South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-03

! International News Service:
4 LONDON, Aug. 3.-Declaring that
ne gave up his life for his country.
Roger Easement was hanged for high
treason in the yard of Pentonville
/ prison today. He went to his death
without emotion.
AT eight minutes past nine, the
bell of Pentonville prison began toll
ing, proclaiming to those outside that
Easement had been executed.
The execution was marked by
dramatic and pathetic scenes. Back
/ OF the prison a little group of about
| 80 Irish men and women had
gathered. When the execution bell
| began ringing these sObbing men and
women threw themselves upon their
knees and began offering up pray
ers.
Before he was taken before the
scaffold. Easement was admitted TO
] the Roman Catholic church.
The hanging of Easement wrote
the final chapter in a career OF hui
manitarian activities.
Post Notice of Execution.
Immediately after the execution
the following notice was posted on
the prison wall:
we, the undersigned. hereby
declare that the judgment of
death was this day executed on
Roger David Easement in His
Majestys prison Of Pentonville,
in our presence.
(Signed)
"R. X METCALF,
Acting Under Sheriff OF Lon
don.
&C E DAVIES,
Governor of the Prison.
James McCARROLL,
Roman Catholic Priest"
A second notice. bearing the fol-
lowing information was also posted:
4. p. r. Mander. surgeon TO His
Majesty's prison at Pentonville, here
by certify that l this day examined
the body Of Roger David Easement,
on whom the judgment of death was
this day executed in the said prison
and that on examination ] saw the
said Roger David Easement was
dead"
Had Slight Hope.
Although strenuous efforts had
been made to gain a reprieve for
Easement the condemned man evil
IDENTIFY entertained little hope of es-
Gaping the penalty for his crime
In his final hours Easement did
considerable writing. but in the
meantime ne did not neglect his rest.
Upon being asked by one of the
Il III
TO secure any sleep. Easement re-
piled that he slept like a top"
IL was reported that Easement had
left a statement on his activities in
behalf of Ireland However. the
prison attaches failed 10 confirm
this report at the time of the ex-
ecution.
As the tall. bearded figure of the
condemned man was led to the gall
lows and just before the trap was
sprung, Easement was asked if he
desired 10 make a statement. The
prisoner, already with the shadow or
death upon him, turned to the off,
Gals and said:
Il die for my country"
A few moments later the body
shot downward and after a few con-
vulsive struggles remained limp.
The corpse was cut down and exam
ined and afterwards an autopsy was
conducted i'm the prison mortuary.
Memorable Scene in Cell
There was a memorable scene in
Easements cell just before the ex-
ecution. The condemned nan ex-
pressed desire 10 be admitted into
the Roman Catholic church and a
messenger was at once dispatched 10
the prison chaplin. the Rev. Father
Dean Ring and the Rev. Father Ca
rey hurried at once TO Easements
cell
For a quarter OF an hour the two
priests administered spiritual con-
ISOLATION 10 the condemned man.
Easement uttered his confession and
received holy communion. The pris-
oner seemed 10 derive great conso-
lation from the spiritual ceremonies
and was apparently brighter and
more cheerful.
few minutes before nine o'clock
"a