Arizona republican., 1916-07-18
BEGINS
 TO SAVE SIR ROGER BASEMENT
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

privileged spectators began to take seats an hour before the court was called to order.
 Justice Darling, by reason of his seniority as Kings Bench judge pre- sided, with Justices Bray and Scrut ton on his right and Justices Law renee and Atkins on his left
 Sir Rogers counsel immediately upon opening argument. emphasized The technical point that the law gov erning treason does not include any offense Of. adhering to the kings enc mics outside of the realm.
 Should the judges rule that Sir Rogers conviction on the charge of giving aid and comfort to Englands enemies by stirring up the Irish re- helliCn was just, the Irishman must hang.
 Sir Roger one of the most brilliant men even in the Kings service, whose work among the colonies brought him a title and the royal favor recently was found guilty of high treason. His defense was that he was working in the interest of Ireland's sovereignty, but not against England
 Although a statement has been communicated from the American government through Ambassador Page informing the British govern ment that much interest is taken in the disposition of Sir Rogers case, nothing more nearly approaching form2l appeal for clemencv coulI with diplomatic propriety be vouch- safed. The judges may not announce their decision today.
 Mir. Sullivan was still quoting au- 1 thorities when the hearing was ad- iourned until tomorrow
 The Roger Easement of other days is described by one who for some time was his reighbor in Africa. He writes:
 At the time of thc Boer war. Roger Easement was consul for | southwest Africa and had his head | quarters at San Paul de Loanda. the capital of Portuguese Angola. Among | the few EEglishmen there he was an outstanding figure and was known 1 all up and down the coast. He was an ideal consul. He had a strong and ckArming personality, Tail. i 1.-the, and upstanding, with magnetic l eyes and a pointed beard. full of tire 1 less energy and generous enthusiasm | he was one of the Sir Richard Gren- viilc's type. Usually gentle and suavc l he was capable of rage. He would boil with indignation al the wrongs of some poor servical whose taie of mis- err and suffering under the cruel system of indentured labor came to his attcIticn. He fought for them and strovc to relieve them whole heartodly. All the world knows of his later work in the Belgian Congo and in Brazil. His early work in West Africa is less known, but it was equally great. perhaps greater be- cause it was done quietly and out Of the limelight. It was true pioneer Hork. Public opinion had not then been reused and the existence of this form of slavery was to most people unknown.
 He had considerable experience of the west coast of Africa. Before joining the colonial service he was inc purser on the Elder Dempster steamers. 1t was while employed by the Niger Coast Protectoratc that he climbed the Cameroons mountain "a feat which he celebrated in an excellent sonnet written at the sum- init. It appeared in the Spectator" IL is typical of the man that he chose this method of expression. A sordid soul would have described the ad- venture in prose ana have made money
 He gained much insight into the native labor problem of West Africa on these voyages, a Knowledge which he put 70 very good use in his con- sular work afterwards.
 "Casement lived at Loanda in q small bungalow, his sole companion large Irish sheep dog called Rags. ard they were inseperable. The con- sul was quite unconventional. He would frequently go out for a stroll at sunrise with an old shooting jacke- over his pajamas and Rags lurchine at his heels, and return at sunset tired out ana happy, having fared through the day upon a few bananas. He was much addicted to these lonely wanderi1gs and was known to all the country round. The native children especially were attracted to him, sure that in his capacious pockets lurked biscuits and small copper coins which were theirs for q grin
 An excellent companion, witty good hrmored. and virile, Easement was full of the joy Of life. He had many eccentricities, but they were al
 harmless and many of them lovable He had many pensioners. No began appealed to him in vain. His influ. ence was always for good. He was : keen athlete. a strong swimmer anC good cricketer. He was widely ant
 well read, an artist and a poet o
 no mean order. At that time. mucl
 of his leisure was devoted to compil
 ing beck of simple rhymes and de
 lightfnl sketches for some children il
 Ireland and it was a rare privileg
 to watch this grow under his hand
 Easement was Home Ruler be cause he was an Irishnan, and apoi this subject he was fiercely eloqueni His us1allv soft voice would groy strong and deep and his eyes woul flash orr the rare occasions when h
 allowed himself to be drawn Into
 discussion upcn the subject of his be
 loved Ileland
 Tt has been stated that he ha
 proBoer sFmpathics at that tim, Q This is the reverse of the truth. N :, people who tolerated oppression i