The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1920-08-07

Traitor-Alice Aubert's UgIlnesa
Won Her the Title of 1.-THE oeress''
Tragic Scene Described.
The grim spirit of war still fingers
In France. Even though the world Is
now well along into the second year
since the fighting ceased, France has
not forgotten nor can she forget those
countrymen of hers who played her
false when her need was greatest. In
contrast to the very lenient treatment
accorded in this country to those in
dividuals who held their duty to their
country lightly in the days of war,
France stands out as the epitome of
vengeance. as Nemesis to the traitor.
BOlo Pasha, Pierre Lenoir, Mata
Hari, the beautiful actress-these and
others already have gone to their death
in the ditch at the rifle butts of the
Maison Blanche in the Chateau of
Vincennes on the outskirts of Paris.
And now four more have died the
death of traitors in the same ditch.
Georges Toque, Noise Lemoine,
III IlCl DC1l am AllCt A'lIltl I
have but recently faced the firing
squad for their activities in aiding
the enemy during the world war. At
a court-martial last July they We're
condemned to die. Toque, a former
colonial official, was, during the war.
a yoluminous writer for the notorious
German paper, the Gazette des Ar
Ionnoo ruhioh oIran1ofoI hoh;-l d.
German lines. In addition he, as well
as the other three of the quartet, were
active In the territory occupied by
the Germans in ~denouncing their fel-
low c%ountrymen to the enemy, which
denunciations in more than one in
stance were instrumental in bringing
about the death of loyal and patriotic
Frenchmen. For these crimes the
quartet were required to give up their
lives. An account of their execution
Is given in the continental edition of
the London Daily Mail.
Known as 1.-THE Ouress."
Shortly after 5 o'clock in the morn
ing a great gray-blue car drove slow
~ mp he turf slope and came teea-
stast5Atia Just behind the hring par
ties. The car contained Toque and
Lemoine. Toque got out at once and
stood by the ear, apparently perfectly
calm and talking to his counsel. LIE
moline sat back in his seat with his
coat collar buttOned up, remarking in
a normal one of voice: ut is too
cold. I prefer to wait here till the
others arrive"
A few minutes later a car contain
ing Herbert, still in military uniform,
arrived and then last of all Alice Au-
bert, whose ugliness Won her the I'll
tie of "the ogress.'' She was accom-
panied by two nuns of the Order of
st. Joseph de Cluny. Alice Aubert
had prior to leaving the prison of st.
Lawrence attended mass and taken
communion. She had been praying
all the way to Vincennes and held in
her hand a beautiful ivory crucifix
given by the nuns.
AS 500 as she got out of the motor
car the whole party set out to cover
on foot the 80 yards which separated
them from the execution posts. Toque
Welt uISl, 1OllON tI ny IclllO1le, DOlH
stepping out with hardly a sign of
emotion, and accompanied by their
counsel and the venerable Able Ges-
petit. chaplain to Yincennes. Then
came Herbert. He was the only one
who seemed terrified and dazed. Be-
fore leaving his cell back in the city
he had welcomed the magistrates with
n h,1X.rf ~ InY1nhHa, AXo, 49, .1s-
to take me for a walk. I am very
pleased" he had said. Now he was
frightened.
Last of all came Alice ALBERT. With
her short hair, loose and wind driven,
she carried her head high and her
eyes were fixed straight before her.
In her hands she held clasped to her
breast her crucifx. 81 do not mind
dying" she said, of I go to heaven.
/ am only sorry for my relatives and
those who have to die with me. Please
pray for me and them"
The Coup de Grace to Toque.
The final preparations made, the
nuns embraced Alice ALBERT and then
the chaplain sOlemnly blessed them
all.
AS the small party of assistants,
nuns, the chaplain and counsel with
drew, Toque tried to raise his right
arm, and in q strong voice shouted ::
81 affirm | am innocent. Vive la
France" Only Herbert allowed the
soldiers to blindfold him, the others
including the woman ALBERT, stating
that they preferred to face death with
oren eyes.
Meanwhile the four firing parties,
eArh consisting of II men in double
lines. were ready. The first line
knelt for the second line to fire over
their shoulders. A sergeant major,
with drawn sword. stood at their side,
and in crisp military tones gave the
order to fire.
Tloro "a ~, a aao1Iu ciIonoo Alto