Who was "hanged for a comma"?

Sir Roger Casement might have escaped hanging but for a comma in a statute of Edward III.


Specifically

Sir Roger Casement was charged with high treason contrary to Treason Act, 1351 (Eng.)43. It was alleged that during World War I he incited British subjects who were prisoners of war in Germany to renounce their allegiance to the King. The statute declared that treason was committed '... if a man do levy war against our Lord the King in his realm, or be adherent to the King's enemies in his realm, giving to them aid and comfort in the realm, or elsewhere, and thereof be properly attainted of open deed by the people of their condition: ...'. The charge alleged adhering to the King's enemies elsewhere than in the King's realm, namely in the empire of Germany. The defence unsuccessfully submitted that the Crown had failed to prove an offence in law. 'The contention is that those words "or elsewhere" govern only the words "aid and comfort in the realm" and have no application to the words "be adherent to the King's enemies in his realm.

Jan 25 04, 2:12 PM