The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1916-06-28
ROGER EASEMENT
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE
CHIEF CoNSPIRAToR IN RECENT
IRISH REVOLT MUST ANSWER
CHARGE OF High TREASON.

London, June 27.-Sir Roger Case
ment, chief conspirator in the Sim
Fein revolt in Ireland, faced today
trial for his life on charge Of high
treason in the high court Of justice.
No indication was given by his coun-
sci as to what would be the nature OF
the defense. Francis R. Doyle, Of
Philadelphia, who has been retained by
Easements family, has refused to say
anything beyond denying report that
his client would throw himself on the
mercy of the government
Sir Roger Easement has been in Jail
since April 25, when he was captured
on the west coast of Ireland after hav-
ing been landed from German steam
er which was attempting to run the
British blockade and had large cargo
of arms in Ireland for the projected
revolution. The steamer was blown
up by it's crew when they found that
it's capture by British patrol boat
was inevitable.
Up to a year before the war broke
out Easement had been in the British
consular service in which he served
total of 10 years. He had attained
wide celebrity for HIS exposure OF the
robber atrocities in Brazil and also in
the Congo. Shortly after the outbreak
of the war he went to Berlin where
he opened negotiations for aid for an
Irish rebellion.
During his arraignment Irish pris-
oners of war, who had been exchanged
| testified that he had endeavored to
persuade captured irish soldiers to
join in a revolutionary force which
was to be dispatched to Ireland.
| The Sim Fein re-olt broke out in
Dublin the day before the capture of
Easement 1t was suppressed after
bloody fighting, principally in Dublin.
Several hundred people were killed
and a large portion OF the business
section of the Irish capital was reduc-
ed to ashes. Nearly a score of the
leaders were executed after courtmar-
tial following the crushing of the re-
/ volt.
More than 1000 of the rank and file
of the rebels were transported to Eng
lish jails where large numbers still
are held, many under long term sen
fences.
The Indictment followed in legal
points that returned against Colonel
Arthur Lynch who fought against the
British in the Boar War When asked
if he was guilty or nor guilty, Sir Rog
er bowed and murmured something
which was inaudible. His chief coun
sci, Alexander Sullivan, of Dublin, ar
gued that the Indictment was INC
offense known to the law" and that
none of the acts specified was alleged
to have taken place in any territory
over which the king has any jurisdic
ton. The court ruled that any eXcep
tons to the indictment could be taken
after the hearing without prejudice
to the, prisoner. -. " .. ..os.",,o eel.
Then Sir Roger made formal plea
of no guilty Tin firm tones. Jurors
from the panel were called forward
The prisoners counsel objected to the
first who wore on his coat sleeve the
khaki band of men attested for the
army and waiting to be called up.
Several peremptory challenges were
made by both sides.
After eleven jurorsi had been seated
there was great difficulty in finding
the twelfth The defense challenged
Tor the case" more than a dozen in
succession but at II:10 o'clock the
jury was complete. Each juror took
the oath separately.
The jury is composed of middle aged
men apparently of the small merchant
and clerk class. Samuel Sanders, be-
ing a jew, took the oath with his hat
on. The jury was sworn three quar-
tiers Of an hour after the court sat.