The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-11-12 00:00:00

THE DECORATIONS SCANDAL IN
FRANCE.

CAFFAREL PLACED ON HIS TRIAL.

The trial of General Caffarel and his fellow pri-
soners commenced on Monday before the Correctional
Tribunal in Paris. This affair, says the Paris cor-
respondent of the Times, was bruited abroad for the
purpose of diverting public attention from the card•
cases made of Pranzini's skin, ordered by two chiefs
of the detective force. M. Rouvier stated on Satur-
day that the Prefecture of Police took proceedings
before the Government knew anything of the matter,
and the indictment shows that, despite every attempt
to exaggerate the affair, it is reduced to a mere
obtaining money by false pretences. The object of
the exaggerations was to inculpate M. Wilson, and it
is curious to read the indirect reply of the indictment
to this attempt:
"The statements published by the press in the
course of the judicial investigation may have created
a belief that some well-known personages besides the
accused were inculpated in this melancholy affair.
At the very outset of the prosecution certain of the
accused, hoping that the fear of a scandal would make
justice hesitate' pronounced several names, and made
statements the falsity of which they afterwards ad-
mitted. The examination of the documents annexed
to the brief, as also of the papers seized—that is to
say, all the documents without exception which have
been remitted to the judicial authorities, or seized by
them—has not shown the existence of any criminal
acts besides the facts on which the indictment is
founded."
The unfortunate General Caffarel, as could be fore-
seen all along, seems really the least culpable. It is
true that, loaded with debts and worried by creditors,
he was drawn into relations derogatory to his mi
standing; but by the end of the trial it will be seen
that but for the origin above explained the prosecu-
tion would be inexplicable.
Another thing shown by this case is that under an
article of the Code the police without a magistrate's ,
warrant can enter a house, break everything open,
rummage among papers, and in short violate a man's
domicile with unbounded licence without being bound
to secrecy: They can sacrifice to public avidity the
lersanur of individuals and families. Surely in the
most autocratic States such proceedings would not be
tolerated. Another striking thing is that the chief
witness against General Caffarel is a detective who
pretended to be a tradesman anxious for a decoration.
Now, although in extreme cases this laying of traps
may be necessary, in the present instance it seems
monstrous. It may be hoped, and this will be the
only consolation for the scandals of the past few weeks,
that the Legislature will put a stop to the abuses
brought into prominence by this affair.
The accused are nine in number, but Senator
General d'Andlau has absconded and Bay has com-
mitted suicide, so that only seven were brought up
from prison to take their trial—namely, ex-General
Caffarel, aged 58, Adelaide Limouzin, 45, Caroline
Ratazzi, 45, Amelia Despreaux de St.. Sauveur, 52,
Marie VOron, alias Courteuil, 50, Martin Bayle, 58,
and Paul Lorentz, 46. As for General Caffarel,
appointed last March (by General Boulanger) sub
chief of the Staff at the War Office, he had for many
years, according to the indictment, been in pecuniary
difficulties owing to speculations. Harassed by suits,
be speculated on the Bourse, signed bills, bought
15,0001. worth of wine on credit, and sold it for cash,
tried to do the same with carriages, dealt in guano,
gave information on army contracts, and ultimately
accepted the offer of the woman Limouzin to assist in
negotiating his bills, and to make money out of
applicants for the Legion of Honour.
This last arrangement had gone on only six weeks
when the prosecution was instituted. Applicants
were called upon to pay a sum in advance, and a
further sum on gaining the decoration, but in some
cases they refused to pay in advance, and the bargain
was broken off. Twenty-five thousand francs and
20,0001. were the sums demanded, while in the case
of the inventor of a military. food 50,0001. was
promised if the War Office adopted it, but the affair
came to nothing. General d'Andlau is also described
as hampered with debts, as addicted to gambling, as
associating with adventurers, and trading on his name
and position. He was in partnership with the woman
Ratazzi for procuring decorations, and their agency
made considerable profits. Soudee, a spirit dealer,
gave D'Andlau 20,0001. on the understanding that
the money was to be returned if the Legion of
Honour was not obtained.
Madame Ratazzi received 5000 f. of this, which she
divided with Madame St. Sauveur and Buy. After
waiting a year, Sonde° demanded his money, sued
D'Andlau,and ultimately recovered 50001. Renault,
a wine merchant, paid Madame Ratazzi 10,000 f., and
a M. Vesceyre advanced D'Andlau 15,0001., but de-
manded and obtained repayment. A jeweller named
Fargne was likewise asked to pay D'Andlau 40,0001.,
but the affair came to nothing.
Caffarel, on being interrogated, denied that he had
dealt in guano, having at the last moment broken off
the bargain as the business was a derogatory one. He
denied having received money from military con-
tractors. He admitted that on receiving a letter from
Madame Limouzin he had made her acquaintance. She
showed him Gen. Thibaudin's photograph, and a card
of General Boulanger with some polite words in his
(General Boulanger's) writing. She tried to get his
bills discounted, and spoke of friends who wanted
decorations, but there was no idea of his receiving
money in connection with decorations. Being re-
minded of his admission before the magistrate that
she spoke of a sum to be shared, Caffarel replied that
as he required money at once there could have been
no idea of money to be received six months later,
Madame Limouzin was to receive nothing till the
decorations were obtained, and his sole object was to
facilitate the discounting of his bills. Madame
Limouzin introduced to him the pretended manufac-
turer from Roanne, Langlois, the detective in disguise.
He promised Langlois to support his application for
a decoration. Langlois offered to show him his
claims to the honour, but this he considered need-
less, for manufacturers were every day decorated
simply as manufacturers. He knew that Madame
Limouzin was to receive 25,0001. in case of success,
but he himself was to receive nothing; he simply
hoped that sbe in return would negotiate his bills.
He admitted asking Langlois at the Wei Office if
Madame Limouzin still expected 25,000 f., but he
denied saying to Langlois on parting, "Remember, it
is 25,000 f." All he undertook to do was to call on
some of the Minister's secretaries and hand in his
card with a word of recommendation.
The interrogatories of the other accused persons
were of little interest. In general they tried to tone
or explain away the facts proved against them, but .
Madame Ratazzi admitted most of the allegations as
to her dealings with d'Andlau, and Bayle made a full
avowal of d'Andlaa's attempts to make money by

