Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-08-03

the group fell on their knees and remained
Honored with knighthood- title
sint'e taken from him by King Georges
ordef-for his many years of service for
Great Britain as Consul and Consul
General. Roger Castment assumed lead
ership at period of his coun,ry'S crisis
in the recent Irish rebellion. the plans
for which were laid while Easement was
in Berlin, where he was reported 10
have negotiated an understanding with
the German Imperial authorities.
British naval supremacy brought an
abOrtive close TO Easements plans. The
German tramp steamship on which
there was transported an armed expedi-
ton from Germany nearly TO the west
coast OF Ireland in April of this year
was blown up by its own crew when
the latter foresaw that il was inevitable
THAI the blockading English warships
would capture IT, The crew We're made
prisoners. The tramp had been con
voyed from kiel by a German submar-
ine' from which Easement and com.
panion landed on Irish soil. where they
were taken into custody before their
plans matured.
In May, Easement was given prelim-
inarv hearing and was committed for
trial on the charge of high treason. Late
In June the trial was begun, Easement
pleading not guil.y and altering a de
NAL tina, he had worked in Germany's
interests and that he had accepted Ger
man gold as a bribe.
The courts verdict was guilty and The
sentence of death by hanging was. after
appeal by his counsel. confirmed by the
Court Of Criminal Appeals. late in July
The London press generally approved
the fate legally fixed for Easement, but
in America persistent efforts were made
To save the noted prisoner from death
Y In Washington. resolution was intro
duced i'll the senate which would have
President Wilson int-rcede with the
British government and numerous peti.
tions received az the White House from
many sources asking that plea of elem
engy be cablcd The senate resolution
was not adopted. President Wilson took
no official action. IN England. the
Manchester Guardian and y number of
other papers pleaded for mercy ard pc
It!icns asking for rr'i,,e arr- rir.u-
lated in London. Adhcrenis of John
Redmond forwa rdcd to Premier A>quith
petition signed by six bishops. twenty
six members ~ parliament and fifty lone
other persons. iir-ludine a number of
educators.
Pope Benedict interccdcd in Case
ments behalf. end-avoring to obtain
grace or him rom the British govern
ment. influential Irish Nationalist> hav-
/, ing urged upon the Pontin that the pri>-
oner was not a traitor hut was inspired
BY Irish patriotism
Roger Castn.ent, prior u the war, IS
tablished a reputation through his in
vestigation of the Congo and South Am
erican rubber atrocities committed "n
natives by Belgian rubber hunters. The
then Sir Roger headed commission of
inquiry whi-h brought about reorms
In 1913 he became actively identified
with the organization Of the Irish ma
Iional volunteers. He was in the United
States when the war began and address
"a an open letter 10 the Irish press ad
i vising Irishmen tn remain neutral. In
October 1914 he went To Norway and
thence 10 Berlin, whence came the news
that startled the vorld-Casement
plofti what his country looked upon
as high reason. His friends, recalling
his wears of service i'm Africa and Soutt
America. claimed for him that the trop
} ical sun had unbalanced him mentally
J Easement was born on September !. lS64