AXIS SALLY SENTENCED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27041, 28 March 1949, Page 5

AXIS SALLY SENTENCED

TEN TO THIRTY YEARS FOR TREASON NAZI RADIO BROADCASTS WASHINGTON, Mar. 25. Mildred E. Gillars (Axis Sally) was sentenced to-day to 10 to 30 years in gaol for treason and fined 10,000 dollars. The loss of citizenship is automatic on a conviction for treason. Before passing sentence, Judge Edward Curran denied defence motions for a new trial. . Gillars, aged 48 and born in Maine (United States), was convicted on March 10. Her conviction was based on the broadcast of one propaganda drama entitled “Vision of Invasion from the Nazi radio a month before the Allies landed in Normandy. Gillars took the part of an American mother who dreamed her son was killed in the invasion. . . , It was remarked that the trial evidence showed that Gillars did not take part in high-level Nazi propaganda policy conferences, as was the case with the Americans Douglas Chandler and Robert Henry Best, both of whom are serving life sentences. Before being sentenced Gillars said she did not understand how the jury convicted her. Her counsel gave notice of appeal. The only American civilian ever executed for treason was the abolitionist, John Brown, in 1859. who is immortalised in the song “John Brown’s Body."