Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-22

legation, Hugh S. Gibson, sought out
the German governor, Won der Lancken
late at night before the execution. and
with the Spanish minister. pleaded witt
the governor and the German officers
for the English woman's life, Is graph
ically related In a memorandum from
erence to an apparent lack Of good
faith on the part of tho German au-
thorities in falling to keep their prom
ises to inform the American minister
fully Of the trial and sentence.
Sent Speedily to Death.
Minister Whitlock telegraphed to Am
bassador Page the 18th:
Miss CaveIl sentenced yesterday and
executed at o'clock this morning, de-
spite our best efforts, continued until
the last moment" .-'-' ...'
Mr.. Whitlock's final appeal was in the
form of note sent by a messenger
late on the night Of the 18th to Gov.
Won der Lancken, reading as follows:
My Dear Baron: I am too sick to
present my request myself. but I ap-
peal to your generosity Of heart to sup
port 1t and save from death this I'M
happy woman. Have pity on her!
/ YOURS truly,
brand wHITLOCK."
Mr.. Whitlock also stated that Miss
Cavel1 had nursed German soldiers.
Mr.. Delevel. counselor of the Amer
loan legation, reported to Minister
Whitlock:
This morning Mr. Gahan, an English
clergyman. told me that he had seen
o'clock and that he had given her holy
communion and had found her admira-
bly, strong and calm.
Happy to Die for Country.
Il asked Mr.. Gahan whether she had
made any remarks about anything con-
corning the legal side Of her case. and
whether the confession which she made
before trial and in court was in his
opinion perfectly free and sincere Mr..
Gahan told him she was perfectly well
and knew what she had done; that, &C
cording to the law, of course she was
guilty and admitted her guilt, but that
she was happy to die for her country"
cs secretary Glbson's report says that
conrad, an official of the German civil
branch, gave positive assurances on the
18th that the American legation would
be fully informed of the developments
in the case, and continues:
Despite these assurances, we made
repeated inquiries in the course of the
day. the last one being at 500 pm Mr..
Conrad then stated that sentence had
not been pronounced, and specifically
renewed his previous assurances that
he would not fail to inform us as soon
as there was any news.
AT $3.50 1t was learned from an out
side source that sentence had been
passed In the course of the afternoon,
before the last conversation with Mr..
Conrad. and that execution would take
place during the night"
Final Appeal to Governor.
Secretary Gibson thereupon sought
the Spanish minister, with the Ameri-
can minister's note for cIemency, and
with Mr.. Deleval. they went to Won der
Lanckens quarters. Finding the gov
ernor and his stan absent, they tele-
phoned to them. asking them to return
on a matter Of the utmost urgency. The
governor. with his staff. returned short
ly after 10 o'clock.
Secretary Gibson's report to. Minister
Whitlock continues:
The circumstances Of the case were
explained to him and your note was
presented. He read 1t aloud in our pres
ence. He expressed disbelief in the
report that sentence had actually been
passed, and manifested some surprise
that we should give eredence to any
TcpOTt HOt tIndHdtlHS from CLQCldl
sources. He was quite insistent on
knowing the exact source of our In
formation. but this l did not feel at
liberty to communicate to him.
Baron Won der Lancken stated that 1t
was quite improbable that sentence had
been pronounced. and even II so, 1t
would not be executed in so short a
time, and that, IN any event, 1t would
be quite impossible to take any action
before morning.
TT was. OF course, pointed out to
him that if the facts were as we be-
lieved them to be action would be use
less unless taken at once. We urged
him to ascertain the facts Immediately.
This, after some hesitancy. he agreed
to do He telephoned to the presiding
Judge of the court-martial, and re-
turned to say that the facts were as
we had presented them, and that it
was intended to carry out the sentence
before morning.
Made Plea for Delay
I'VE then presented as earnestly as
possible our plea for delay. So far as
am able to Judge. we neglected to
present no phase Of the matter which
might have had any effect. emphasize
ing the horror OF executing a woman,
no matter what her offense. and point
ing out that the death sentence had
heretofore been imposed only for
actual cases of espionage, and that
Miss Cavell was not even accused BY
the German authorities Of anything SC
serious.