The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-16
MISS CAVELL WAS
MARTYR TO HONOR
Did Not Thoroughly Under
stand Charges Against Her
and Sealed Own Doom.
INJUSTICE AT HER TRIAL
Died Not Only as Patriot but
Without Hatred of Foe,
Says Whitl0ck.

The removal OF Edith Cavell's body
from its burial place in Brussels to
England. where funeral services were held
yesterday at Westminster Abbey, brings
out the fact again that even at this date
there is no record of her trial and that
very little information issued through
the closed doors behind which she was
hurried to her death.
From the fragmehtary facts avail
able, however. II Is clear that Miss
Cavell did not herself thoroughly under
stand the nature of the charges against
her, and that in all good faith she
virtually sealed her own doom by ad-
hitting the lesser accusations, such as
receiving and nursing English soldiers
at her hospital. which she believed to
be the worst accusations that were
made against her.
Many of her friends among them
Brand Whitlock. American Minister to
Belgium. believed UP to the last moment
that the offence for which she was being
held accountable was simply that Of aid
Ing young men to cross the Dutch
frontier-a violation which was not pun
ished with particular severity. judged by
the standard of sentences then being
imposed in occupied Belgium.
Such an atmosphere OF mystery and
misunderstanding surrounding her death
has been set forth In the American
ENJOYS Just published book, belgium"
In which he pays tribute to the per-
sonality OF the English nurse, courage
Gus and resigned. even though she had
not expected such fate.
Brand whitlock's Request.
Soon after this woman who had won
the respect OF all who knew her in
Brussels by her conduct of nursing
home in the Rue de la Clinique, was
arrested on August by the Germans
Mr.. Whitlock wrote a letter to Baron
Won der Lancken asking IL she had ac-
tually been imprisoned and requesting
permission for Maitre de Leval, coun-
sellor OF the American Legation, to see
her and prepare for her defence.
Failing to get an answer. Mr.. Whit
lock wrote a second letter. which brought
the response on September 12-over a
month after the arrest-that Miss Cavell
had been placed in the prison of st.
Giles when she admitted having hidden
English and French soldiers in her home
as we'll as Belgians, who were old enough
to bear arms and who were all anxious
W Bet u inc IrOnI. rurtneITnOTt, tHe
German military official represented. she
had confessed having furnished these
soldiers with money to get to France
and had provided guides to enable them
to cross the Dutch frontier.
After her acquaintance had been led
to believe that the charges against hel
would be no worse than aiding young
men to pass into Holland they finally
learned how serious those charges were
| But when the frail little woman of 5(
was arraigned before the court-martia
! In the Senate Chamber on October sh,
was not herself aware Of the gravity Of
her crime in the eyes of the Germans
Unable to Talk to Counsel.
When Miss Cavell. the Princess d,
Croy. the Countess de Belleville and
thlrty-two other similarly accused wer,
brought before the military court the,
were seated so that they could neither
see nor communicate with their owl
counsel. who were compelled TO sit be
hind them. The witnesses, also place.
behind them. were likewise invisible 4
them.
| 1t was this spirit OF hampering tn
defendants which ruled the whole pro
cedure of the trial. Miss Cavell hat
never received any written statement o
her alleged breach of military law, ant
none was presented to her attorney. Sh
was questioned In German--a languag
with which she was not conversant-th
questions and answers being TRANSLATED
into French, which she spoke fiuenuy.
With only the vaguest knowledge o
the threat resting over her. she believe
THAT the Germans were charging he
with the deeds she had committed. an
out Of the honest frankness OF her hear
acknowledged them. In fact. she slgne
q paper to that effect.
She did not deny having received 4
her establishment English soldiers whor
she nursed and cheered with money. no