THROWN INTO THE MARNE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1921, Page 3

THROWN INTO THE MARNE.

A REMARKABLE STORY. ALLEGED WAR-TIME CRIME. A remarkable story of a hushed-up war-time crime in which a mayor and a private soldier are the central figures has come to light in Paris. On September 3, 191-1. during the disastrous retreat from Charleroi, a French private of the 4th Zouaye Regiment, while marching through the village of Reuilly Savigny, fell exhausted. Hid company captain instructed the mayor of the place to tend to the soldier’s needs. The man died the same night in q manner regarded ns mysterious. His mother waited long for nows, am* then, after protracted inquiries, becanr acquainted with the almost incredibl circumstances in which W is al legad to have been drowned in the Marsn by the mavoj sutd two distr.-et ecruneil '«*». wntf- «.-<>»»_ fa

i fear that they would be if they were found to be giving shelter to a, French soldier. Two years ago Mme. L. placed thia information in the hands oi the police Chatetiu-Thlerry. She gave nulieo that she would appear as civil piarty to t.he caoe, and. | waited some months longer. Final!v, the facts were placed before the Old Cem- ! bat ants’ Union. ■ Nou the following letter Ims been . received by Mme. L. from the Public ■ Prosecutor at Amiens:—“Madnme.— I lour «?on was really assassinated. It wae an unheard-of and abominable I crime. I intended sending the mayor i to the Assizes, hut -he committed tsui* eido on April 28 lasi.” I A section of the French is asking that a further investigation hp made , into the case, and that the magistrate, who is seemingly trying to rihicMd lit* other criminate, be removed from office.