Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-06-27
TRIAL 0N A CHARGE 0F
 TREASON OPENS
English Knight Faces Court to Fight for Life for Part
 in Irish Revolt. -

London, June 26.-The writing of what is expected to be the conclud- ing chapter of the history of the ill- fated Sim Fein rebellion was begun in the high court of justice today when Sir Roger Easement, knighted in 1911 for services to the British government, was arraigned for trial on the charge of high treason.
 Rarely in modern times has a court convened in England to try so grave a crime as high treason. This, com bined with the prominence of the ac- cused and the sensational events lead ing up to his indictment, has served to rivet the attention of the entire nation on the solemn court proceedings that may lead to his conviction and sen- tence to death.
 Baron Reading, the lord chief jus tice, is to direct the crowns case against Sir Roger. A galaxy of emi- nent attorneys has been retained to look after the interests of the de- fense. The list is headed by Michael Francis Doyle of Philadelphia. Other legal lights retained to assist in the defense of the accused baronet are Alexander Sullivan of Dublin and Prof. J. H. Morgan, who assisted at the preliminary hearing.
 Easements Astounding Career.
 In time when the commonplaces of the days news are sensational, an event has to be unusually dramatic to startle the news-reading world. But that world was startled, on the morn ing of April 26, by the news that Sir Roger Easement, man bearing the order of British knighthood, who had distinguished himself by two remark able humanitarian exploits of modern times, had been captured from Ger man blockade-runner, off the Irish coast, in the attempt to join an upris- ing in Ireland.
 Roger Easement was born in Dub- lin in 1864 and came of patriotic Irish parentage. His schooling was received in Ireland and England. In 1884 he went to Africa, which was to be the scene of his first great labor, and spent five years in the Congo, hunting and shooting and helping to lay the foundations of the Congo state. It was in 1892 that he finally entered the British foreign office service in the Niger Coast Protect crate, where he remained until 1895. He was then appointed consul at Delagia Bay, in Southeastern Africa, and filled that post until 1898. In that year he was appointed consul to the Congo Free State, where he re- mained until 1904.
 Belgian Congo Atrocities.
 It was during his service as consul that Easement undertook a personal investigation of the atrocities alleged to be practised on the natives by the Belgian companies engaged in exploit ing the natural wealth of the Congo He spent several months journeying about the Congo region on his task. His report to the British government aroused storm of indignation throughout the civilized world. The result was that King Leopold of Bel gium was forced by public sentiment to institute thorough housekeeping in his Congo dominion, and to end forever the reign of flogged women, tortured men and little children de- prived of their right hands.
 In 1909 Basement was serving as British consul at Rio de Janeiro. It was about this time that the story of the Putumayo atrocities began to leak out of the Heruvian jungle. Ac- cording to these stories the Indians were being treated, if possible, worse than the Congo natives to make them gather rubber. Easements success in the Congo inquiry led to his selection for siyn!l&r task in. Peru. His sec oud mission was carried out as Suc-