was within three feet of
Sir Roger.
Daniel Bailey, a soldier arrested in
Ireland April 81, also on charge Of
treason, accompanied Easement TO the
prisoner s dock.
Sir Roger was calm when Attorney
General Sir r. f. Smith began reading
the formal charge in which he re-
viewed the knight s life history. His
eyes roved, occasionally resting on the
presiding magistrate then on the spec
tatOrs.
Claims he Planned il
Prosecutor Smith declared that Case
ment not only planned the IrisA rebel
lion, but also plotted to land several
lexpeditions in Ireland, and on the
British coast. He said that exchanged
English prisoners would testify to the
truth Of this assertion.
As Smith proceeded, Easement grew
fidgety. When the prosecutor said
that Easement had been knighted fol-
his services in behalf of the British
government, Easement nung his head
Smith outlined Easements capture
He reverted to the knights activities
in Germany and his endeayors to wean
imprisoned Irish soldiers away from
the cause of the allies.
Easement smiled at that and wrote
on pad on which he was taking notes
FThey did so at their own request.
The German auxiliary sunk off Ire
Hand when Easement landed carried 20
900 rifles, 100000 rounds of lmmu
milton, ten machine guns and many
bombs for the rebels, Smith declared
Smith asserted that the vast major
ity Of the Irish captives treated Case
ment s overtures with contempt, where
upon they were punished and their IA
tions reduced.
GA few, unfortunately" he said
"were seduced, including Daniel Bal
ley"
Bribed Irish Soldiers TO Desert
Smith read Bailey statement cor
roborlting the charge Of Easement hay
ing seduced imprisoned Irish soldiers il
Germany, and showing that tAe sub
marine in which Easement, Bailey an
others went to Ireland was the U-l9.
Police Inspector Parker, the frs
witness, testified that Easement ha
not attempted to spare himself whe
arrested but had insisted that Bale
was innocent.
John Robinson, an Irish prisoner e1
changed from a German camp, testifie
that Easement offered 300 lrishme
in his camp $50 eacn to desert.
Easement came to court from ia
: Tower Of London in a taXicab. lie wa
heavily guarded. A crowd surge
/ around the tribunal demanding admi
tance. Two women were in line at
a. m. BY six a. m the mob was a
most unmanageable. The police gay
hot coffee to women standing in Tin
Robinson testified that fifty Irisl
men accepted Casement's overture
} and enlisted in the German army.
John Cronin, an exchanged prisone
swore that Germany promised to tran
port these deserters to America in tf
event of German defeat.
1t was observed that Easement
shoes were without laces This is
precautionary measure to prevent al
from committing suicide.