The Washington times., 1914-10-23
FOUND TO
Be ROBBER OF DEAD
res With Broken Arm to Get
Rid of Watches and Rings
Stolen From French.
Bv WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.

N THE BATTLEFIELD AT SOIS-
F. rs. Oct. CBy mail to New York;
n zen 7 w6s almost at the door OF the
h. Use where I am stopping this evening,
saw, in the glare of the lamplight
r N the doorway, a French soldier
" n a German prisoner. The soldier
looking into the lighted hallway
AZ the German stood dejectedly. with
his head down and his right arm i'm q
81 nS.
Swiss fugitive was with me. young
m an from the devastated town of Sem
II and he asked permission OF the SOL
'ar TO speak TO the prisoner.
Don't let the officer see you talking
when ne comes out OF the house." said
u Frenchman.
At the first words of the Swiss the
. lsoner smiled with relief, and, step
? ng aside in the darkness, seated him.
self wearily on a stone. He said his
arm was broken. In the light l had
seen that the sleeve was torn and
bloody.
I am suffering terribly he said to
the Swiss. My hand is swollen to
t"ice its size, and I am in terrible
pain. j was caught because l was too
weak and sick at the stomach to get
a vay. Now, instead of taking me to
tie hospital, they bring me here. / am
very much worried
Don't worry" said the Swiss. The
French are very kind to their prisoners.
7 ney will take you to the hospital and
gsJ your arm we'll and then they will
n Ike you do easy work"
Injured Arm Moves.
US the two men talked / noticed the
n ured arm moving in the bandage.
]. seemed TO me that the sling hung
j. osely from the neck instead Of being
v GIFTED down with the wounded arm.
The French soldier was worriedly
ping his eye on the open doorway,
v Aiting for the officer ne had been sent
q ask for. My swiss friend. unnoticing,
l. ked on, trying to assure the young
Gnrman giant that no harm would come
& him.
We've seen hundreds Of German
lsoners in this town." said the would
has been harmed bv the French. The
Z" 0 hospitals are full of wounded Ger
mans. and you'll go to a hospital, too
But why do they bring me here?'
. sNed the German, almost in whimper.
m afraid they'll shoot me. Help me-
you can." he pleaded.
Then / saw a thing that made me
give half yell.
Look out!'' ] think / shouted, his
Arm is out Of the bandage." I thought
the German was reaching for a re-
vover. The Swiss jumped back and
shouted to the French soldier Just at
that instant the French officer appeared
in the lighted doorway Where is that
IrlsOner?" he said
Here said the Frenchman. reach
Ls over and taking the German by the
left arm. He dragged the prisoner into
the Eight
We saw then that his arm was not
In the sling. Instead, it hung. limp
and bloody, in a most grotesque posi-
Ton. for the great swollen fingers of
md were IN the mans coat pocket.
Robber of the Dead.
Take your hand out of your pocket"
p the officer
The upper part of the prisoners arm
1 tched with the effort; his face
v-lthed in pain. His arm was broken
. ID he could not move the lower part
T IT,
Bring a DOCTOR" ordered the officer.
Red Crosrs official came and gently
lifted the terribly swollen hand from
re pocket and put 1t back into the
ing. Then we saw the doctor put his
a n hand into the pocket and bring out
2 watches and a small handful Of
-ench silver money.
Stolen from the dead" said the offi-
Ger. No wonder he was trying to
'mpty his pocket with that broken
= n
he officer examined the watches and
rund they were all French.
He doesn't belong in a Red Cross
= spital." said the officer. Take him
.. cellar. It's finished for him"
nd the next morning. after A short
uTt-martial. he was shot.