The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-28 00:00:00

•
TRIAL of the FiraeCH REGICIDE.
COURT OF PEERS, PARIS, TUESDAY.
(Continued from The Sun of yesterday.)
Francois Fontain, aged 43, manufacturer of at ticles of
polished steel, deposed that he had known the prisoner
for many years ; he always was speaking of his misfor-
tunes. Witness lent him 1,100 f., which were to be re-
turned on August 15.
Jacques Cercleron, aged 46, schoolmaster, residing at
Paris in the same house as the prisoner, deposed that he
for some time was upon good terms with Henri; but
afterwards quarrelled with him because he behaved
ill. Henri had an incredible degree of presumption, be-
lieved himself to be a genius, and frequently maintained
outrageous theories about religion and universal peace.
J. Guerin, aged 56, a man of property, knew Henri
for 25 or 26 years, but was often a long time without
seeing him. During the last twelve months he had
seen him frequently, and particularly since January
1 ; he was incessantly talking of his misfortunes and
the embarrassment of his affairs, asking witness
to accommodate him with his signature to bills,
which witness declined. He frequently declared
that he should be driven to blow out his brains. Wit-
ness deposed to Henri's seeking a wife, whether de-
formed or otherwise, who could bring him a fertune of
25,000 f., and requested to refer to him (the witness) for
his character, in order to conceal his design from his
family. Henri never mentioned any other conception
than that of suicide, and never talked upon politics, but
appeared to entertain the best feeling towards the person
of the King.
Caroline Bacquet, aged 33, a woman of some means,
deposed to living in the same house with Henri, and had
known him six or seven years. She said that he was a
weak and gloomy man, frequently subject to headaches,
which prevented him for the time from following his
business. She never heard him talk of suicide or politics.
Widow Lefranc, ag, d 28, who had been Henri's house-
keeper for eight years, deposed that he had great confi-
dence in her, but he did not talk to her about his busi-
ness. Ho latterly appeared to be greatly depressed, and
expressed a wish to die, but never mentioned suicide or
any other means of getting rid of lite.
Aime Fonsard, aged 58, a journeyman employed by
Henri for the last three years, stated that bis master
always behaved kindly to him, and conversed freely with
him about his domestic misfortunes and the embarrass-
ment of his affairs. Since the beginning of the present
year witness perceived that Henri was losing his mind,
and it pained witness to see him. For several months
he repeatedly said that he could not bear his miseries
any longer, so that witness imagined that he contem-
plated suicide, but at the same time believed that Henri
had not resolution to carry the idea into execution ; the
prisoner never read the journals. On the 16th of April
last Henri, in conversation, said that he could not con-
ceive how any man could fire at the King. He was full
of self-conceit, and at times, striking his forehead,
would exclaim," Ah ! there are three fortunes in this
head !" He was gloomy and reserved towards his
family ; but, so far as witness knew, without cause.
Louie Mercier, aged 32, another man in the employ
of Henri, gave evidence to the same effect as the
above.
The case for the prosecution hero closed, and the ex-
amination of witnesses for the defence began.
J. Chartron, aged 45, an ironmonger, had been on
terms of intimacy with the prisoner; considered him as
a person of a must mild and inoffensive character.
L. Sanguinade, aged 52, a merchant, had become ac-
quainted with Henri from his being in the Niftional
Guard. Considered him a man of probity, but with
rather a weak head.
F. Destibaux. aged 47, a banker, had seen the pri-
soner several times. Two mouths since he had come to
him to ask for money, and as witness could not acqui-
esce in his demand, the prisoner complained bitterly.
°His words and ideas appeared to be somewhat incohe-
rent, and had given witness reason to suppose that his
reason was a little distutbed.
S. Fontaine, aged 62, formerly engaged in the steel
trade, said that the prisoner had once worked with him
in his business. He was then a very industrious man,
attended to nothing but his work, and conducted him-
self well.
F. Legrand, aged 38, a vinegar merchant, also deposed
to the morality of the prisoner, but knew nothing of his
private habits.
L. Dediot, aged 37, bad been on terms of intimacy
with Henri ; considered him a man of great suscepti-
bility of feelings, and having a great deal of originality
In his character. He thought or said nothing from the
influence of any other person. His theories were perfectly
his own. Setting aside this peculiarity he thought be
possessed every quality in which honour and confidence
might support themselves. He thought that all his mis-
fortunes had been caused by dreadful machinations
against him. He considered the prisoner would rather
commit suicide than become a bankrupt, but he at the
same time knew that he never would have the courage to
do so, for he was in fact a pusillanimous being, Witness
thought that he never had any serious idea of killing the
King, and if he might be permitted to express his
opinion, he would add that he did not believe that the
pistols were loaded. According to the prisoner's known
character, and to use an expression which lie was fond
of,he would have said to himself, "Lying alone triumphs
on the earth, let us then lie in order to die." His act
could not be understood in any other light by any one
who knew the prisoner as well as he (witness) did.
