ANARCHIST'S VICTIMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1660, 29 January 1913, Page 4

ANARCHIST'S VICTIMS.

NIGHT OF TERROR AND . SUSPENSE. HSLU AT POINT OF HISTUL. A grim story of crime, reminiscent of 0116 of Edgar Allan Poo's dramatic narratives, has como to light (says the' Paris correspondent of the Central News) hy the inmiirv into the shcotinz of tl'e annvchiM: Jules "Urlbnch (alias i)ucrct)vby another anarcliist named Jvacomho. Hie crime took place at daybreak on Wednesday (December 11), snvs the "Sunday Chronicle, but tho criminal had obtained an entry into Krlbach's residence tho previous evening, imd during tho night lie submitted M. and Mmc. Krlbach to mental torture of an amazing description. At about 8 o'clock tho couple closed their small shop and went upstair to their bedroom. Later Mine. Erlbach left tho room to fetch some coal, and in the passage outside encountered a man whom she did not at first recognise. '" Ho pushed her back into tho room, and when tho lamplight fell'on his face she discovered him to be Laoombo, the incnir ber, of the Bonnot Gamier motor bandit gang, who committed tho Aubrais murder. ■'.'"■•''

l'inding that they were taken by surprise at'his presence he exclaimed: "Yes, it is I. You did not expect me. I have a little bono to pick with you," and, holding a revolver in each hand, covered them with the weapons. ; Then he advanced to tho door, of on adjoining room, in which was Mile. Lecoz; his former sweetheart; in whoso affections M. Erlbach was said to have supplanted him, and ho'turned tho key, sayingt "We shall be alone. It will bo better so."

The Torture Begins, Coming close to M. iirlbach, he said: "lou liavo betrayed your comrades to the policed You must die. If you movo an inch I will shoot you down." ' M. Erlbach replied that he had never betrayed'a single one of .the-anarchists, and argued with Lacombo, but could not convince him. . Kepeatnig his..threat to' murder Erlbach, Laconibe ransacked the rooni' to ascertain, if 41.: Krlbach had aweapoi} concealed.' Mmo. Erlbach, who' meanwhile 'had.been, dumb with horror, began to sup* plicate with the intruder, but with renewed threats tho anarchist continued his search in n small side room,"where Mine, unqacli's little boy, not yet live, .was sleeping. • "f'or the poor child's sake have pity!" cried (ho mother; and,the reply'came by throwing ono of tho revolvers 'in the direction of tho sleeping child."Another word,"'ho shouted, "andJ will kill him." Hearing what would; happen' if she, provoked him further tho woniaii kept silence. •'",.' '.; ■ ■ '."• •'■■'■' •,■'

Lacombe then feigned irony, and turning to Erlbach, ho, said, 'You are not going to convince me; spies always deny their guilt when they are caught. But all the same, my dear Erlbach, it's a pity to die so young, isn't it? How old are you? Thirty-two, I believe." >■'. Then turning to tho Irian's wife, he continued in insinuating language, "And you, madaiiio, how old arc you?" "Twenty-four," sho faltered. ''"Twenty-four.. '■You're, very young to die; it's so much tho worse. And you've got a child, too.. I hayo to kill him as well; it's very hard, isn't it? But you and your husband betrayed mo to the detectives, so you aro condemned to death; you are,going to die." , Lncombe then proceeded to sing jecringly from the patriotic song, "To Die for Homo and Country"— Mourir pour la patrio C'cst lo'sort lo plus beau... When' the tortured woman: begged to bo' permitted to write- a leter'■ to her mother he retorted, "Not likely! Your mother will hear of your, death soon enough." :.'' A Spin of a Com. -.Presently lie suddenly .exclaimed,'' "I have ari appointment at two o'clock.' Undress and go to lied. I will kill you: iu your bed; it will be more convenient." Hcsuming his: sardonic singing of the | refrain, he forced tho couplo to take off their clothing and slip between the sheets. After resting awhile, Lacombe p'uUed out his watdh and exclaimed, "T>vo o'clock. I havo missed my appointment. I may give you a few more hours' grace.' Wo will play 'heads and tails' to decide the precise moment of the death of all of you.' ' : '•'.' '',' ' 'V ' ■ Producing a fivc-frano piece he ; went on, "Spin this coin, Erlbach.' If 'tails conies up, I will execute you nil three at once; if 'Heads' turns up I will: defer your death until dawn, the time at which the State-executioner, M. Deibler, also operates." ; '..' ':"'.. ,■'','■', '■■.''' The coin was;spun,: the head coming uppermost, and Lacombe declared, ' Head You are lucky persons; you will live until six o'clock in the morning." ■-. ■.'"■''!-.' Throughout theirest of the night .Lacombo kept un, his' process of .torture, which he varied by. singing-snatches of Anarchist songs, and tho'refrain- \

Mourir pour la patrie '~'' : C'cst lc sort le plus beau. Once ho approached tho bedside,: and, glaring at his would-be victims,, exclaimed, "Rivers of blood shall flow. I will commit suicide over your dead ies. There will be an orgy of red blood. Death henceforth is master in your house. To die at our age.'•'. .." , . All this tiuie Mile. Lecoz, in the. ad-joining-room,- had been listening to the terrible conversation. . Sho was afraid_ to cry out or attempt to'render any assistance lest she should precipitate tho crisis. At last sho could keep silence no longer. Opening the window of the room, she shouted loudly for assistance. Lacombe sprang across the . room, banged his fist against the partition and called out, "One more word and you are dead. Intimidated, the young wonrn closed tho window and kept silent. .-

Shooting in the Dark. . At six o'clock Lacombe drew back th« window curtains. Dawn was just breaking, and, still humming' the terrible refrain, lift ordorcd the couple to rise from their beds to meet their end. He intimated that'if any attempt war made to bring in'tlic'police, ho had with bim a bomb, with which he Would blow up Hie house, • and they would all perishi toLacombo then commenced to fire Ms revolvers. Tho first bullet shattered tho lamp, nnd ' plunged ■ the-room into darkness.' Then followed a fusillade of shots. M. Erlbach was wounded in the tlroat and chsst, but his wife, by.lying flat-on her back, escaped, tho bullets passing over her. ■• . ~ , Thinking that ho had ended the lives of both of his victims, Lacombe coolly walked out of tho house and disappeared.