INNOCENT MAN SHOT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20340, 25 June 1934, Page 1

INNOCENT MAN SHOT.

Alleged Coward Cleared by His Father. PARIS, June 16. How Second-Lieutenant Chapelant, aged 23. who was unable to stand because of wounds in both legs, was tied to a stretcher, propped against a tree and wrongly shot for cowardice in 1914. will be told before the Courts-Martial Appeal Court. Chapelant’s aged father, convinced of his son’s innocence, spent 20 years in a search throughout France to secure evidence. Eventually, he discovered Private Gardet, who related that on October 7, 1914, Chapelant commanded two ma-chine-guns during a German attack at Rove. The flanking companies retired, and Chapelant was left with only four men alive. One machine-gun was destroyed, and the survivors discussed the question of surrender. Chapelant persuaded them to remain. Eventually when the Germans ad, vanced after a shell had smashed the other gun, he ordered a charge. All were captured. Chapelant, severely wounded, was picked up by French stretcher-bearers. One of them said that an officer accused Chapelant of having surrendered to the Germans, adding. “ Take my revolver ! Shoot yourself! ” Chapelant replied, “ I have no reason to blow out my brains. I did my duty! ” The higher command ordered the execution of Chapelant, adding, “ You will find means to make him stand up and be shot.’’ Private Sabatier, a member of Chapelant’s company, who loved him, assisted to tie him to a stretcher. lie says that Chapelant’s last words, as he shook hands, were: “ One day my innocence will be proved.”