The prisoner—l summoned witnesses in order that
they might point out the person who has caused all my
misfortunes, but those witnesses have said nothing. I
must therefore do it myself. The person I allude to is
Caroline Bacquet. She promised to lend me 25,0001.,
but she did not give them to me. I signed a bill fbr a
smaller sum, and payment of it was demanded at a time
when I could nut pay it without compromising my
credit. When I wanted 6,000 f. only 3,0001. were given
me; and the calculation of that woman was, " When be
can no longer hold out, his house will be sold, and cis
protector, who gave him funds, will pass it to me." You
ask me if I had any accomplices? I had no other be-
sides that woman. It was she who drove me to despair,
and despair has led to what you are aware of.
S. James, aged 28, hairdresser, knew the prisoner.
Had never remarked anything extraordinary in him.
Was not aware that he ever meddled with politics.
E. Perigaux, aged 28, steelworker, had worked for
four years for the prisoner. He was constantly employed
in devising means for improving the condition of work-
men. Had heard him sometimes complain of the conduct
of Caroline Bacquet.
A. Chatemond, aged 33, clerk, had know the prisoner;
he was a weak man, and incapable of managing his
house. Witness expressed his conviction that the pistols
were not loaded.
The prisoner here observed that some of the witnesses
had said that both pistols went off at the same time, and
others that there were successive reports. His own con-
viction was that there was but one report.
The examination of witnesses being concluded, the
Procureur-General was called on for his requisitory, hut,
as it was then six o'clock, the Learned Gentleman
proposed to
.defer it till the next day, and the Court
broke Lp.
WEDNESDAY, Auo. 26.—The President opened the
Court at a quarter-past twelve o'clock.
. The prisoner, brought in between two gendarmes,
looked much paler than during the preceding day. Be-
fore taking his seat he bowed respectfully to the Court,
and was observed to take several pinches of snuff before
the Procurer du R. ti began his speech. In comparison
with the former trials the case of Joseph Henri seemed
to excite but little interest among the public, and the
Chamber of Peers was by no means crowded. The Pro-
cureur du Roi, upon the invitation of the President, then
opened his requisitory, and said—
Ile did not think it now necessary for the Court to
seek the causes of the crime in cynicism and perversion
of political passions, nor did it appear either that the
crime ensued from any personal revenge. The prisoner
had dec'ared that he respected the person of the King,
and this certainly seemed true as regarded the previous
life and opinions of the accused. Ile had been then in-
spired by other motives. What had induced him, he
said, to commit the crime was the despair he felt at the
bad state of his affairs and his domestic unhappiness.
If that was true, another source of crimes must be
found out, and it would be necessary, for the sake of
society, at once to discover it. But, admitting this to
be true, it was also necessary to lay before the Court
the irregular conduct and the unbounded pride which
characterised the prisoner before them. No, the ac-
cused had adopted a line of defence, which was not an
unskilful one—viz., wishing to represent his crime as a
simple and harmless demonstration to attract attention.
The Procureur du Itoi afterwards dwelt on the fact that
had been urged in favour of the prisoner, which was,
that the balls had not been found, and there
existed no proofs that even the pistols were loaded.
He contested the value of this argument, and
cited several cases, and in particular the attempt
of Quenisset, where the balls had never been dis-
covered, and )et no one ever doubted the guilt
of that wretched man. What had been the private
life of the accused? He had exhibited the most un-
governable passions. His affairs, in censequence of his
extravagartee, became disordered. His great horror was
to become again a workman, although by his skill the
accused was capable of earning 10f. a day. No, his pride
was in question, and Joseph Henri endeavoured by a
second marriage to retrieve his affairs; and not being
able to succeed, the wretched man slandered the woman
who fortunately refused to marry him. He repeated
there was nothing in the private life of the prisonerthat
could excuse him. Had not the accused even
threatenedm su
of
to kill a person who had refused to lend him a
money he was in want of, to restore his affairs to their
former prosperity? The Procureur du Roi afterwards
examined'the plea of insanity, by which the prisoner's
crime was endeavoured to be accounted fur, and spoke of
the danger which would result to society if such a pre-
text was put forward whenever a murder, or attempt at
assassination, was perpetrated. No, it was impossible to
excuse crime in this manner. M. Hebert then cited the
English jurisprudence in cases of high treason. He denied
that the same decisions could be taken in France, where
the laws on this crime entirely disagreed. He denied also
that every attempt on the Queen's life had been treated
as an act of insanity. Oxford, indeed, had been declared
a lunatic, but Francis had not. The English laws,
therefore, could not guide nor determine the de-
cision of the Court. The Procureur du Itoi then con-
cluded by repeating his former arguments that the Court
should declare the prisoner guilty of the crime of high
treason; and said that the country awaited with anxiety
the decision of the Court, which he (the Procureur du
Roi) was sure would be in unisoa with all the acts of a
Chamber that had ever shown so great a devotion to the
great interests of the country.
Baroch, charged with Henri's defence, afterwards
replied to the Procureur du Roi, and contended that the
attempt of Henri could not be considered as a serious
- one. The whole life of the prisoner was against the
supposition of his being actuated with a desire to attempt
the King's life. It w san act of folly, which he had
committed under the influence of despair at the wretched
state of his affairs, the desire of being talked of iu the
world, and of getting rid of an exigenco Which was a