Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 74, 30 June 1916, Page 5

Great Britain

CASEMENT ON TRIAL.

ADDRESSES BY COUNSEL.

SUMMING-UP AGAINST PRISONER. Fnixsu I'iUiW amowiho*. (Received o.io a.iu.) London, June 28.

Mr Sullivan being ill, Mr Artemus Jones concluded the speech for the defence. He endeavoured to explain pasement’s change of opinions. He quoted evidence to show ■ that arms were imported as far south as Tralee before the war for protection against the Ulster forces and conscription. This arming continued after the outbreak of the war.

The Lord Chief Justice interposed and said he would direct the jury’s attention to the words “giving aid and comfort to the King’s enemies,” which meant ‘.‘assisting the enemies in war with us by any act tending to strengthen the enemy or weaken the country.” The Attorney-General contended that it was irrelevant to refer to controversies not; connected with the present facts. Why, he asked, did Casement go to Germany; moving about there freely? There was no answer consistent with innocence. The At-torney-General’ concluded by dwelling on the damning effect of Casement’s secret code.

? Mr Jones said the argument for Casement was that' he intended the Irish Brigade to protect Irishmen against the menaces m* tyranny of armed forces uncontrolled by the Executive Government.

The Chief Justice, in summing up, said if the prisoner knew that what he did would help the enemy, then, although he might have another ulterior motive, he was guilty; if he knew that the landing of men, in Ireland might produce civil war and embarrass the authorities, he was assisting the enemy. Much had been said about Irish politics.. He bad always felt anxiety, the introduction of political passions jeopardising justice when passions, wpre aroused. The, jury must deal dispassionately, and not pay more attention than necessary, to what was. isaid, of Ireland’s conditions; ; however , j|f?ep the. gulf might be between and south (if Ireland. When war came there \i as a union of .the forces to. resistthe attempt upon the Empire. We did not. know: how the prisoner during the gigantic, and. terrible war came co he in Germany or for what purpose, and he was allowed to remain there.

CASEMENT FOUND GUILTY.

t SENTENCED TO DEATH.

(Received 10.35 a.m.) London, June 29. ( Casement was i'ouhd guilty ' and sentenced to death. CONDEMNED MAN'S STATEMENT. I; (Receved.Yl.2s a.m.) ' ' London, June 29.

After 'tile verdict, Casement road a lengthy statement, the burden of which was his offence, that he had put Ireland first; that he should be tried by an Irish, jury; that he was entitled to be tried by a jury of his peers; and that the last place he really desired to see was England. Casement spoke emotionally, but firmly.

BAILEY DISCHARGED. When the Casement case was finished, Bailey was placed in the dock, and pleaded not guilty of treason. The Chief Justice directed tbc jury to return .a verdict of “Not Guilty,” au,Bail'ey was discharged; jjp« t .

BRITAIN AND SWEDEN. Copenhagen, June 29. ■ The Norwegian Shipping Gazette states that as the outcome of AngloSwedish negotiations, Britain partly abolishes the pulp prohibition from July 1. Negotiations arc; in progress for the exchange of a hundred thousand tons of pulp for a hundred thousand tons of coal.

MILITARY MEDAL FOR WOMEN.

, London, Juno 28. The ’Vtarv medal is now available to r „.,u for bravery under fire.

BRiTISH PRISONERS STARVED.

INADEQUATE MEAT RATIONS.

(Received 10.35 a.m.)

London. July 29

Sir Edward Grey, in acknowledging Mr Gerard’s report on the prison camp at Treuenbrietzon, considers the allowance of ten ounces of meat weekly, supplemented by some sausage, as entirely inadequate in tbo cases of the, men who were performing manual labor. THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR. SETTING HIM TO WORK. (Received 10.30 a.m.) London, June 29. Mr Asquith, in the House "of Commons, said that a Home Office committee had been appointed to determine the class of work to which genuine conscientious objectors would be put. Those who used tboir conscience as a cloak ought to be 'treated with the utmost rigor. The genuine objector who understood national work Would not be subject to military discipline. ■ “ , ‘