Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-07
FAMOUS COMPOSER
DIES HERDS DEATH
Alberto Maynard Fires on Ger
mans; Then Kills Self in
Flames of Home.
HIS MANSION is DESTROYED
He Had Desired to Enlist, but
Was Rejected for Physi-
cal Reasons.

Especial Gable to The Times Dispatch
PARIS. February 6.-Alberic Mag
nard. the famous composer. dicd n
heroic death In the early days OF the
war. have just learned the details
or his end. Perhaps some will call
him mailman. He remained alone in
his chateau at Baron, fired on the Ger
man soldiers. killing one and wounding
another. and finally shot himself amid
the flames OF his home.
Maynard for twelve years had lived
In n villa standing on it's own grounds
which he called The Manor des
Sources" With him dwelt his wife, his
two daughters and his son-in- law. The
house was filled with works of art of
great value When the war started
the composer desired to enlist but was
rejected for physical reasons BE be-
came melancholy in consequence
When he learned Of the German in
vasion OF Belgium, nc said to friend
showing him his revolver. There are
five bullets there: four for the Ger
mans, then one for me-" He sent his
wife and daughters to Movers, and
when. on September 4. the Germans
reached Baron, he was in the house
Sources stands alone outside the viii
lage. Finding its gates closed. several
German soldiers shook them, while
others prepared to climb over into the
grounds. Suddenly window opened
and, without saying n word, Maynard
fred two shots with his revolver. One
soldier fell dead, another was wounded,
and the rest fed.
GERMANS FORCE GATE
AND SURROUND HOUSE
a few minutes later detachment OF
the enemy. In command Of an officer,
came up at the double. They forced
In the gate, surrounded the house, and
spread through the garden, where they
found NJ. Creton, son-in-law of Mag
nard. who was dressed as a gardener.
They seized him and tied him to a tree.
In the meantime n colonel and scvcra! ,
officers went to the Mayor, NJ. Robert.
Said the colonel to NJ. Robert. who
knew nothing of what had happened:
You have francs-tireurs here
NO." said NJ Robert.
But" returned tho colonel. my
house In the village. You are rcsron-
sihle."
The colonel then put NJ. Robert under
study and there interrogated him. NJ.
Robert, who was perfectly cool. re-
piled to the questions put to him about
the proprietor OF the "Manoir dcs
Sources" that he had never known him
personally, but that he had heard he
was n composer and had written an
opera. He added that NJ. Maynard
passed in the countryside for an &C.
centric. and seldom left his own gar
den. Asked by the German whether
NJ. Maynard had gardener. NJ. Robert
replied that he did not know. but
thought II certain that n man with
so large n garden would have gar
dener. To this reply NJ. Creton. the SON
n-lnw of NJ. Maynard. owed his life.
At first the officer said. Well and
good; you will be shot and the village
destroyed" but after two hours this
sentence was modified.
VILLAGE is SPARED
on PROMISE OF MAYOR
Tho order now was that the man
who fired should be executed II taken
and his house burned. On condition
that NJ. Robert give his word of honor
that no act OF hostility would be com
mitted against the German troops, the
village would be spared. Bidding NJ
'N'ceie ioiioN MN, INC C'''sIel With
his officers went to the "Manoir des
Sources" which was invested by cor
don OF German soldiers. 4 number of
chairs were taken from the ground
floor and placed on the lawn. and the
German officers took their places to
see the performance. Champagne was
brought out. Then Il cart OF straw
was driven up. and the straw was dis
tributcd In the rooms of the ground
floor. Then one of the officers pre-
sented torch to NJ. Robert. asking
him to SGT fire to the straw. He re-
fused. and the officer did not insist
The soldiers then lighted It mcthodi-
cally. Soon the whole house was
burning When the flames reached the
first floor revolver shot was heard
Alberto Maynard had kept his word
For that day and night, NJ. Creton.
tied To the tree, saw the house burn
Itself to ashes. Long afterwards
when tho ashes were searched, there
was found among them but two or
three bones. gold piece or so. and tho
chris OF n revolver