The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-25

 wee French girl when her father was brought out to be shot by the Ger mans because he had been found with dynamite in his possession and de- nounced to the Boche by a neigEbor So ho orribly had the IIuns maltreated the unfortunate Frenchman during his brief Imprisonment that his little daughter failed to recognize him.
 Come, child. kiss me: I am going to die. am your father" exclaimed the distracted man. For a moment the child hesitated to approach the hid eous man, his face all bruised and bleeding; but the voice was that of her father. The mite flung her arms around his neck. and ten minutes later he lay a corpse.
 Such was the story told by Captain Orsine, one of the most brilliant law yers in France. who, on behalf of the Government, is prosecuting before a court-martial 25 men and women who are accused of treachery and spying.
 Leader of the Gang.
 Tho prisoners are men and women who live near Laon, which was in the occupation of the 7th German Army, and the leader of the gang was Emile Thomas. a German. known as the Pink Baby" morn in Alsace. All though this man loudly protests his patriotism to France, more than suf- ficient proof has been established to convict him of treachery. Thomas was, as has been proved, a syp of the Germans. and fin the pay of the Se- cret Service of the 7th Army. His headquarters were in Jaon, and his special duty was to betray French residents who were hiding Allied sol diers. Thomas gathered around him a gang variously estimated at from 2s to 40 of the lowest scroundrels of the jlace. men and women who live fin cafes and wine shops, who for s75 of $50 were ready to betray their friends
 One of the most prominent mem bers of the gang was a man named Toque, an ex-convict. Toque was at one time. French administrator in portion of Madagascar, but so brutally did he treat the natives that he was ultimately arrested and placed on trial. and received a sentence of sev- en years Imprisonment. When he came out of prison Toque went to live at Laon. and was in the town when the German Armies entered. He soon became acquainted with Thomas and not only betrayed men and women, but wrote articles for a German-con troiied paper used for purposes of pro paganda. Toque has put up the de- fense that ha wrote the articles be- cause he -.as penniless, and had a wife an, .nild to support; and further, he declares the articles he wrote were al- tered by tn Grmans.
 ATraitor's Ide.
 When he made this plea the Presi- dent of the Court turned to him sharply. You swear they were alter ed7"
 q do." replied the man without hesitation.
 We shall see" said the President calmly. "I have here the original ar ticles, which arc in your handwrit- ing. You did not know I had them ?''
 Toaue's face blanched, and his hand shook as he stared at the President
 There was another highly dramatic incident when Toque declared his ra- triotisnn to France. q never betrayed any cne," he said. T myself was be- trayed as an agent of the French For eiSn oE!ce. sfd Vas arreste |.
 What was 'ne officer name tc to whom you were denounced ?' was the next question of the President.
 'Lieutenant Furwenches." the ris- oner announced. adding. He was the Chief of the German Police"
 You arc surc of the name?"
 Certain" said Toque. He Is a brutal man" Tooue proceeded to des- cribe the German. when he was in terrupted by the President, who said
 You may be surprised to hear that Lieutenant Furwenches was arrested a few days ago at Amiens, and will be detained and examined about the affair by a Magistrate"
 -. One of the chief witnesses against Toque is his own wife. who has de- clared that she was offered a large sum of money by the Germans, through her husband. to go to Paris and collect Information. When she rs- fused to do this work. Toque mention ed the names of three Frenchm en one of who was ultimately sent to Paris by Thomas.
 Female E1cnds.
 The inhumanity of the male pris- oners in denouncins their relatives and countrymen is surpassed by that of the women. Through their instru- mentality. it is stated. over so French subjects were slain or sentenced to long terms of imprisonment One of the women. named Aubert, obtained employment in the family of Mons. Tricoteaux, the Mayor of Anguflcourt who was suspected of shefterfng some French soldiers. Aubert denounced the Major, Mons. Evrard. the Deputy Mayor, a police officer named Der bois, and two soldiers who were be- ing sheltered all were shot by the Germans and Aubert received a sum equivalent to s1o0 for this treachery.
 Counsel told the court amid the in tense silence of the pathetic last let ter which the mayor wrote to hfe wife the eve of the execution. The letter rsn:-"My Dear Wife and Children,-Tomorrow l shall die. but I beg of you to be courageous. When difficulties arise think of me, and that will suffice. In particular. my dear Ciotflde and my dear children. be calm. For the last time a fond fare well. I shall die for France"
 Denounced Her Husband.
 Another of the female prisoners is named Gabrielle Lambert. This woman denounced her husbands father, an old man of TT years of age, wao was harboring a young French soldier. The old man was condemned to death, but the sentence was commut- ed to one of 12 years Imprisonment. Her husband was serving with tho nd a m Leaving