DEATH IN HALF AN HOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20374, 3 July 1934, Page 1

DEATH IN HALF AN HOUR.

Hitler’s Bodyguard Shoot Down Rebels. LONDON, July 2. Correspondents in the newspapers send dramatic details of the last moments of the rebel leaders. It is believed that Frau von Schleicher’s death, when the details are fully known, will arouse deeper feeings than the deaths of all the Nazi leaders. When Ilerr Karl Ernst was led to the barrack-square and found the shooting party awaiting, with their silver death’s head badges glinting in the sun, he refused to be blindfolded, and cried to the commander of the guard: “ I am not afraid of you, you black dog. Hitler and the Brown Shirts for ever! Heil Hitler! ’> Herr Ernst raised his hand in a last salute as he fell. Ten other leaders have been executed. Their names have been withheld. An eye-witness of the executions of seven Storm Troop leaders, including Ernst and Heines and Streti, says they were summarily court-martialled at the headquarters of Hitler’s black bodyguard and sentenced to death within half an hour. Their wrists were ied with twine and they were led out in the darkness and lined up against a wall. The majority declined to be blindfolded. A volley crashed out to the roll of drums. Some wept, but | none sought mercy. SUICIDE DENIED. (Received Julv 3. 12.40 p.m.) ROME. July 2. The Vatican, in officiallv denying the German statement that Ilerr Klausner committed suicide, states that Ilerr Klausner was assassinated by foes who were ready to profit by the troubled conditions. “ Catholics do not commit suicide,” says the statement. “ Herr Klausner had not participated in politics.” “ PURGE ” COMPLETED. British Official Wireless. (Received July 3, 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 2. The latest official communique published in Berlin states that the “ purge ’’ was completed last night and that no further action in this direction will be taken. It added that complete order reigns in the whole country. General Werner von Blornerg, in an order issued to the Reichswehr, declares that the state of emergency is over.