EXECUTIONER FREED

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 452, 8 June 1937, Page 6

EXECUTIONER FREED

KILLED SWEETHEART Sent To Devil’s Island Paris, May 6. Fifteen years ago Leon la Durelle, Metz workman (then aged 30), killed his sweetheart and was sentenced to 20 years on Devil's; Island. Since then he has killed 18 other people—as Devil’s Island executioner. EUcli time he was paid nearly £l. Durelle, tall, thin, grey-haired, prematurely old, arrived in Parte recently. The police authorities freed him five years before his time, sent him home for his own safety from thet klaijd', where all men have become his enemies. fcUid Durelle *to me: “Six months after I got to the island the governor asked for some one to become executioner. I was the only one Go volunteer. Who wias my first —er—'subject. The retiring executioner. He had murdered seven people. “Oh, there are plenty of advantages in being executioner. One is free. You can’t imagine what complete freedom., means in that pUace. But all the 15 years I kept on receiving threats. My life was not safe. Now I want to take over the job 1 had in Metz.”