Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22
TFIIEF'S BOGUS CaILD SAVES
THIRTEEN FROM THE GALLONS

as she would be free to marry whom she
liked.
Prisoners under sentence. or even likely
TO be put under sentence OF death In the
near future. are allowed 10 see visitors
Marya happened TO come that same DAY
TO the citadel and agreed To the .youns;
bandits proposition. She even said $n
would go to their lawyer and tel him the
story ''I.anky' had concocted and induc'
him to see the president of the court
martial that same day.
The lawyer fell into the Aaryn
went with the borrowed baby in her l. -
and posted off to the citadel. whore ne
saw Gen Cversky and obtained. from that
astonished man. permission to bring
Marya and a priest TO the citadel next
morning.
The following day the trial of the TIL
teen bandits was continued. The ~
ceedings were short and were eXpecte
TO end before evening. AS there was nos
the slightest doubt that they were guilty
OF the most daring robheries committed Ia
the country for many years they were
pretty certain OF being condemned TO
death. At o clock Gen. Tversky told the
court that there would be ten minutes
pause. as one of the prisoners had asked
and obtained leave to get married before
sentence was passed unon him. Lukasiak
was then led guarded by a strong. convoy
of soldiers, into the next room where "A
tNltn the bogus DaDN III ner
arms). her mother and sister were await
ing him. The president and the eleven
generals who formed the court also<came
in watching the short ceremony with con-
siderable interest. When it was over
bride and bridegroom took leave OF one
another. Both wept copious tears. for
they had little hope of seeing one an
other again. and the bab.-, jabbed with a
pin at the proper moment. added his voice
to the din. The twelve generals were visi
bly, moved and so was the lawyer.
X =
Marya begged leave TO be present during
the rest of the trial and WAS allowed tn
take seat in court. Lukasiak was led
back to the dock and the trial went on.
In half an hour il was finished and. in a
husky voice. the president passed sentence
of death uDon the thirteen prisoners.
Poor Marya tainted ami Lukasiak burst
INTO tears The court retired and the priS-
oners were led back to their cell, TO gloom
lily await the sequel.
Soon their lawyer appeared. He said
that the court. although obliged by MAJ
tial law to pass sentence Of death on tl I'M
felt strongly moved to recommend them.
and especially Lukasiak. to mercy. Death
sentences of this sort are usually CON
hrmed by the governor general of War
saw. who signs them almost as soon as
the trial Is over, so that the prisonci.,
are quickly disposed of. But Gen. UversKr
determined that these thirteen should. If
po'Sipic. ne Spditu ne wrote Il pellIlol
to the governor general and presented il
himself. The sentence was committed 10
twenty years hard labor in Siberia an
perpetual exile In that country
All the bandits were delighted an
"Lanky' took the credit of 1t TO himser.
There is no doubt that, had Lukasiak NOT
married Marya 81 the very last momen
Of their trial. they would have been
hanged before the next sun shone 8ut
the ceremony broke the monotony -"
these daily court martiais and Marx
being young and pretty, appealed to the
romantic element that everybody, even old
generals, possess.
Marya will be able to join her husband
in Siberia and travel there at the ex-
penSe OF the government. With "I.anky''
TO advise them there is little doubt that
the enterprising thirteen will shift very
well for themselves. even in that unin-
wiling country.