Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-30
Lord Chief Justice of England,
Black hooded, Sentences
Prominent Irish Peer to Bel
Hanged
SIR ROGER MAKES
FINAL STATEMENT
Prouder TO Stand in Prisoners S
Dock Than Be One of His.
Accusers, Says Convicted
Man,
r.v MORNING. JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED w,.,l

ieS MORNING JOURNAL srtcltL LEASED WiHHl
London, June 29.--Viscount Read
ing, lord chief justice Of England, with
a black cloth, called by tradition a
cap spread over his head. and his two
assistants in scarlet gowns, likewise
black capped pronounced tine sem
tence of death for high treason on the
Irshman. Sir Roger Easement, shortly
before O'Clock this afternoon. half
an hour after the foreman of the jury
in shaking voice, gave the verdict of
guilty. An appeal will he taken by
Sir Roger.
Sir Roger addressed the court. read
ing his final statement. with the ex-
planation that he wished il might
reach a much larger audience than
the one before him, and particularly
the people of American from whom
had come many messages Of sympathy
TO him and whose own struggle for
liberty, he said, always had been an
inspiration to frishmen.
Auditors Movec 10 Tears.
Sir Rogers auditors, among whom
were Niseount Bryce and many other
prominent men and women, listened in
deepest silence. some moved to tears.
The prisoner declared he did not
regard trial by Englishmen in an Eng
lish court as a trial by his peers, TO
which he was entitled. He reviewed
recent events in Ireland from the be-
ginning of the formation of the Ulster
volunteers, and said.
I'VE have seen the constitutional
army refuse TO obey the constitutional
government. and we were told the
first duty of Irishmen was to enter
That sl'n1s Snail nations were 10 be
the first consideration | saw no
reason why Ireland should shed any
blood for any people but her own.
Is Not Ashamed.
IF that is the reason, ! am not
ashamed to avow it here. If the
unionists chose the road they thought
to be the good side. | know my road
led to the dark side Both of us
proved right SO ] am prouder to
stand here in prisoners dock. than
to fill the place of our accusers
government is our right 1t
is no more a thing to be withheld from
US or doled out to use than the right
TO life or light. to sunshine or spring
flowers"
Throwing aside his manuscript Sir
Roger said:
MY lOluSt L nave uOllt. 1ellltlutil
of the jury, | wish to thank you for
your verdict l meant no reflection
upon you when / said this was not
Il trial by my peers.
With a sweeping gesture of his
arm and with more feeling than he
had shown before, Sir Roger contin-
ued:
How would all men here feel
hpr.. hiN xnipa 10. l1n4
feel if an Englishman had landed in
England and had been taken to Ire
land, if that man had been placed be-
fore jury in community inflamed
against him, believing him to be a
criminal"
Face of Justice Pale.
Then the prisoner shook hands with
It friend who was sitting below the
dock while the usher placed the black
cloths over the heads of the judges.
The voice of the chief justice was
firm, but his face was pale as he
spoke the few words in pronouncing
the sentence He began:
Roger David Easement, you have
been found guilty by a jury OF your
peers Of high treason. the highest
crime known to the law and con-
cuded by sentencing him to "be
hanged by the neck until you are
dead"
Receives Sentence smiling.
The prisoner, leaning on the iron
railing of the dock with his tall
frame, black beard and deep flashing
eyes, was easily the most distinguished
figure in the court except Viscount
Reading. AS the judge pronounced
the sentence, Easement Smiled Then
q warder touched his arm and he
withdrew behind the green curtain
from what may be his last appear
ance before the public which during
the trial has regarded him without
luminosity, If not with some degree of |
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