Evening journal., 1916-08-03
Easement dies
BY Moose FOR
HIGH TREASON
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Easements death. on the other hand,
there we're a few in the watchers. men
and women. who waved hats and
handkerchiefs.
Last night guards said he spent
considerable time in writing. but
slept soundiy after he had retired.
Easement expected a reprieve and
commutation Of his sentence up 10
last night. but when darkness came
he realized there was no hope. It was
said. and without emotion went about
setting his affairs In order
Those who witnessed the hanging
said the Irishman was master Of him
self. walking to death and waiting for
the moose to tighten When the priest
recited the litany. Easement respond
ed In a clear voice.
"The Lord have mercy on my soul"
Easement was granted Just one
boon before his death-and that was
permission to wear his own clothes.
instead OF the prison garb TO which
he objected strongly on his inoarcera-
tion in the condemned cell. He did
not wear a collar He assisted his
executioner I'm adjusting the moose and
The government turned a deaf ear
TO all pleas for commutation of the
degraded knights sentence. Petitions
have been pouring in at the Home
Office for weeks 10 was in answer
to these. that Lord Robert Cecil as
serted that no doubt existed as to
the lrishman's guilt and that the only
ground on which commutation could
no ~.
ency-"a difficult ground to put forth
in this country"
A corOner's inquest over the body
of Easement, held at 1890 resulted
in the solemn verdict that his death
was due to execution by hanging"
Prison Governor Davis testified at
the inquest that Easements death
was instantaneous"
Solicitor Calvin Duffy was indig-
nant at refusal Of the prison authori-
ties Immediately TO turn over the body
Of the Irish knight after the law had
been satisfied
Representing the deceased rela-
t'ves at the inquest" he said. 81 ap-
piled 10 the Home Office for posses
sion OF the body Their refusal TO turn
It over to me was a monstrous act Of
/ lindecency"
Roger Easement was born in the
North OF ireland, Of pure English
Protestant ancestry. and in his
! younger days. had an adventurous ca
reer as an explorer. being one OF the
late Sir Henry NJ. Stanley's aids in the
expedition TO rescue Emin Pasha. in
1887.
Shortly after this. he entered the
British consular service. In 1903 as
British Consul in the Congo. he was
largely instrumental in the first ex-
posure OF the horrible conditions In
the rubber industry there, and in 1910
having been made British Consul
General In Brazil. he was similarly
instrumental In revealing the equa
disgraceful treatment of the natives
employed in the rubber country IN IN,
Putomayo district. In 1911 he wa.
knighted and retired from the con
! sular service. and in 1912 he headed q
royal commission OF investigation OF
b the Putomayo district.
Returning home. for the first time
! in many years. to Ireland. Easement
soon became an ardent advocate Of
Irish independence. AS the Homo
/ Rule agitation grew. in 1914. he was
one Of the originators of the Irish
/, Volunteer organization. which was
the Nationalist reply TO the Ulster
Volunteers. In June. 1914 he went IA
, America 10 lecture and raise money
, for the Irish cause.
Sought Aid in Berlin.
The Dublin riots OF July 1914. pro
, voked him to savage donunciatior
Of the British Government. issued tn,
day before Austria declared war OF
Serbia. On the outbreak of the Eu
ropean war. he proceeded to Berlin
whore he succeeded in persuadng tn,
, German Government that. with hi
help. II would be possible to Great
> a revolution in ireland Attempts Il
organize an Irish brigade for IN
n German army from among the Iris
n prisoners in Germany we're not how
IS ever. successful.
II On April 21. 1916. Easement wa
y captured by British soldiers in the al
l. tempt to land on the Irish coast frai
y German submarine Since then h
s. has heen In the Tower. having bee
convicted of high treason on July
W and sentenced to be hanged He Wa
" deprived of his knighthood on h
II conviction