Executions

When men for political, personal or economic motives seek to overthrow a government and, in so doing, wilfully cause the death of women, children and peaceful male citizens, the law has but one remedy--Death.

King Boris, who does not believe in capital punishment, who had heretofore never approved a death sentence in his life, decided last week that the recent bomb outrage in the Sveti Krai Cathedral (TIME, Apr. 21 et seq.) merited the supreme sentence, signed three death warrants. At 8 o'clock in the morning, while low, gray clouds were chased lazily by a warm breeze, 30,000 people assembled in a meadow under Mount Vitosna on the outskirts of Sofia. Before them were three white gibbets, surrounded by a strong force of soldiers.

A lorry arrived. Out of it got three prisoners : Lieut. Colonel Georgi Koeff, Lawyer Marco Friedmann, Sacristan Zadgorsky (TIME, May 11, 25). Under heavy guard, they were marched to the gibbets, where the acts of accusation were read to them. This took about 40 minutes. It was then the turn of three gypsy executioners.*

Soldiers seized Koeff, who--on the verge of collapse--continually protested his innocence, although he had previously admitted it. The noose was thrown over his head and, a few seconds later, his body was dangling lifeless at the end of the rope.

It was Zadgorsky's turn next. He cried, prayed, writhed, but it availed him naught. His guilt was confessed. He had accepted a bribe of about $80 and that bribe had cost about 200 people their lives and much suffering to many scores. It was meet that he should die, and the crowd echoed the thought. Nowhere was there a sign of pity or sympathy, as there had been for Koeff. Strong arms seized him, sent him on a long journey.

Friedmann, who seems not to have been connected with the plot, but who certainly knew of it and made no attempt to warn the authorities, alone met his fate with resolution. To the last, he declared his innocence, stated that he was being hanged because he was a Communist conspirator.

* There is no public executioner in Bulgaria. Three gypsies were hired, each receiving 3,000 levas (about $600) for his work.