Casement Trial
Posted By: May 15, 2016
On This Day: Irish News, May 17, 1916
Eamon Phoenix. Irish News ( Belfast). May 17, 2016
Sir Roger Casement appeared yesterday at Bow Street Police Court, London to answer the charge of high treason which had been preferred against him as a consequence of his conduct in Germany during the War and his landing in Ireland nearly a month ago.
Seldom has a case attracted so much public attention as that in which the British Ex-Consul, after an amazing career in an enemy country, is now called upon to stand his trial on one of the gravest charges to be heard in British courts.
Casement was brought from the Tower of London in a taxi- cab at a very early hour. To the surprise of almost everybody in court, Casement on entering the dock was seen to be accompanied by a second prisoner. He proved to be an ex-soldier named Daniel Julian Bailey, stated formerly to have been a porter at Paddington. Casement, swarthy, sunken-eyed, his face wearing a set expression of brooding, was well-groomed and distinguished-looking.
A major witness was John Robinson of Ross Street, Belfast, formerly a corporal in the R.A.M.C. He said he had been in the army since 1906 and at the outbreak of war was in Dublin. On August 24, 1914, he was taken prisoner in France and interned at a POW camp and after a few months there the Irish soldiers received an order that they were to be together. They were given lighter work than the English prisoners and were put in huts by themselves. In December 1914 some 300 supposed to be Irish were moved to Limberg where the accommodation was good but the food bad.
Mr Bodkin – Do you remember someone coming to speak to the men there? – Yes. Casement.