Evening Star Newspaper, November 8, 1931, Page 87

Mata-Hari w a s tied to the post, and while the fir- ing party, consist- ing of Zouaves, were taking aim, she waved her hand in farewell. ITTLE that is authentic, but much that is otherwise, has been published on the last scenes in the lives of some of the notorious s who functioned dur- ing the Great War. Numerous sensational stories have been told of the ends of Mata-Hari and of Bolo Pasha. In this article M. Bouchardon tells the truth about the deaths of these and other famous agents. He throws a light on the recruiting of the spies with whom he came in contact, the classes from which they were drawn, their behavior when caught, their trials and their sentences. M. Bouchardon, one of the judges of the Paris Court of Cassation, is also a well known author, and has written a lar work on some of the most inter- esting criminal cases of the last century. During the war he was attached to the Phird Court-Martial, under the military governor of Paris, and it is with his ex- periences during this period that he will deadl in this le. BY M. P. BOUCHARDON, Judge in the French Court of Cassa- tion, who tried many cases of espion- age during the World War. PARIS. T was not until 1915 that I was instructed to investigate cases of espionage. This delay was because at first the authorities . were unable to keep a sufficiently close watch over the numerous “undesirables” who found Paris, with its large population, an excellent place in which they could escape notice and collect the information necessary to their pernicious trade. » Espionage has always existed, and on this occasion, as in previous wars, it assumed all sorts of shapes, some very clumsy and others very subtle, but all dangerous. It found em- ployment for individuals of all kinds and all nationalities, ranging from peddlers to million- aires and from working-class women to smart demi-mondaines. It is not difficult to imagine the kind of people amonrg ‘whom the enemy’s secret agents found recruits for their corps of spies. They had only to pick and choose among adventurers of both sexes, declasses, unlucky gamblers, the idle and the dissipated, all of whom were easy prey. Numerous ways of raking them in were prac- ticed. ET us take the case of some needy individual arriving at a rallway station in an enemy or neutral country or occupied territory. As soon as he made his appearance with his bag in his hand and wearing the undecided look of some one who does not quite know where to go, he would be greeted by some highly respectable looking gentleman, who would talk to him nicely and offer refreshment at the nearest cafe. If, after adroit questioning, the recruiting agent considered the new arrival suitable material, he would take him off in a cab with the blinds carefully lowered. The drive usually took the couple to the other side of the town and ended at a house with-a garden surrounded by high walls, in some out-of-the-way spot. The recruit- ing agent would then “deliver the goods” and the pended on the pupil's intelligence. siding genius was generally a fall, fair woman THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C.,_NOV_]EMBER 8, 1931 Mata-Hari won her way into the secrets of France through her ability in Oriental dancing, only to pay the penalty later for being the most famous woman spy during the World War. Armistice Day Stirs Memories of Grim Execu- tions During the World War—Eminent French Military Jurist Reveals Hitherto Unpublished Details Regarding Notorious Spies and the Manner in Which They Went to Their Doom, Brave or Cringing. over a lot of harmless samples, and e we might never have discovered proved invisible inks and cipher codes (; had his own and the keys varied to an extent) seldom yielded their secrets. T may be asked how these very ordinary spies escape. The letters in their own handwriting could not be explained away nor could the compromising articles in their luggage nor the checks in payment for their services. Purther denials being useless, many of the culprits fell back upon the same yped system of de- they behave when they were sen- to death? Come with me and look a trial. The officers of the court-martial have retired to consider their verdict, and the court is cleared. Having made up their minds, the mil- word “Death” at length falls from the 's lips and the wretch collapses. He is out, his legs giving way under him. On a last glance at the little room his treachery was brought to light. sples died like gamblers who had Others tried to make a many proved to be crime at Vincennes -for-nothing scamp, a first-rate keyhole activity been on a par s have been a very dangerous spy, but he got up late and idleness . He sent much important in- formation without giving himself much trouble. On the morning of his execution, February 22, 1916, it was snowing hard and the news- sold by candlelight at the kiosks, which were just opening, contained an alarming com- unique—the announcement of the German on Verdun. We were all extremely anx- When we entered his cell the condemned woke with a start, but he bore himself well. He proceeded to dress in a leisurely man- ner, putting on his silk socks and patent-leather hands chained together. Suddenly his thin voice broke the silence. “Can I say a word to you, captain?” he remarked to me. “You said in your report that I was a dangerous spy, but you might have left out the adjective. You will come across the dangerous ones later on.” His prophecy was fulfilled. On the execution ground he showed courage, without any attempt at braggadocio. The ar- took his handcuffs the spy was left standing abso- lutely free, facing the firing party, who had grounded their arms. Behind him was a rifie mound, and behind that was a wood. He was a tall, lanky fellow with a curly red beard. He was as loose-limbed as a greyhound, and a few This theatri- val attitude had its effect on the soldiers. Most of them missed her, but one bullet pierced her heart and killed her in- stantly. strides would have taken him over the bank and into the trees. I have often wondered why he never thought of trying to escape. A moment later the rifles were leveled and D. P. faced them defiantly. It was a scene I shall never forget. The rifles to wrench the rifies from the soldiers’ hands. Though dead, he still walked. haps 2 or 3 seconds, though it seemed like a century. Then he stopped suddenly and fell backward at full length. He looked like =2 great wolf shot down in the snow. His beard was set on fire by a cartridge wad and blazed like a torch. ATA-HARI'S end was different. I shall reveal nothing of what was stated at