Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-03
Sir ROGER EASEMENT HANGED AS TRAITOR


relatives. which the authorities, he
said, had refused.
Honors Taken Away.
Honored with knighthood-a title
since taken away from him by King
Georges order--for his many years Of
service for Great Britain as consul and
consul general. Roger Easement as
sumed leadership, at a period of his
icountry's crisis, in the recent Irish re-
bellion. the plans for which were laid
while Easement was in Berlin, where
he was reported to have negotiated an
understanding with the German i'm
perial authorities.
British naval supremacy brought an
abortive close to Easements plans.
The German tramp steamship on
which there was transported an armed
expedition from Germany nearly to the
west coast Of Ireland in April Of this
year was blown up by it's own crew
when the latter foresaw that it was
inevitable that the blockading English
warships would capture it. The crew
were made prisoners. The tramp had
been conveyed from Kiel by a German
submarine, from which Easement and
a companion landed on Irish soil,
where they were taken into custody
before their plans matured.
In May, Easement was given a pre-
liminary hearing and was committed
for trial on the charge of high treason.
Late in June the trial was begun,
Easement pleading not guilty and ut
tering a denial that he had worked in
Germany's interests and that he had
accepted German gold as 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 appeal, late in
July.
Had Sympathy Of U. S.
The London press generally ap-
proved the fate legally fixed for Case
ment, but in America persistent efforts
were made to save the noted prisoner
from death. In Washington, resolu-
tion was adopted in the senate which
would have President Wilson intercede
with the British government, and num-
erous petitions went to the White
House from many sources asking that
a plea for clemency be cabled. The
senate resolution was not adopted.
President Wilson took no official ac-
ton. In England. the Manchester
Guardian and number Of other pa
pers pleaded for mercy and petitions
asking for reprieve were circulated
in London. Adherents Of John Red
mond forwarded to Premier Asquith a
petition signed by six bishops, twen-
ty-six members Of parliament and f1f-
ty-one other persons. including num-
ber Of educators.
Pope Benedict interceded in Case
ment's behalf, endeavoring to obtain
grace for him from the British govern
ment influential Irish Nationalist
having urged upon the pontiff that the
prisoner was not traitor but was
inspired by Irish patriotism.
Work as Reformer.
Roger Easement, prior to the war,
reputation thru his in
vestigation of the Congo and South
American rubber atrocities committed
on natives by Belgian and British rub
Der hunters. The then Sir Roger head
ed commission Of inquiry which
brought about reforms. In 1913 he be-
came actively identified with the or
ganization Of the Irish national voun-
teers. He was in the United States
when the war began and addressed an
open letter to the Irish press advising
1rishmen to remain neutral. In Octo-
Der, 1914 he went to Norway and
thence to Berlin. whence came the
news that startled the world-Case-
ment was plotting what his country
looked upon as high treason. His
friends, recalling his years Of service
in Africa and South America, claimed
for him that the tropical sun had un-
balanced him mentally. Easement was
born on Sept. I, 1854.
Easements Lawyer in Denial.
Philadelphia, Aug. B. Michael
Francis Doyle, of counsel for Roger
Easement, in statement given out
,oday in reply to that made by Lord
Roger Cecil in London yesterday says
hat the statement that Irish prison
srs in Germany suffered undue hard
ships because they did not join Case
nent's expedition" was false
- nhx,lo Cfo