Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-08-05

Traitor-AI:ce Auhert's ug'iness
Won Her the Title of 1.-THE ogress"
Tragic Scene Described.
The grim spirit of war still linger"
i'm 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 thoS"
countrymen of hers who played her
false wherSher need was greatest. In
contrast to the very lenicnt 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 rs the epltome or
vengeance. ms Nemesis to the traitor
Bolo Pasha, Pierre Lenoir. Malta
Hari. the beautiful actreSs-these and
others already have gone to their death
in the ditch at the rifle butts of the
MaSon Blanche in the Chateau o.
VinconneS on the outskirts of Paris
And now four more have died tn"
death of traitors in the same ditch.
Georges Toque. Noise Lemoine.
Leandre Herbert and Alice Auherf
have but recently faced the firing
squad for their activities in nidin.
the enemy during the world war. At
a court-martial last July they were
condemned to die. Toque. a former
colonial official. was, during the war,
a yoluminous writer for the notorious
German paper, the Gazette DIES Ar
dennes. which circulated behind the
German lines. In addition he. as we'll
as the other three of the quartet, were
active IN the territory occupied by
the Germans in denouncing their fel-
low cOuntrymen 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 Oeress."
shortly after 5 o'clock in the morn
ing a great gray-blue car drove slow
ly up the turf slope and came to u
standStil just behind the firing par
ties. The car contained Toque and
LemOine. Toque got out at once and
stood by the car, apparently perfectly
calm and talking to his counsel lie
moline sat back in his seat with hia
coat collar buttoned up, remarkinS in
normal tone of voice: 1T Is 10"
cold. | prefer to wait here till the
others arrive"
A few minutes later n car contain
ing Herbert. still in military uniform,
arrived and then last of all Alice Au'
bert, whose uginesS won her the IT,
tie of "the ogrese." She was accom-.
panied by two nuns of the Order Of
ST. Joseph de Cluny. Alice Auhert
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 beautiful ivory crucitix
given 10y the nuns.
AS soon 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. Toqur
went first. followed by Lemoine, both
stepping out with hardly sign Of
emotion and accompanied by their
counsel and the venerable Able GEES
peitZ chaplain TO Nincenncs Then
came Herbert. He was the only one
who seemed terrified and daZed. Be-
to h.,I- i'm tho nit
he had welcomed the magistrates with
burst of laughter. you are going
to take me for a walk. | am very
pleased" he had said. Now he was
frightened.
Last of all came Alice Aubert. witt,
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 crucitiX. 81 do not mini
dying" she. said, "if | go to heaven.
am only sorry for my relatives AMI
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 Aubert 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 righ'
arm. and in strong voice shouted
II affirm | am innocent. Vive Ia
France!" Only Herbert allowed tie
soldiers to blindfOd him, the Others
including the. woman ALBERT stating
that they preferred to face death witt
open eyes.
Meanwhile the four firing partie.
each consisting of II men in double
lines. were ready. The first line
knelt for the second line to fire oveT
their shoulders. A sergeant major
with drawn sword, stood at their side
and in crisp military tones gave the
order TO fire.
There came Il deadly silence. Alic'
Aubert Herbert and Lemoine wer,
dead. TOque still lived, and four nor,
commissioned officers, revolver X
hand. gave the coup de grace. Eyer
then. although shot through the RICH
temple, Toque showed signs of life
and another shot was Necessary t
put an end to his existence.