The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-01 00:00:00

riously demanded by the evidence of facts. I
accused to leave this court with his head aloft, and
character freed from every stain. That explains the reason
why I have insisted upon the full disclosure of all the
facts his enemies could bring against him. M. Lachaud
then referred to the forgery committed upon Messrs.
Brugmann, and insisted that Osman alone was the cri-
minal in that case, and that his name would not have been
known to justice but for his denunciation by Risk Allah.
Of course it is in the interest of forgers to depart from the
sceneof their crime before their offences can be discovered
by the parties defrauded. Osman left Brussels immediately
after he had obtained the money upon the forged bills.
There was nothing in the evidence to show complicity in
this forgery by Risk Allah. On the contrary, it was Risk
Allah that warned justice after the forgery was committed,
and scarcely had these documents been negotiated by
Messrs. Brugmann than they were apprised of the exist-
ence of the forgery. The learned advocate saw in the
letter written to Risk Allah, tin which the writer of it in-
formed him of his departure in the company of a young
widow, evidence of the non-complicity of the accused. It
is true that the Procureur-G6n6ral asserted that this letter
was dictated to elude the vigilance of the police, but it was
not just to rely upon every line of the correspondence as
furnishing arguments for tho accusation, and then, when
some aro found favourable to the case of the prisoner, to
declare that they have been fabricated for an unworthy
purpose. It is clear that Risk Allah had not profited by
those forgeries. All he had obtained was Li 7s. To'sup-
pose him guilty, then, would be simply to charge him with
being a gratuitous forger--a man who had committed a
most serious crime imperilling his own liberty for no mo-%
tive whatsoever. Nothing could be more inconceivable.
Every one must give credit to the Procureur-Goneral for
a peculiar talent in his exposition of facts; but those facts,
however apparently clear, must be probed to the bottom
in order to enable us to appreciate their charact©r and mo-
tives. It is thus that I believe I ought to respond in my
turn to the appeal of the Procurour-General. I have dis-
cussed the facts conscientiously, and with the conviction
that I have withheld nothing in respect to them, for I
should consider myself as a bad advocate if 'might to
; nil 1,, 1' - - ' '

out nothing; eve have pursued a straightforward course.
We have both examined every item connected with
this unfortunate subject, and my confrere has more
completely commented upon all those facts and all the
arguments of the Procureur-General than I have done.
It appears to me impossible that this honest man, who
stands accused of those hideous crimes, should be lost for
ever because he has had the misfortune to meet a wretched
pickpocket. Gentlemen of the jury, you have been told at
the commencement of this trial that you ought not to allow
your conviction to be set aside either by witnesses or the
arguments of the advocates. When you return your ver-
dict you will be asked but one question—Are you or are
you not convinced ? You ought not, like magistrates, to
record your motives with your verdict, but, like them, you
are to be ruled by your conscience. Whilst, on the one
side, society, which accuses, has rights to uphold, on the
other side, the accused has also rights, which I am here to
defend. You will weigh in your conscience all the elements
of your conviction, and then you will pronounce the last
word, upon which the fate of my client hangs. This man
who is before you does not belong to you ; he is neither
your relative nor your friend. Ho is a stranger in your
country ; but though he be a stranger, though he stand
before your court accused of heavy offence; he feels that,
if you have a leaning at all, you will extend it to one who
is friendless amongst you. You know well how to practise
hospitality, and the best hospitality you can now render is
great and holy justice. He has sustained tranquil de-
meanour throughout this long and painful inquiry, for he
has faith in your conscience and in his own innocence. Ho
has never winced—he has faced the justice of the country
with composure. He entrusts his case with confidence to
the hands of honest men without prejudice or passion. He
sees 12 such men before him, and, with the same confidence
as he has in your justice and honour, I resume my seat.
(Great applause.)
The President—Gendarmes, clear the court of the public.
The proceedings of the case were suspended for five
minutes, whilst the gendarmes were executing the order of
the president.
When silence was restored,

The President said -It is with regret that I have been
obliged to take so strong a measure. I could not, how-
ever, avoid it under the circumstances, and lam sure that
M. Lachaud himself will be the first to approve of the step
I have taken. (llere M. Lachaud made a gesture of
assent.) If these manifestations are repeated I shall be
obliged to act in the same way against all the other par-
ties in the hall.

The Procure ur-General began his reply by indicating
the origin of the informations in the case of Risk Allah,
and by showing by documents themselves that he had
evidently made his ward sign everything that he desired.
The learned gentleman having occupied about half-an-
hour in his reply, the court adjourned at a quarter to four
o'clock until this day (Wednesday).

BRUSSELS, Oct. 31.

The trial of Risk. Allah terminated this afternootr
in the Assize Court of Brabant by the acquittal of
the accused. The jury, after deliberating for two
hours, returned a verdict of not guilty on both in-
dictments.