The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-16 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

THE CASE OF BEREZOWSK I.

(PRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, 31,,NDAY EVENING.
The Assize Court of the Seine was crammed to-
day, not quite as full as it would hold, but as full
as the presiding judge would allow it to be, and
nearly as full as was compatible with the orderly
conduct of a trial by persons curious to hear the
case of Berezowski. Hundreds of persons besieged
the doors, scarcely in the hope of obtaining admis-
sion—for it is generally known that with the ex-
ception of a little strip of space at the back, open
to such of the "public " as will stand in waiting
for six or seven hours, the assize court can only be
entered by tickets—but on the chance of hear-
ing from time to time something of what
was going on inside. There was as usual on
the occasion of causes Wares, a large attendance
of privileged persona who, either from their rank,
fortune, or official position, were able to claim the
favour of the presiding judge, who has the pa-
tronage—more onerous than desirable—..f giving
places. But what was unusual, and, indeed,
unprecedented, was the utter absence of ladies, who
generally form a large proportion of the audience
when sensational trials are going on. Has a new
rule, founded on the position that the curiosity of
the fair sex in such matters is unwholesome and
should not be gratified, been now laid down
for the first time 1 I du not think so. I
have no doubt the true reason is that if
ladies had been admitted, it was feared that many
would not have been able to repress outward mani-
festations of their sympathy with Poland. A great
many Poles and Russians were admitted. M. De-
vienne, the first President of the Imperial Court,
who was assigned to preside at this trial, being
prevented by indisposition, his place was taken by
President Berthelin—well known formerly as the
President of the Correctional Tribunal, where he
was succeeded by M. Delesvaux. A shorthand
writer employed to report the case for the Russian
government was provided with a commodious
seat, as was also a reporter from the Russian
journal, the Cuss. Berezowski, on being brought
to the bar between four soldiers, appeared
perfectly self-possessed. He smiled when talk-
ing to his counsel, M. Etienne An.go, and
nodded to some acquaintances that he recognised
in court. He is a well-looking young man, with a
high forehead, abundance of light brown hair,
combed back, a alight fringe of beard and a mous-
tache. His complexion is rather fair and very pale,
and his eyes are brown. He was neatly dressed—
better dressed than a mechanic usually is. He
wore his loft arm in a sling, the wounds occasioned
by the bursting of the pistol not being yet cured.
Procureur-General Mamas occupied the public
prosecutor's seat. The acte d'arcusation (in-
dictment) read by the registrar narrates
the circumstances of the crime as set forth in the

committal by the " Chamber of Accusation,"
which I sent you a week ago, and which therefore
need not now be repeated. Berezowski, in answer
to the interrogatories of the President, said he did
not know whether his father was now alive or not ;
at all events, he did not know where he now was.
Being reminded that he told the judge of instruc-
tion that his father was in Russia, and gave piano-
forte lessons, ho said it was very long since he had
heard from him. He had two brothers and a sister,
but did not know where they now were. He had
no knowledge that they had been arrested or pro-
secuted by the Russian authorities, or that they were
dead. He had been brought up by his grandmother.
It was true that he had taken part in the Polish
insurrection in 1863 and that his father had cursed
him for it. If that curse had brought misfortune
upon him it was the fault of the oppressor of
Poland, the judge must know that as well as any-
body else. He had been a refugee in Galicia,
Munich, and Liege. It was not true that he had
worked in the latter place as an armourer. He
had worked as a mechanist for steam engines, but
knew nothing of the manufacture of arms. Came
to Paris in 1865, and was employed by MM.
Gouin. In June, 1865, having a little money
saved, he went to a school, to complete his
education ; but his money being soon ex-
hausted, he left the school, and returned to
MM. Gouin. Left their service on May 27
because he was unwell. At the end of May
went to Mony in the Oise, and was employed by
a Pole of his acquaintance, who was a locksmith.
Left his service because he did not know the
business well enough. [The judge said this was
confirmed by the Pole, who discharged him as a
bad workman.] Went to look at the Czar at the
Northern Railway station on June 1, in order to
see whether he could punish him for what he had
done and prevent him from committing the sacrilege
of setting his foot on French soil. Not from that
moment only, but before he was resolved to kill
him. He had long thought of revenging on him
the wrongs of his country. He did not exactly
think to kill him when he was in Poland; but
when he saw the Czar in France, and found it was
possible to get near him, he resolved to do it.
(Sensation.)
The Judgiehere said the jury would observe that
the prisoner spoke with some hesitation. That
was the result of a natural defect in his organs of
speech, and they must not suppose it arose from
any remorse.
M. Arago—He speaks well enough in Polish
but not in French

Examination continued—Had never confided his
project to anyone. He should have been be-
trayed.
The Judge s►id this was very extraordinary a
the prisoner had many acquaintances ; but it was
true that the investigations of the prosecution had
not discovered any accomplices.
The prisoner went on to admit all the circum-
stances of the crime precisely as charged in the
indictment. He was led to kill the Czar because
he had killed his country. With a stroke of his
pen he transported masses of men to Siberia, and
he massacred the inhabitants of Warsaw by ahoot-
ing them down against a wall. He would not
admit that the Czar was a fellow creature. His
name was not one that could be honoured. Being
told that he was not God and had no right to judge
sovereigns, he replied :—" I thought that if I let
the Czar live God would certainly plunge him into
hell at his death ; but by killing him I gave him a
chance of expiation, and being happy in the next
world."

Arago wished the judge to take notice that a
foreigner, the head of the Russian police, •'a+
taking notes.

The Judge said this was a matter quite extrinsic
to the ease.

Verdict—" Extenuating circumstances,- and sea-
tenee—hard labour for life.

A Peruvian paper says, " Castilla, the liberator
of the slays, the President who abolished capital punish•
wait, and the hero of many a fight, is so more. He was
upwards of 80 years of age."