i litary-

getting persons decorated. -
The witnesses were then called, the first being
Larisse, the diigniied detective. -He affirmed that
Caffarel on parting with him at the War Office said,
"There is no change in the price," Caffarel behaved
so strangely at Madame Limouzin's that Larisse took
him for an adventurer, and did not believe he was
General Caffaret till he called on him at the War
Office. He told Caffarel this, and that he had come
there to make sure of his identity. Cagarel denied
that anything of the kind said to him. a
t - -
•
TUESDAY'S HEARING. t °
The Caffarel trial was continued on Tuesday.
Several of the alleged applicants for decorations were
examined. A Mustard maker deposed that he was
told by the clerk that Madame Limouzin could get
him decorated as a juror at the A.ntwerp Exhibi.ion.
He called, therefore, •on her, but nothing was said
about money. The clerk, however, stayed behind, !
and not only left a pot uf mustard, but agreed to pay
6000 f. on the decoration being obtained. A chemist
named Bravais denied all knowledge of the negotia-
tions of his clerk with Madame Limouzin. Paillott,
the clerk, however, promised on his behalf 20,000 f.
Caffarel at this point admitted having spoken with
Paillot on the subject, but insisted that nothing was
said of money. After the affair was broken off, how-
ever, Madame Linuouzin told him that a sum of
20,000 f. was to have been paid. With tears in his
eyes Caffarel exclaimed," I will not have it said that
I received a centime for getting anybody decorated."
Indeed, he is not proved to have received anything,
though the theory of the prosecution is that he would
have done so had a little more time been allowed him.
Dufour, a commercial traveller, deposed that
Madame Limouzin had claimed to be a friend of M.
Wilson, and had demanded 50,000 f. if a military con-
tract worth 3,000,000 f. should he obtained by his
firm. Detour was to get 5 per cent. commission on
this sum. Caffarel, however, never spoke to him of
money, and simply promised to recommend the
article to the War Office if it was really a good one.
Caffarel did not hold out much encouragement, and
the affair was consequently dropped. The draft
treaty for 50,000 f. was found in Caffarel's possession,
and he acknowledged that Madame Limouzin had
sent it to him. He protested, however, that the
money would not have come to him, and that his
only object in promoting the affair was to get his bills
discounted.

Ti told to take a "back seat" one will invariably
take affront. - - -

WHAT insects do lawn-tennis players resemble?—
Grasshoppers.
No true musician will verbally ask a girl to marry
him. He will propose by note.
Tim woman who maketh a good pudding in silence
is better than she who maketh a tart reply.
A WOMAN'S most eloquent speech is, I love you !"
A man's is, "Come and take something, boys !"
FLETCHER, of Salfown, is well known to have pos-
sessed a most irritable temper. His footman desiring
to be dismissed, why do you leave me ? said he.—
Because, to speak the truth, I cannot bear your
temper. To be sure, said Fletcher, lam passionate,
but my passion is no sooner on than it is off. Yes,
replied the servant, but then it is no sooner off than
tt is on, „
-wit) LIJOd osc.. bectuusib al