The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-03
BASEMENT PAYS DEATH
 PENALTY FOR TREASON

which there was transported an arm ed 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 blocka ding | English warships would capture it. The crew were. made prisoners. The tramp had been conveyed from kiel by German submarine, from which Easement and a companion landed on Irish soil, where they were taken in to custody before their plans matured. In May, Easement was given a pre- liminary hearing and was committed for trial on thee harge of high trea- son. Late in June the trial was be- gun. Easement pleading not guilty and uttering a denial that he had worked in Germany's interests and that he had accepted German gold as a bribe.
 The courts verdict was guilty, and the sentence of death by hanging was, after appeal by his counsel, confirm ed by the court of criminal appeal, late in July.
 The London press generally ap- proved the fate legally fixed for Case ment, but in America persistent eff forts were made to save the noted prisoner from death.
 According to one news agency Case ment had high hopes of being re- prieved until the eve of his execu- ton. He did not hide the fact that he expected his many powerful friends would obtain for him a free pardon, because many of them exercised no little influence in parliament as well as literary circ1ess
 "As there was no sign of reprieve last night, this account says, "the condemned man became very morose and hardly spoke at all. He did, however, inquire about the Zeppelin raids and asked if any German air ships had reached London. Soon after wards he became resigned to his fate, and after he had done a considerable amount of writing he retired to rest and slept soundly.
 When aroused this morning Case ment showed considerable nervousness but he was quite collected and thank ed the warders for the many little kindnesses they had shown him while he occupied the death cell"
 In Washington resolution was adopted in the Senate requesting Pres
 
 government an expression of hope that it would exercise c1emency in the case of all the Irish political prison CTS.
 In England, the Manchester Guard ian and number of other papers pleaded for mercy. Adherents of John Redmond forwarded to Premier As- quith petition signed by six bishops, 26 members of Parliment and 51 other persons, including number of edu- cators.
 Pope Benedict interceded in Case 1nent's behalf, endeavoring to obtain grace for him from the British gov- ernment, influential Irish Nationalists having urged upon the Pontiff that the prisoner was not a traitor but was in- spired by Irish patriotism.
 Roger Easement, prior to the war, established a reputation through his investigation of the Congo and South American rubber atrocities committed on natives by Belgian and British rub- Der hunters. The then Sir Roger readed a commission of inquiry which brought about reforms. Tn 1913 he became actively identified with the or ganization of the Irish national vol- unteers. He was in the United States when the war began and addressed an open letter to the Irish press advising Irishmen to remain neutral. In Octo- Der, 1914, he wenr to Norway and thence to Berlin, whence came the news that startled the world-Case- ment WIS 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 unbalanced him mentally. Easement was born on September 1, 1864.