Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-26
EASEMENT AGAIN
PLACED ON TRIAL
Chief of Sim Feiners in Legal Battle
for His Life On High Treason
Charge of England.

London, June 26.-Sir Roger Case
ment, chief conspirator in the Sim
Fein revolt in Ireland faces trial to-
day for his life on a charge of high
treason in the high court of justice.
Sir Roger Easement has been in Jail
since April Is when he was captured
on the west coast of Ireland after
having been landed from a German
steamer attempting to run the British
blockade and land arms in Ireland for
the projected revolution.
Up to a year before the war broke
out Easement had been in the British
consular service in which he served
a total of Is years.
The trial began at 1890 o'clock this
morning.
The little courtroom is about the
size of the room of the supreme court
in Washington. Like most courts its
ventilation is defective. The judges
bench runs along one side with the
high iron rails, docks and the jurors
box f1anking it on the left and right.
The lawyers sit at tables, we'll back
of which rise half a dozen rows of
benches which today were filled with
barristers in white wigs and black
gowns and with a large number Of
newspaper men. Above is small gal
lery which was filled with spectators.
Over the dock, in small balcony, were
half a dozen women, including the
wife of the chief justice.
Viscount Reading, the lord chief
Justice and Justices Avory and Hor-
ridge, in bright scarlet robes and
powdered wigs, took their seats, the
case was called and Sir Roger was
brought in. The prisoner was pale.
His black hair and beard were neatly
| trimmed and he wore black cutaway
and black tie, with white band IN
| his waist coat collar.
] Sir Roger bowed to the justices and
the chief justice returned the saluta-
ton with equal Formally. The pris-
oner stood leaning on the iron railing
with folded arms while the clerk read
the long indictment.
The indictment followed in legal
points that returned against Colonel
Arthur Lynch, who fought against the
| British in the Boer war. When asked
if he was guilty or not guilty, Sir Rog-
er bowed and murmured something
which was inaudible. His chief coun
Sc. Alexander Sullivan of Dublin, arost
quickly and answered that the indict
ment set forth was mo offense know
to the law" and that none of the act:
specified was alleged to have takeI
place in any territory over which tn
king has any jurisdiction. After con
sultation the court ruled that any ex
ceptions to the indictment in cas-
of such importance could be taken al
fer the hearing without prejudice t
the prisoner.
Then Sir Roger made formal ple'
of not guilty, speaking in firm tones
Jurors from the panel were called for
ward.
After II jurors had been seated il
the box there was great difficulty Il
finding the twelfth. The defense chat
lenged for cause more than dozen i
succession. At 11:10 o'clock the jur
was completed.
The Jury is composed of middle age
men. apparently of the small merchan
and clerk class Samuel Saunder:
being a Jew, took the oath with his ha
. on hut had to repeat it because he he'll
the testament in his left hand instea
of the right. The jury was swor
three-ouarters of an hour after tn
court sat