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HID IN A COFFIN.

STRANGE DRAMA OF HEROIBM

AND CRIME

The hero of an extraordinary drama of heroism and crime, I'ierre Glraud, a postal employee, appeared before the Paris Assize Court on a charge of stealing over £17,000 in notes and jewels from registered letters. Glraud, who was wearing the War Cross with several bars and the Military Medal, told the Court that when tbe war broke out he was a postal clerk, but enlisted to fight the Roches, anil was wounded In the leg at Charlerol by an explosive bullet Three days aud nights he lay untended on the battlefield, nnd the Germans, believing him dead, stripped him to the shirt. A Belgian manufacturer who had gone in his motor car to search for wounded found him. and took him to Charlerol hospital, where he was nursed by the •Belgian's daughter.

One night he escaped from the ward to tbe mortuary, where he hid in a coffin, pulling the lid over him. After remaining there for ten hours the nureo placed liim on n bond-cart and took him to her home. His hiding place having been discovered, and fearing that be would be shot by the Germans, he decided to escape, and. still accompanied by the nurse, he set out on crutches. 'For harbouring him the girl's father was lined £.*>oo.

Glraud concealed himself by day In woods and caves, and at night hobbled painfully townrds the Duch frontier. He bad a hundred escapes from arrest, and his wound having re-opened caused him terrible suffering. Finally he managed to cross the electrified wire barrier on the frontier, and reached Flushing, and returned to Paris hy woy of England. He married his devoted nurse, and was reinstated In his position at the Louvre Post Office.

My wife nnd I were both 111 (he told the Court), and I was weak enough to steal a few letters, nnd then I continued to do

so. With the exception of £400, all the money and Jewels were found at his house. After hearing tho wife's story of their terrible sufferings during their flight to Holland, the Court sentenced Glraud to five years' imprisonment, with the benefit of the First Offenders Act, which carried with It Immediate release.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19180223.2.90

Bibliographic details

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 15

Word Count
374

HID IN A COFFIN. Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 15

HID IN A COFFIN. Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 15

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