Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-05

nuns. who stood there and handed it
10 them.
Must wear that?" asked Malta
Hari. turning to her lawyers. as her
giimpS.d the blindfold.
Nj. ciunet turned intcrrogatively TO
the French offlccr.
IF madame prefers not, it makes no
difference" replied the officer. hurried
ly turning away.
NOT HOUND AND WITH
OPEN EYES sHE: FACES SQUAD
Ma,a Hart was not bound and she
was not blindfolded. She stood gaz-
ing steRdfastly at her executioncrs.
when the priest. the nuns and her law
yer stepped away from her.
The officer in command OF the firing
squad who had been Watching his
men like hawk that none nigh. OK
amino his rife and Try TO find on,
whether he was destined to fire the
blank cartridge. which was in the
breach OF one rifle. seemed relieved
thar the business would soon be over.
y sharp. cracking command and the
tile OF twelve men assum I'D rigid posi-
lions. at attention. Another command.
and their rifles were at their shoulders
each man gazing down his barrel at
inc breast OF the woman, which was
his target,
She did not move muscle.
The under officer ia charge had
moved to a position where from the
corners Of their eyes they could sec
him. His sword was extended in the
air.
II dropped. The sui" 'hfs .ir,-
Emphasized on The FURNISHED blade as
Il described all arc in falling sinful
'aneousiy. the sound OF the volley rang
out. FLAMES and tiny puff OF .ray!si,
smoke issued from the muzz,c Of each
r'he. Automatically the men dropped
their arms
At The report. Mata Iari fell. She
ana not die as actors and moving pic
ture stars would hav" US believe ;hat
people die when they arc shot She
did not throw UP her hands nor lid
shc plunge straightforward or straight
back. Instead. she seemed TO COLLAPSE
SLOWLY. iner:ly. she settled to her
knees her head up always. and with
out the slightest change oc expression
on her face. For the fraction OF a
second ii seemed she tottered there. on
her knees. gazing directly AT those who
mad taken her life. Then she fell
backwards. bending at the waist. with
her legs doubled up beneath her. She
lay prone. motionless. with her face
turned toward the sky
\ REVOLVER SHOT THROUGH
BRAIN AS FINAL PROBATION
a. great brown dripping stain had
spread over the breast Of the. bIocl;
velvet cloak when the officials reached
The body tn make sure tnnt lie was
extinct. y issioned officer
VINO accompanied lieutenant drew
his revolver from the big black, lcatb-
or holster strapped about his wais,
bending over. he placed The rluzzln
or the revolver almost. but not quite.
against the left temple OF TIE spy.
He pulled the trigger anC the bullet
tore into tie brain OF the woman but
the body did not stir. Death had re-
suited from the volley OF tho firing
party. No blood oozed from, III. pow
der-blackened hole made by the re-
voiver bullet.
1t is part OF the regulations attend
Ing military executions in all l:uropcan
countries that. after the condemned
person has faced tho nrinr SQUAD. :.
further shot must he fired into the
brain to insure death.
rough. pine board army coa'n v.as
hastily trundled UP on wheelbarrow
by two soldiers. The bod;- was quick
~ placed III the coffin. the box was
set on the barrow and tho soldiers
wheeled IL heavily away.
The firing squad framed up in rours.
ana stu under the command Of the
YOUNG noncommissioned officer r.
marched off toward the adjacent bar
racks for petit dejeuncr"--thc coffee
and bread that is the mornin. meal Of
the Frenchman.
o