The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-01
WASHINGTON, D. c.
For the National Era
TRIAL OF ORSINl AND HIS ACCOMPANIES.
PARIS, March A, 1858


PARIS, March A, 1858.
On the 25th of last month, the trial OF Orsini |
and his accomtlices came off. Eariy IN the
morning of that day, vast crowd assembled
in the neighborhood of the Court of Assizes,
long before the hour fixed for opening the
doors; and the moment that ingress was per-
mitted, a little before nine, the persons proyi'
ded with tickets Of admission rushed in, anx.
ious to receive good positions.
At ten o'clock, the court having been opened,
the prisoners were brought in, and they took
their seats. .t
Orsini is Of middle height, with long black
wkiskers round pale aud handsome face, the
forehead high, his hair thin, and beginning to |
turn gray. Gomez has sallew features of no |
great expression, not indicating much intelli-
gsnce. /
De Radio Is short of stature, stout, with the
head sank between the shoulders his complex
ion is Of an olive cast, and his upper lip bears
a small moustache. 4
Pierri IS considerably the Oldest of the pris-
oners. His face is long, with good forehead,
and bis hair cut short. i
The four accused were dressed entirely in
black They all, in the course of the proceed
ings, showed that they spoke French fuently,
but with an Italian accent. II
As soon as the movement occasioned by the
entrance Of the prisoners had subsidized, the in
terrogatory of the prisoners commenced. Felice
Orsini declared MS age to be thirty nine that
he was born at Meldola, aud literary man by
profession. Antoine Gomez born at Naples,
aged 20, is a servant by occupation. Charles
Ruaio, aged Is, born at Belluni, in the Roman
States, is professor of languages. Joseph An
DIE Pierri, aged so, born in Tuscany, also pro-
fessor of languages. /
The Procureur General then gave q long &C,
count of the attempt made on the Emperor's
life on the l4th January last, with particulars
taken from the documents connected with the
case, and the examination of the prisoners and
Witnesses; after which, the examination of the
prisoners by the President was commenced.
Those of Gomez, De Rudio, and Pierri, offer
very little Of interest; we will therefore only
give that Of Orsni in full, it being by far the
most important.
In the course of the examination, Orsini
object and one fixed idea-the deliverance of
his country, and vengeance against the Aus.
TRANS. He constantly conspired against them,
up to l848. "At that period, / naturally took
part in the war. We had then always regarded
the French as brothers and friends, and, when
they landed at home, welcomed them as
allies but they soon showed themselves bitter
enemies we then repulsed them, and took
many Of them prisoners. After three or four
dsys rejoicing that France was the most civil
lied of nations, and that perhaps she had been
led away against her will, we thought it our duty
10 act with generosity, and we released the pris-
oners, amidst cries If Vive la Francel' 'Vive
PItaliel'' Vive Ia Liberte Italienne!' 1t was
quite national tete. What did the French then
do? They suspended hostilities, but it was only
to wait for endorsements. The French then
overwhelmed US with perfect safety, for they
were one hundred to one we could not resist
and the elite of the Italian youth we're sscri-
feed.
From Rome we emigrated to Piedmont.
At first, VIC had deep hatred against the
French but in time the feeling wore off,
and we again considered them as friends and
brothers. In all our conspirscies, we always
recommended the Frenchmen to be spared. We
only wanted to get rid of the Austrians. From
Piedmont l went into Hungary, where was
taken, and on the point of being hung but 1
succeeded in escaping and reaching England
There was once more imbued with mania
for being useful to my country. | witnessed
ridiculous attempts made by Mazzini, who sent
fifteen or twenty men to I.aly, where they lost
their lives. tried legal means. / went over
England, and, in all the meetings which / ad-
dressed, advocated the principle of non-inter
vention. Public opinion declared itself IN favor
of that principle and numerous petitions were
addressed to the Queen. We had the sympathy
of the English in our favor, but the affair Of
India came on, and the national question be.
came paramount over that of Italy. After the
fall Of Rome, felt convinced that Napoleon
would no longer assist us, and said to myself,
That man must be killed. had first thought
of acting alone, but, seeing the impossibility of
approaching him, took others to join with me.
| at first resolved not to speak of them but
when | was arrested found that / was betray
ed by tho1e whom j considered as my brethren.
| gave way TO a feeling of vengeance, but / will
not commit sn act of cowsrdice / reject all
tie charges they have made against me; par
don them; | offer my person as sacrifice to
nv country. and l confde in my Judges"
The President then said, 60 We lay before
you letter which you sent to the Procureur
General, aud in which you retract the admis
sions which you made in your first interroga-
tory. Do you persist in your frat declarations,
or DO yen maintain your retraction 2"
Il never had any intention of going back on
the declarations / made, and which are per-
iectly true. But, in q moment of exaggerated
generosity, l thought fit to assume the whole
responsibility. That would have been well,
had my fellow prisoners been worthy of the sac
rlhce; but as find that they are far from being
50, do not see why should take on myself
the responsibility of what they have done, and
consider it more just that each should answer
Tor himself. II was in the course of last year
that PERI and began to speak of the project
carried into execution on January l4th-con-
Vlnced that tie best means to effect revolu-
uon Ia Italy was to cause one In France, AND
TIE secret Iay to lead to that result in France
was 70 kill the Emperor. We thought over
The matter for several months, during which
We spoke to Allsop and Bernard about 1t.
oeieve that Pierri also made some overtures to
man named Csrlotti, but l do not think be
told that person the whole truth. Carlotti is q
man OF bad character, and unworthy of conf
6ence
did not speak to Allsop of my intention
ct killing the Emperor. In one of my visits to
Belgium, | saw in the Museum some bombs,
which had given rise, believe some years ago,
70 a trial, and there conceived the idea of ma
hlhs use OF similar bombs. But as an order
rom foreigner night have excited suspicion,
requested MIR. Alsop to have them manufac.
tared, after a model in wood, which had made
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