Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1903 — CONVICTED OF HIGH TREASON [ARTICLE]

CONVICTED OF HIGH TREASON

British M. P. Who Aided Boers Is Condeiuue:! to Death. Col. Lynch was found guilty in London on the charge of high treason aud sentence of death was immediately imposed. In the course of the trial of Col. Arthur Lynch, member of Parliament for Galway, on the charge of high treason, there was no attempt to deny that Col. Lynch supported the Boers, but counsel contended that his naturalization was in no way prompted by treasonable intent and was solely for the advantage he would thus secure for journalistic purposes. Subsequently the defendant Actively supported the Boer cause in the belief that he was a legally naturalized burgher. Replying for the prosecution the solicitor general. Sir Edward Carson, maintained that Col. Lynch joined the Boer army as a discontented Irishman, “thereby committing a most cowardly aud most •erious act of treason." His naturalization, continued the solicitor general, was only a flimsy pretext. Col. Lynch is an Australian by birth, but an Irishman by nationality ami choice. He is an author, an engineer, a journalist, a soldier, and an ardent politician. After an education received at Melbourne university, at Berlin, and Paris, Col. Lynch took up practical engineering tn Australia. He then went to Ireland and became n candidate for Parliament, but was defeated. After a short residence in Paris he visited the United States. While here he called on President Roosevelt, then Governor of New York, and was In consultation with the radical leaders of the Irish movement In this country. He then returned to London and became a journalist, varying the monotony by accompanying Sir Garnet Wolseley on the Ashanti expedition. When the Boer war began Col. Lynch left for the scene of action. With President Kruger’s permission ho organized the Second Transvaal Irish brigade of rough riders, swore allegiance to the Transvnal, and saw much active service. After the defeat of tlie Boers and while the colonel was in Paris, he was elected by his Irish friend* to represent Galwny in the House of Commons. On hi* arrival In England, June 11, he was arrested on the charge of high treason and his trial nnd conviction followed. Plans are completed for th* construction of the final link in the system of trolley roads connecting New York and Boston, that between Hartford and New Haven. The fare between the two cities will be considerably less than the steam road prices. The annual report of the commissioner of railroads says that all the railroads subsidized by tho government have settled their indebtedness except one. The roads show an increase of $20,000,000 in net earnings and $27,000,000 in expenses •ver 1901.