CASEMENT ON HIS DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 5

CASEMENT ON HIS DEFENCE

STATEMENT TO THE COURT

DENIES THAT HE SOLD HIMSELF THAT IRISH BRIGADE IN GERMANY l)y Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright e . „ London, June 28. air Hoger Casement made a statement (ojha Court, but not upon oath. Speaking with considerable emotion, lie said he. wished to say a few words with reference to some misstatements in the evidence. He declared he never at any time asked Irishmen to fight' for (jerinany, as he always claimed that Irishmen had no right to fight for any land but Ireland. .The statement that he got his own people reduced to starvation rations becauso they had not joined the Irish Brigade was an abominable falsehood. The rations were Teduced through-* out bermauy owing to the blockade. The suggestion that men were sent to punishment camps at his instigation because they had not joined the brigade was unfounded. He had not sold himself to any man or Government, and he had not allowed any Government to use him. From the moment he landed in Germany to the moment he left it he never asked nor accepted a single penny for any purpose, but only money of Irishmen. Money had been offered him more than once, often liberally and unconditionally, but he rejected every suggestion of the kind. He left Germany poorer than when' he entered it. He hoped the jury, and even his bitterest enemy, had comprehended that a man whom the newspapers called only "another Irish traitor" may be a gentleman. He wished to state categorically that the rebellion was not made, directed, or inspired from Germany. Not a penny of German gold had financed it. Casement concluded: "I have touched on these personal matters because they. reflected on my' honour, and are calculated to tarnish the cause I hold dear." Motion to Quash Indictment Refused. Mr. Sullivan's motion to quash the indictment was rcfusod. The Chief Justice (Lord Reading) stated that ho had no hesitation in stating that adherence to the lung's enemies outside the realm was treason, at Common Law. Atr. Sullivan, in his address to the Court, said that no man. had heard Casement ask an Irishman to fight for Germany. He had asked men to join lie Irish Brigade when thewar was over for the purpose of protecting • the rights of I the Irish people against tyranny. This was not treasonable. , Of fifty-two men recruited, not cue fired a shot in Germany's interest, or appeared in the German ranks. - The case was adjourned. \