Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-25
Traitor in Nurses
Death Ordered Shot

CONTINUED from. Page One,
in Lille. Ultimately the spy sue
ceeded in making Mons. Jasquet be-
l;eve he was a loyal Frenchman
and allowed him to have possession
of certain facts concerning the or
ganization.
Richard reported these. things
to the Germans, and he was in
structed to continue to play the role,
and there cannot be little doubt but
that this scoundrel was largely in
strumental in arousing the sus-
picions of the Germans against
Nurse Cavell. In lette~s and reports
Richard made to the Germans,
Nurse Cavell's house in Brussels is
mentioned several times.
"On one occasion number OF
fugitives were to be- conducted
from the Lille district, and it had
been arranged by the committee
that the men should, at various
spots, meet guides, who would con-
duct them to places of safety. Rich
ard knew the whole plan, betrayed
it to the Germans, and the fugi-
tives, with Mons. Jacquet, the heroic
schoolmaster of Lille, and three of
his helpers-Mons. Martens, Vertru-
iesces and Deconnik-were arrested.
All the heroes were condemned to
death, and two days later were led
out to execution.
"On the day after these noble sons
Of France died, Richard was walk
ing about Lille, wearing new
clothes and spending money in
cafes. He made no secret that he
had received payment from the,
Germans"
Pardoned by Kaiser.
In the towns of Roubaix, Mau-
beuge and Houtmont, Richard
caused the arrest of no less than IS
persons. Many of these victims
were shot, while others were sem
fenced to long terms of imprison-
ment.
Not content with drawing a
monthly salary of SIS from the Ger
mans, plus $40 for every person he
denounced, Richard levied blackmail
upon his intended victims and re-
sorted to robbery. From one man
in Hautmont whom he attempted
to blackmal he stole 5000. The man
Immediately reported the robbery |
to the Germans, with the result that
the spy was arrested and tried. He
was sentenced to six years impris-
onment for the crime in 1916, and
was taken to Germany to serve his
sentence.
While in prison Richard wrote
an appeal to the kaiser. In this he
protested his admiration for Ger
many and the Germans, told of his
service to the German cause, pro-
tested his loyalty to Germany, men
toned the names of many of his
,ictims whose deaths he had brought
about and finished up with an ap-
peal for pardon and permission to
De naturalized as German.
He was granted a pardon and
again entered the service of the
Germans.
Once free. he hunted loyal French
,itizens relentlessly, redoubling his
Efforts for the Germans. He
worked in Belgium, but the Belgians
him of treachery and an
attempt was made upon his life in
Brussels.
He. however, escaped uninjured
md fled from the city, to turn up as
| French policeman in Roubaix,
where, however, he was too well
,nown to be of any great service to
he Germans. After the German re-
reat Richard had the audacity to re-
urn to Lille, where he was ar
ested.
Remove the Traitor"
Richard was found guilty Of all
he charges brought against him and
vas ordered to stand up in the
lock. Speaking slowly and with
great deliberation, the president of
he court said to the prisoner: "You
ire a traitor, man without any
park of feelings of love for your
or your countrymen. In the
lour of danger, when you thought
hat France was crushed, you volun-
arily offered to aid the enemy in
bringing defeat upon your country.
You betrayed and sent to their
leaths loyal sons of France; you
your energies in the cause
# the enemy, fondly believing that
Ter cause would triumph"
The man stood transfixed to the
pot. Like a marble statue, he re-
NAMED clutching the iron rail of
he dock.