The New York herald., 1921-08-21
VILLAGERS DEFEND
| BURNING OF YOUTH
in TIME OF WAR
Say Camille CarOn Admit
ted Guilt in Destroying
Warehouse.
HE WAS FIRST CRUCIFIED
Then Arms Were Broken and
He Was Thrown Into
Flames.
HE WAS FIRST CRUCIFIED

Special Cable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, by THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris. Aug. 20.
The revelation this week of the
crucifixion of an eighteen-year- old
youth in the early days of the war be-
cause he had set fire to a warehouse
belonging to the Mayor of Vandel-
court will go down in history as evil
dence of how public sensibilities can
be blunted by the constant sight of
bloodshed
Even the French police assigned to
investigate this strange story, which
had been hushed for seven years, were
astounded to find half a dozen promi-
nent citizens who admitted that the
culprit, Camille Caron, was not only
beaten and stoned but that his arms
were broken and he was thrown into
the flames for which he was respon-
sible.
But the courts had disappeared and
Caron was a dangerous element to have
In our midst while the countryside was
invaded by Germans Besides he ad-
mitted his guilt, SO we took justice into
our own hands," is the only defence the
principals make against the charge of
inhuman treatment.
Mayor Disclafms Part.
Mayor Bulot. like Pontius PLATE.
rests upon his Official dignity, insisting
that he did not participate at the trial
Of the young man, and as he had had a
strenuous day he had gone to bed early
after promising to sanction any solu-
tion as to Caron's fate which might be
decided on by the villagers. But no one
has been found who actually witnessed
the throwing of Caron's body into the
flames Four men who have been
identified as members of the hasty
lynching court insist that Caron was de-
livered to the populace, but the VII
layers insist that they did not know
what happened to him until several days
had passed.
Early theories that Caron was mall
treated and then warned to leave the
region no longer seem to have any foun-
dation Caron's uncle. an aged farmer
near Compiegne. insists that the youth
would have returned to his home to get
his clothes and money and that enlist
ment in the army would have been I'M
possible without investiga ton of his civil
record.
Revealed by yfIIager.
Strangely enough, the case would
never have leaked out but for efforts OF
the Mayor 10 make the Germans pay for
the damage chargeable against Caron
Recently one of the villagers presented
his own claim for damages to the Mayor
for his approval. The Mayor refused TO
approve the claim considering the
charges excessive. but was reminded
that he also had charged the Germans
for the destruction Of his warehouse.
Later while under the influence OF
liquor the villager recited his complaint
70 some gendarmes. who began an In
vestigation. They have reconstructed
the wartime drama with all its details
and have the identity of those who were
actually responsible for the lynch Law
execution. But as the whole population
cannot be punished 1t Is likely that the
heinous crime will be forgotten. with
only a reprimand for the Mayor. who
neglected his duty and then added his
losses to Germany's reparations bill