Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-02
Secretary Of Arr1eri-
can Legation at Brussels
Bares Blacklist Page Of
German Outrages-Last
Hours Of British Nurse
Who Faced Firing Squad
Without a Murmur.
.'srfE DIED LIKE A HERo1NE!.

The last days Of Edith Cavelfs life
and her last hour-are graphically
portrayed by the American who led
those working Nday and night to save
the English nurse.
Hugh Gibson, American legation
secretary in.Brussels, now reveals to
the world this blacklist pase in the
book Of German outra8es. Writing in
the forthcoming October Worlds
Work, Gibson shows with damning
simplicity the cynical and cowardly
stealth With which the Germans kept
him In ignorance Of the progress of
the case. and how they lied to every
Tense, evon including the American
and Spanish ministers, to the very
minute Of her death. Tho following
extracts from his report are roproduc-
ed here BY special permission Of
Worlds Work to The Daily Herald.
ION Aug. s. 1915, Miss Edith Cavell,
an Englishwoman. directress Of a
quietly arrested by the German aue
thorities." writes Gibson, beginning
his terrible Indictment Of Miss Ca
velPs m~urdererk. "She was confined
in tho prison Of st. Giles on the
chAry6 that she had aided stragglers
from the allied armies to escape
across tho frontier from Belgium to
Holland.
Officials Refuse to Let Americans See
Miss Oavell.
1T was some time before news of
Miss Cavell's arrest was received by
hte American legation. Minister Whit
lock addressed q note to the German
authorities requesting authorization
for Maitre CASTOR dc Leval. legal
counselor Of the legation, to consult
with Miss Cavell, and, II desirable,
entrust someone with her defense.
mo reply was received, and On Sept.
10 the legation addressed a note to
Baron Won der LAncken, chief Of the
political department
o Sept. 12 q reply from the baron
refused permission for any member of
the legation or counsel to see Miss
Cavell.
ut was manifestly impossible to
prepare any defense save in the pres
ence Of the court and during the pro-
gress Of the trial. Maitre De Leval was
asked to remain away from the trial.
LIT was pointed out to him that his
presence would only serve to harm
Miss Cavell rather than help her; that
the judges would resent the presence
Of a representative Of the American le-
CATION.
1.-The trial began on Thursday, Oct.
Z, and ended the following day.
Miss Cavel1's conduct before the
court was marked by the greatest
frankness and courage. She stated that
she had assisted these men to escape
into Holland because she thought that
II she had not done so they would
have been seized and shot by tho Cor
mans; that she felt she had only, done
her duty in helping to save their lives.
1.-THE public prosecutor asked that
the court pass tho sentence of death
upon Miss Cavell.
after. the trial Maitre De Leval
again was refused permission to see
Miss Cavell.'
Struggle Americans Made 10 Save Her.
Now begins the writer's narrative
of the condemned woman's last hours
and of the struggle Americans made
to save her life:
Mons. De Leval asked that MI. Ca
han, the English chaplain, be permit
ted to visit her. Conrad (of German
political Department. replied that it
had been decided that Mr.. Gahan
could not see her; that De Leval could
not = her, until the Judgment was
pronounced and signed.
H stated (Oct. ~ that even II
the Judgment had been given 1t would
have no effect until 1t had been con-
ffrmed by the governor, who was alb
sent. We asked Conrad to inform the
legation Immediately upon the con-
hrmation of the sentence in order that
steps might be taken to secures par
don. Conrad promised.
Despite h promise we were ner-
vous and apprehensive and remained
at The legation all day, making re.
peated inquiry,