The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-29

Helene, ono or the terrlDle gang OL l 'Informers of Laon" now undergoing | trial in Paris. It was Helen Favre who threatened that she would have the town of Fourmios burned to the ground by the | Germans, and have every man, wo- man and child slaughtered. "She was quite capable of having 1 the deed done, since she had great influence and power over the Ger mans, ,"exclaimed Mons, Beretaux, who during the German occupation acted | as Secretary to the Village Council re- sponsible for the feeding of tho peo- Dle.
 Nonc Shnll Have Food. Mons Berteaux very quietly camo into contact with La Belle Helene. The woman demanded Lore than her share of food from a local baker, and when this was refused her the baker was marked out as 0 victim. He was supported by. Mons. Berteaux in his refusal to give the spy more than her sharc of food, which was obviously going to bo used to feed German sol diers. so that the Secretary, too, was marked. Tho baker was arrested, and charged with giving bread to fugi- five French soldiers, and was sen- tencel to 15 years Imprisonment.
 Another baker, who was tho wo- mans lover, made a false return, ana provided her with huge quantities or foodstuffs, and when this came to the knowledge of Mons. Berteaux the bak- CT was struck off the list, and refus- cd permission to deal in bread. La Relic Helene went to Mons. BerteauX and threatened him with death unless the baISer's name was restored to the list of those authorized to distribute the very limited supplies, and when the Secretary still refused, La Belle exclaimed, "Then none shall have food in that district"
 "Terror of FOurmies."
 With the other members of the gang the woman plotted to destroy the distributing scheme; "and," said Mons. Berteaux, "it was next to impossible for me to feed the people. Almost every day she would come and taunt me. and say, You see the people are starving when they might have ample food. l have great power. You shall suffer more.
 Mons. Berteaux was arrested by the Germans and was visited in prl- son by La Belle. You may have vour freedom if you will do as wish you,r she said; but the gallant man declined Even a German Military Court could not convict the Secre- tary upon the trumped-up- evidence, and after suffering three weeks in prison awaiting trial Mons. Berteaux was liberated, and allowed to con- ll1lue his difficult work.
 There was a dramatic incident during his evidence. Pointing an ac- cusing fingerr at the woman, he cried,
 Mons. le President, this woman used to be called tho Terror of the Fourmies.' and she lived up to her name" The crowded Court hissed and groaned, and the woman turned deathly pale.
 But the most sensational scene oc- cured during the evidence of Ma dame Druesne, who was recalled to testify to certain incidents. La Belle, it appeared, was married, and had three children. So that she might not be worried by them Lh Belle would take her babies to Madame Druesne, who, under threats, was compelled to care for them while their mother spent the nights drink ing and dancing with tho Germans.
 Forged Letters.
 Madame Druesne urged the wo- man 10 forsake the German officers, and give her attention 10 the chill dren as a mother should. with the result that Ia Belle took a violent dislike to Madame Druesne and plot ted to bring about her death. ssa- dame wns falsely accused of shelter ing fugitive French soldiers and with communicating with French head quarters.
 La Belle. at tho woman's trial told how she had, in order to dis
 -N-
 came friendly with her, au- had even endangered her childrcn's lives by allowing tho madame to look af- ter them while che (T.a Bc1le) was engaged iu work for the Germans. Madame Druesuo was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years im- prisonment. and to be whipped by German soldiers.
 Counsel for the prosecution press ed Madame Drucsne to tell further details, whereupou the woman de- clared. "At the trial the woman pro- duced Q letter. which she said her children found in my house. and had taken to thef- mother. Tho letter was one which, they said. had been written by me. and was a reply to one which I had received from the French headquarters. In addition. the woman produced some scraps of paper. which were said to be frag- ments of a letter had tried to de- stroy."
 And you had written or received these letters2'' asked counsel ''Sev- CT. ! swear it." said the woman. 'I had no opportunity of communicat- ing
 There Is no doubt that the 'In- formers of Iaon' included fin their ranks a number of expert forgers who manufactured evidence in the shape of forged letters and docu- raents, which were used to secure tho conviction of their victims. and thus ensure inc cash reward tho Ger mans paid them.
 SYou Lie"
 '.Before your trial you were false fy charged by this woman?" said tiC prosecutor
 "Ahi many times." replied Madame DrIesne. "Once she said fin the pres. enes of German captain that nat safd that he was a filthy man, who was not flt t0 live. had said thai she declared that hS was a murderer