The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-17
By Major c. B. Russell

proof of this spy's guilt in the hands of the French secret service chiet. We were obliged to do this, for all arrests of civilians in France had 10 be made by the French police. Tue envelope given me was opened, ana in it we found another code letter, conta ming all the information that l had given her regarding the aQ- miraPs arrival and the sailing plan of the conveys.
 The arrest was made at daylight.
 Since 1t was thought that she might attempt to commit suicide if she knew the evidence against her. and since the French desired to make an example of her as warning to others who might be tempted to try the same maneuver, l. did not partl- cipate in the arrest. As soon as the message had been decoded and we found that it actually contained the false information given her, l quietly left the city, and by the time the ar rest was made. was far on the road back to Bordeaux.
 Mrs PCwells arrest created furoe in Biarritz. It did not seem possible to those who had been so closely as sociated with her that she was the type who would use friendship as a cloak for serving the Germans. Her friends rallied to her assistance and employed the best legal talent for her defense Not knowing the actual evidence against her Mrs. Powell was sure of her acquittal. Both she and her friends derided the French secret service officers for the arrest, and promised that after she had gone free they would make it uncomfortable for those officials. But the old ehiet only smiled and bided his time.
 Mrs. Powell was taken to Bordeaux for trial When we saw the number arr aigned on her side we certainly congratulated ourselves that we had taken the percaution to secure our additional corroboratory, evidence. When Lieutenant Jones and I faced her in court-and this was her first intimation that either of us was con nected with her arrest-the situation was altered Her face blanched. She realized that her little game was up. A peculiarity of the French law al lows a prisoner to harangue Wit ness in open court. They belleVe- and in the majority Of cases it proves correct-that an acused person, II allowed to harangue witness, Will make admission that will disclose the true status of the case. When l was called to the stand, Mrs Powell gave me a reception that I will never for get There, on the stand I learned the l full meaning of the old saying, Hell l hath no fury like woman scornee.
 Her trial was brief one; for my testimony, substantiated as it was by Jones' together with the two code let teds, was sufficient to secure con viction. Mrs. Powell was found guilty and sentenced to be shot.
 Even though I knew that Mrs. lowell had supplied much valuable information to the Germans, l could not feel otherwise than sorry fer her, and did my best to soften the agony of her few remaining days. As the prison food was very plain, arrange ments were made to have an outslde restaurant supply her meals The French secret service women, Who were placed on guard in her cell day and night, were carefully selected with view of adding to her comfort as much as possible. The American Protestant chaplain was sent over to l the French prison. while the French priests attempted to give her the con solation of their religion; but Mrs. Powell died, as she had lived, with out the help of any church.
 One bright sunny morning at o'clock, Mrs. Powell was led out into the courtyard of the prison and placed against the wall. The com mand "Firen' rang tut-and she had paid the penalty.
 From one of tho Frenchwomen, who guarded Mrs. Powell, we learned her story. (Mary Powell Is name substituted by the author for her real name) Her father was an Eng lishman, while her mother was Bo- hemia. Shortly after her birth, her mother had eloped with Frenchman and to make up for the loss tf her mother, her father had lavished all his wealth and love upon Mary. Young, handsome with wild type Of beauty, and reputed wealthy, she be- came the object of adoration of many a young Englishman.
 An officer in the guards finally won and married her. Blood ttld this time with a variation of her mothers storv. Her husbands duties kept him away most of the time. but one eve ming he discovered her with another man. He quickly divorced her and shortly afterward she went to the Continent to live. The Czar of Rus sia, always on the lookout for such tools soon employed her, and she be- came member of his confidential secret force. When the revolution broke out in Russia, Mrs. Powell. with others of that so much feared secret force, was obliged tC flee for her life.
 She made her way to Switzerland. arriving there almost penniless. By now she was lost to all sense Of honor and was willing to serve the highest bidder. The German intelli- cence staff soon found her. hired her. and. eouipping her with an English passport, sent her to France to op- crate.
 She located in the beautiful villa at Biarritz, and when 1t was an- ntAnced that the Americans were to open a convalescent hospital for wounded officers, she aimed to be- come, and did become. a leader in the entertainments for our officers, thus securing much valuable Information for the enemy. She always used an American officer as her messenger and her letters were mailed through our post Gffice in Paris.