A TALE OF HORROR.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1917, Page 2

A TALE OF HORROR.

BISHOIP CLEARY RECOUNTS TERRIBLE INCIDENT. The Right Rev. Dr. Cloary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, in a circular letter describing his experiences in France, says: ''One hears many stories of German atrocities against the .civilian population in this part of France. I have had an opportunity of examining into one such case of '(rightfulness' on the testimony of: direct eye-witnesses. A few days aso 1 visited a New Zealand Catholic, chaplain who is billeted, with two other New Zealand officers, in a better-class, of farm-house quite close to the trenches. I was informed that the- house-mother there was a witness of a. tragedy which had been reported to me. I found her to be an extremely pious Catholic, woman, of middle age, fairly well educated and speaking better French than is common among the peasantry of this region. She confirmed even in most details, the story which I had heard, and then told me, in substance, what follows: Her brother, a farmer, lived near by, a quiet, inoffensive man, very industrious, extremely careful not to mix himself up in military or political matters, not guilty of spying or any civil or military offence, and immensely devoted to lis wife and three chi'ldrcn. While niv informant was on a visit to him there entered some Gorman officers. One of these drew his sword and severed the fanner's hand at the wrist, the hand dropping-to the floor. They then fired three revolver shots at him, two of the shots penetrating the victims' abdomen and the third his throat. All this took place in the presence of the victim's sister (my informant) and of his wife find three children, all of whom were frantic with horror at the sudden traeedy. The poor man's sister cried to him: "Oh. brother, you arc dying: make ;ui act of sorrow for your sins and of love of God." He replied faintly: "I tannot, sister; say them for me." Then Ids si>l,ei knelt beside him and began to recite the prayers. While she was so engaged, the dying man cried out, "1 am done for!" and made a big s gu of the fross over himself, began to recite the acts of sorrow for sin and of love of God, and so lie died. At our corps headquarters yesterday the officers told me of the shooting, by the Germans, of the old parish priest of a neighboring village, who was counselled, beforehand, to dig his own grave. But I have not been able yet to investigate this case."