DEATH SENTENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23280, 16 August 1945, Page 7

DEATH SENTENCE

Trial Of Marshal Petain Threatening Letters To Jurors By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 7.30) PARIS, Aug. 14. Marshal Petain was today sentenced to death. The verdict was announced after the jury had deliberated for six hours. . The Paris radio says the Court expressed the view that owing to his great age the sentence should not be carried out. It added that Petain was also condemned to national degradation and confiscation of his property. The jury retired at 8.15 p.m. to consider their verdict.

M. Payen, concluding the case for the defence, said: “If you condemn ' Petain I pity France. There are innumerable Frenchmen devoted and grateful to Petain.’’ Marshal Petain always believed in a British victory, said M. Payen. Laval and his friends thought that France, after the armistice, should go wholly over to the German side, said M. Payen. They believed that a German victory was inevitable, but that was. not Petain’s view. Petain made unessential concessions to Germany and was horrified when he heard of Laval’s German victory broadcast. M. Payen read a letter from M. Cotror, who held a high Vichy post, in which it was stated that Petain was really lucid for only three or fotu’ hours daily, especially in the morning, and that it was possible to make Petain sign anything. Petain at this point made a gesture of denial with his head and hands. The President asked Petain if he had anything to say. The Marshal rose, took a paper from his pocket and read a statement: “During the trial I kept deliberately silent after explaining to the French people the reason for my attitude. My only thought was to remain with French people on the soil of Franco according to my promise in br.det to protect them and' ease their sufferings. Whatever happens now the people of France will not forget. .me. They know . I defended them'stfs. I defended Verdun. Gentlemen) my life "and liberty are in your hands,, but my honour I entrust to my country; Dispose of me according to. your . My own is clear.: After my long' life, having reached the threshold ; of death, I affirm I had 1 no; other , ambition than to serve France.”

Some clapping and applause greeted the statement, but was quickly suppressed. M. Payen spoke for more than two hours and developed his arguments in a quiet voice. M. Mornet, listening intently, saw no necessity to intervene. Petain smiled approvingly occasionally or with a gesture disclaimed undue praise. The 24 jurors and three Judges, before starting their deliberations, had dinner, which was specially cooked in the police prefecture kitchens to eliminate the possibility of tampering with the food after anonymous letters. One thousand armed guards surrounded the Court as the jury considered their verdict. While the jury, was still deliberating Madame Petain was informed that the charges of giving intelligence to the enemy against her husband had been dropped and she was freed. The Minister of Information announced that the newspapers will be given paper as an exception measure to enable them io appear to-morrow to announce the verdict. He added that the present paper consumption exceeds the production.