The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-25
CRACK-DRA|NEO IRISH
KNIGHT MAY SOON
FACE FIRING SQUAD
Sir Roger Easement, Who Sought 10
Enlist Ireland on Side of Germany.
Captured by British.
WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND
EXPEDITION IN IRELAND
Friends Incline to Belief That His
Long Career In Consular Service in
Tropics Had Undermined His Mem
tai Powers.

| London, April 24.--An offciai state
ment issued by the admiralty tonight
advises OF the capture of Sir Roger
Easement. The statement says:
During the period between the AZ
ternoon of April 20 and the afternoon
| of April 81. an attempt to land arms
and ammunition in Ireland was made
by a vessel under the guise of neu-
trail merchant ship, but which in
reality was a German auxiliary in con-
Junction with German submarine.
The auxiliary sank and humber
of prisoners were made. among whom
was Sir Roger Easement
The British government has ex-
hfbited keen desire to get hold of
Sir Roger Easement ever since he be-
gan his activities as friend of Ger
many in the present war.
IT has been freely predicted that if
the impulsive knight should fall into
English hands he would end his days
In front of firing squad in the Tower
OF London. That probability Is OBJ
viously much strengthened by the cir
tcumstances of his capture in the very
act OF landing German flibuster-
ing expedition to the coast of Ireland.
Knighted For Good Work.
Sir Roger Easement spent the best
years of his life in the British con-
sular service. 1t was in recognition of
important duties performed In con-
sular service that he received his
Iknighthood of the Order of st. Mich
ael and ST. George. Much of his off,
cial life was spent in tropical coun-
tries. Many who knew him before the
war believe with Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle that the tropics undermined his
health and his mental stability to an
extent that explain his actions under
the stress of the excitement of the
past two years
But Sir Roger had taken an anti
English stand on the Irish question
before the war broke out. Although
an Ulster Protestant, he had thrown
himself into the nationalist movement.
In an effort to get arms and money
for that organization. he came to this
country in 1914. He was here during
the first muterings and clash of war,
and even then expressed strong pro-
German syrnpathies and an anxiety
that England should remain neutral.
When England plunged into the war
his sympathies with her chief enemy
found expression in action.
Germany was looking for Irish SYM
pathizers. 1t offered a welcome to
Sir Roger Easement, whose title made
him an instrument for German plans
For Berlin. accordingly, Sir Roser
Sfeered mis- course. III was round
about course. the seas being Ia. the
possession Of the British. and 1t led
him to Norway Although he was
travelling incognito. his presence be-
came known to the British minister.
The adventures which followed, ac-
cording to a fiorld narrative afterward
disseminated by Sir Roger under the
auspices of the German government,
were worthy Of place In the pages
Of romantic fiction.
Drfbcd His valet.
The British minister got hold OF
Easements Norwegian valet. accord
Ing to this story, and tried to bribe
him to lure the Irish knight to some
place on tho coast whore he nignt
be kidnapped by the british navy
Failing this, the valet was 70 assassl-
nate or do away with him IN my man-
(coatinuad "a Gs1oA4 xaGe41 sE