The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-07-11
- 10 Ie Shot Ter Life has
Saved b. Signing Of the Armistlce.


The iron heel O. William Hohen-
zollern's boot sanI deep into The
heart OF Margaret Cent? Thurman.
but she lives 10 tel the story. They
Ted decayed horse meat to her for
three months, but she survived II.
Fellow prisoners fell 10 the right
and eft Of her under the lash OF the
whipping post master, but she with
stood 1t. Insult uopn insult was
heaped upon her. but she never
wayered. She was sentenced to be
shot, but fortune smiled and she es-
capped. They tried to break her
courage, but like her murdered
friend, Edith GayeII. she would not
finch She was an American woman
VERY few persons have experienced
the crueIties and barbaritIes this
little blonde haired woman went
through and lived. She sat in a
room at the Wolcott Hotel yesterday
and Iold how. betrayed and forsaken
by her husband, a German soldier
she tell into the hands Of American
hating Germans in Berlin in the early
part Of 1917. She remained prison
er until enc month ago when she
was freed aud started back 10 her
home in Chicago. IN relating her
experiences, she said
TN 1908 / vent to Berlin to fol
low I'D M work in art. There mel
and married Richard Thurman,
German. n 1914 : came home tc
visit my parents. Mr.. and Mrs. n. o
Cent?. o. West Point. Neb., and
shortly afterward ! returned e
Europe. al
"The war came. and J. being an
American. did what I could TO aid
nv British aud American friends
FOR his ! was much abused. The
conditions in my household Ner'
strained, Of course. and ! tried TO gel
a divorce. but failed.
"The Germans allowed me to DC
var work. and through some bit o.
oarelessnsss they gage ne the Horl
Of handling the English eensoTla
division IN German camp near Der
lin. This gave me IN opportunity U
assist In getting British and AmeFi
can soldiers mail through 10 them
Ordinary mail to these soldiers hat
been dumped In great bags and burn
ed was able 70 be kind 10 MS
Allies soldiers In many ways.
IL vas IN the latter part OF III
that Mrs. Thurman got into com
munIeation with German agent Hht
promised for 1000 marks to get bel
ont Of Germany and 10 port from
which she might fee to America
She and two other prisoners got d
far n Hamburg. when the German
agent. his fee already collected. held
them M and turned them over to th'
German authorities. Mrs. fuhrmai
vas manaeled and led back TO M
camp. Doeberitz. just outside Of Der
In. charged with being traitor.
Here. beneath . great are llght
she vas made The object Of vie abns'
on the part Of Glsman officers. =
great circle Of them vas formed
about her. aud she was led out, nk'
an animal. she said. and made TO fao'
The Iannta and vile conduct Of Re
Inrmentora.
She was held in The federal prisoi
for l.o months. This was not =
had, but then they placed her II
Yomans nenitentiary with BOD OF m
West women IN FL Germany. shi
was forced 10 sleep and eat vii
child muraerers. forced % eaI turnil
soup three times day, 10 crawl On
on hands and knees from her Iroi
cot to dress in the mornings. aud 4
endure the curses and threats of III
.ardens without word. tn speal
10 ones eeilmate meant The HhippInI
most. So she remained quiet.
The influenza appeared N Ina
pest house. Women died OF II
Others vent crazy IN fear OF Il
Their manacled wrists bIed and tor
as they screamed for mercy and ask
ed for medical assistance The,
tried suicide. half dozen aroan
her daily. and were beaten INTO IN
sensibllity when caught.
II pray God no other woman I'll
ever have to sec what / have seen.
she 1a,d. Ut would drive som
women mad"
Time went on and finally there "a
court martial Of the most mean
Ingless soft. 1 ended With her sen
Ienee 10 he shot She vas ; traIio
and must die And so zhe prepare
for the end. Starvation continue
and women died u tn hal doe
aud Nere carried on and thrown nj
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