DEATH FOR TREASON

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 57, 19 February 1935, Page 5

DEATH FOR TREASON

TWO WOMEN BEHEADED Beautiful Baroness von Berg HITLER DECLINES MERCY (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received 19, 10.25 a.m.) BERLIN, Feb. 18. The beautiful golden-haired Baroness von Berg and Frau von Natzuer were beheaded. Herr Hitler declined mercy. An official announcement says that Baron Sosnowski and Fraulein von Jena were sentenced to life imprisonment. Tho beheading of two women, both of whom are of aristocratic Prussian families, is unprecedented in German history. If is understood that the offence was stealing plans of the German general staff for the invasion of Poland.

The executioner wore the traditional evening dress and white gloves. After each beheading the execu.ioner exclaimed: “Justice has been done.” Baron Sosnowski, the principal offender, seems likely to escape punishment, as he probably will be exchanged for three Germans now in a Polish prison on espionage charges. The People’s Court sentenced to death on charges of espionage and high treason, Baron Sosnowski, a Polish officer. It was at the time reported Unit three women, Baroness von Berg, Frau von Natzmer ami Flaulein von Jena, were sentenced to imprisonment for life. The accused wore arrested in April, 1934, but their trial was begun only a. week ago. Frau von Natzmer ami Fraulein von Jena were employed in the War Office. They were, alleged to have supplied Baron Sosnowski with copies of documents relating to the expansion of the German Army. The accused women’s extravagance in dress aroused suspicion. It is understood that Baron Sosnowski and Baroness von Berg were married during their long imprisonment, tho latter having obtained a divorce. As a result Baron Sosnowski refused an offer of repatriation to Toland as an exchange prisoner.