THE PASSING OF BOLO

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 221, 6 June 1918, Page 6

THE PASSING OF BOLO

CLOSING OF A SINISTER CHAPTIR OF The eleventh-hour revelations of 8010, who conspired with German money to weaken France in the war, availed him notniug. He was shot at Vincenues at 6 o'clock in the morning, For the previous nine-days 8010 managed to stave oft' the hour of reckoning. But finally, realising that the moments he had still to live were counted, he frantically proclaimed his desire to tell all he knew. The same night the terrorstricken traitor began breathlessly to tell his story to Lieut. Jousselin, and so gained the coveted respite. Every day for a week, he continued his narrative, which was interrupted only by confrontations with the persons he accused—Senator Hnmbert, M. Caillaux, aime. Caillaux, and others—and by attempts to verify his disclosures. "Is that all?" the magistrate demanded at-the close of each sitting. "No, no; I've not finished! To-morrow I have something else to tell you," was the quivering reply. And each day it was some fresh tale of treachery launched at one of his associates—stories of millions paid and received, accusations covering half the crimes in the calendar.

Then Captain Bouchardon, whose pa- , tient investigation had led to the pasha's condemnation, went himself to the prison, and for five hours conducted a final inquiry, culminating in Bolo's confrontation with his friend and patron, M. Caillaux, during, which tho ex-Premier violently apostrophised the wretched felon. Then yesterday justice left him sternly to his reflections. But 8010 firmly believed that he had saved his skin. Soma new fact, he told the warders, would tome to light to save him. He is stated to have believed that the Kaiser would intervene to cause a neutral banker to affirm that he had a quarter of a million sterling in a German bank before the war and so explain the sums he received through New York as the price of his treachery. . •'

Whnn Major Jullion. commissioner of the Paris court-martial, entered his cell at five o'clock in the morning he was sound asleep. "Be brave, Bolo; the hour has come!" announced the officer as the warders awakened him. The wretched man was crushed for a moment, Imt rose, shaved, and slowly dressed, donning the blue jacket suit he wore in court, knotting his white tie carefully, and putting on a pair of white kid gloves. A ddntcit bowler hat pullod down over his ears completed the costume and added h sinister note to the remains of Hip pVishn's elcgaifcc. He confessed to tin; prison priest and took Holy Communion. Then lie smoked his last cigar. He placed ft uiauvo silk handkVrchiof in liis breast pocket, which he nsked the priest to give his wife wTien all was over, m being tlio last thing he had touched.

He showed u -flash of his old arrogance when a wardor addressed him bluntly as "Bolo." "Monsieur 8010, if you piense." he corrected. "It is I. who command hero." According to one account, when awakened and told that the end was at hand, he replied, "So much the better. I'm delighted!" Soon the prison gates were thrown open and a long line of closed motorcars emerged and started' at breakneel; speed for Vincennps. In ono were the condemned,man and hi? guardians, while high military and police officials filled, the others. Half way, cavalry lining the road closed in on the cortege and barred the way to journalists' cars, which had taken up the chase. Arrived at Vincennes, 8010, removing a p;lovc, signed his name for the last time with a large flourish, and wns taken to the execution post, Askeil if h& would have his eyes bandaged, tho pasha, trembling and deathly white, nodded, and ns a blue handkerchief was adjusted, lio murmured, "Not so tight." "Three sergeants, three corporals, and six privates formed the firing party.- The lieutenant commanding them lowered his sword, and overy shot went Tiome. But in accordance with military law, (The officer advanced nnd fiTcA a final bullet into tho head of the traitor.