The Case of Paul Chack

Before the Paris Court of Justice stood white-haired Paul Chack, 68, Captain of the French Navy, once-honored veteran of World War I, author of patriotic children's books--and paid Vichy propagandist. His hours were numbered.

Slowly, Presiding Judge Jean Pailhe read from editorials written by Chack for the Paris Aujourd'hui, whose Editor Georges Suarez had been No. 1 on the list of collaborators already tried and executed (TIME, Nov. 6): "The American Army is an army of brutal gangsters . . . living on the fat of the land and raping women. . . ."

Judge Pailhe paused, looked at the accused, solemnly observed: "At the front these Americans are dying today."

Chack bowed his head, whispered: "Yes, they are at the front indeed. I confess my error. . . ."

Judge Pailhe read on: "The Jewish gang behind the White House. . . . The English, who, Bible in hand, seek to destroy Europe. . . . Allied airmen who are nothing but flying assassins. . . ."

From the prisoner's dock came a groan. Chack had slumped to the floor. Attendants carried him to a chair. Again he whispered: "I confess my error. . . . Americans have come to comfort me in my cell. . . . Now I understand America in her humane aspect . . . her aspirations not to become the greatest but the best. . . . That is what I would write now. . . ."

Judge Pailhe summoned the witnesses. They testified, and their evidence was damning. Chack had received 68,000 francs a month from the Vichy Government, had founded a French "Aryan Club." The public prosecutor pointed at the defendant, cried: "I demand that you be shot. . . . Such a man as you can expect no mercy. . . ."

A jury of four citizens swiftly returned a verdict: guilty of collusion with the enemy. Judge Pailhe pronounced the sentence. Paul Chack must die.

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