Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-03
CLAIMS FRENCH
SHOT WOMAN AS
TRAITOROUS SPY
BY HERMAN BERNSTEIN.

PARIS, France.-This is the story
of a French young woman who was
executed By the French military au-
thorities in Bellegrade, the little
Franco-Swiss frontier village.
This war has produced numerous
instances of inhuman brutality, Of
heroism, of self-sacrifce and of ro-
nance. but the circumstances sur
rounding the fate of this young wom-
an will rank among the most tragic
and pathetic human documents" of
the war. 1t is the story of woman
who died for love. To help her lover.
she committed high treason and paid
with her life for il.
Women have figured prominently as
spies in every war In this war their
role has also been conspicuous. Some
have betrayed their country for
money, others have betrayed 1t for
the love of adventure, and still others
have betrayed il for the sake of love
following blindly the man who lead
them astray along the fascinating and
dangerous path of crime. This young
woman was victim of love.
Not word has been written about
her death. Not sigh, not tear, not
a prayer from Ter friends and rela-
tiyes. For they did not know what
had become of her. The French
did not record the end OF
this woman, who paid with her life
for her daring, mad desire To help
her Austrian lover, who sought to Sc
cure French military secrets.
Caught; Shot Within Hour.
Her name was susanna Raynal. She
was the wife OF Louis Raynal, lieu
tenant In the artillery of the French
army. She was % years old when
she was put to death. The husband.
u years her senior. was at the front
when she was shot. Her lover was
shot with her. He broke down, quiv-
ering and crying Historically. while
she kept bracing him up, repeating:
Have no fear! Have no fear"
She begged the officers to have
them shot together, not separately.
She declined to be blindfolded, held
her lover by the hand and kept muir.
muring: "Have no fear! Have no
'eari"
There were no prayers. No priest
vas allowed to administer to them the
asst rites. Within one hour after they
lad been trapped by the military au.
horities at the frontier, they were
hot. The victim OF love faced death |
vas a strange spirit of bravado, with |
peculiar courage, while the man whim-
,ered and cried and begged for mercy
husband at the Front
Several weeks ago met In Paris q
listingnished French diplomatist with
whom / discussed many incidents OF |
he war. Our conversation turned to
he many varieties ef spies and prov
,cateurs and to the motives that |
them to Betray their coun-
~.
Then he told mesthe story Of this
,oung woman who amet her end so
ravely at the French.Swiss frontier.
here were tears in his voice as he
elated the details. For he knew the
Voman and he knew her husband.
"She came to the ministry of war
nth her lover. They were taken 70 a
DOM, where they met an officer who
old her that he would be glad to ar
ange the matter for her. Then the
olice did what is usually done In such
ases The officer walked out Of the
DOM for a short time, leaving on the
able near them number of import.
documents. The man took
ONE of these documents. and after
be officer had returned and had given
hem the letter they asked for they
rent away.
ION the following day they reached
the Franco-Swiss fronIler
hey were searched, and the papers
aken from the war department we're
,und on the woman Within one hour
9th were shot. She met her death
ravely. She held the man by the
and and tried to brace him up. He
as crying helplessly and HISTORICALLY.
he Eternal Enigma.
II can not forgive myself for having
lentioned the incident to the pnrce
hief," concluded Ithe French diplo-
latist. Nor can forgive myself for
n -. Cd