MEMORY OF WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

MEMORY OF WAR

FRENCH GIRL IN PRISON RELEASE AFTER 14 YEARS Tragic days of tho war were recalled recently at the little French village of Souchez, near Bethune, when Jeanne Lalart, who was sentenced to death and reprieved by a French military tribunal when she was only seventeen, came home again after 14 years in prison. Jeanne and her mother were accused of betraying two Frenchmen—who hid in their house—to the Germans. The mother and daughter were tried and sentenced to death, but reprieved and condemned to spend the rest of their lives in prison. Mine. Larlart died in prison, and Mile. Jeanne has been reprieved—after 14 years. The authorities decided that she was not responsible for the " crime " after all. Fourteen and a-half years ago Jeanne was a strong young girl of 17. Now at the ago of 31 she is almost old and frail. Her features are emaciated, and there is a tortured look in her dark eyes. She is a kindly little woman, simply dressed, with brown hair and dark brown eyes. " I worked as a laundress in the great prison of Mont Tellier and earned 20 francs a day. I have saved quite a dowry " —and the tired eyes gleamed for a moment with hope. " The chief of tho Salvation Army in Paris heard about me. ITe used to como all the way to Mont Tellier to speak to me in my cell. Ho was very kind. He helped me to bear it all. " Now I am homo again, the authorities have put me in care of my brother Gustavo. I am going to try to get work in a laundry and just carry on. I want to try to forget. '