Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-22
A sIcTURE.
The COMMUNISTS on Triai-HOw they De-
port Themselves.

port lhemseiSes.
New YORK, August ga CORES
pOndent Of the London Times writing
from Paris on the Sth says:
81 was surprised at the want OF in
terest shown by the public. The place
was little more than half full, cOur
prisoners and newspaper reporter
occupying a platform raised some fee
above the floor OF the hall. The meT
I had seen the day before in theil
prison negEge / now saw arranged Is
II for the b0ulevsTds. The one idea
evidently dominant in their some
what UnprepOssessing cOuntsnances
was one so dear TO their countryDaen
generally that ali eyes were upon
them. They struck mock heroic at
titudes and then glanced furGveiy
around to see whether they had pro-
duced the desired effect. They laughed
and talked at the moment when the
indictment was made charging them
with heavy Offenses. Ferre was par
ticulaFly tickled at the stress the law
put upon his completely in the MUIR
der of hostages. Asst was ripping
end Of his accusation. Regere, with
scrupulously fitting gloves, covering
small hands, which were shown by
his continually passing them through
bis carefully brushed hair, with the
stiffest and whitest Of shirt collars,
stood for the most part surveying the
audience with q bland smile 1t
seemed a special pleasure to any Of
them to find friend in the audience,
and to nOd to him ia the most afiA0is
manner IS though to reassure him and
then laugh perhaps, because the friend
showed some confusion at the TPcOg-
milton. In fact, they seemed tOregsrd
the whole affair a. an excellent snd
not bad practical joke got up for
their especial benefit"
Late Journals Just received by the
foreign mails give interesting details
of the trial OF Commune prisoners
now in progress at Versailles. At the
examination OF Asst, the following
cOlloquy took place. The President
said to Asst:
"You gave the order for the assas-
sinatiOn Of Generals LRCOmpte and
Thomas, on the 18th Of March,
sit is false, replied he.
'sWere YOU not the chief leader Of
the Commune against the Govern
ment?"
"Yes;'' said Asst. ''You attacked
US, and we accepted the struggle"
''You voted for the massacre Of
hOstages?'
"Yes,D again was the firm reply,
"because, when at war 1t IS necessary
to resort to retaliation"
Murmurs of indignation arose
among the audience, but Asst only
smiled disdainfully.
The President asked:
"Why did you purchase sulphur
coal? You wished to burn down
Paris"
The accused retOrtsd by observing
that they (the trOOps) had done their
worst by firing explosive shells into
the city.
ait is infamousI9 cried the
Public Prosecutor, who was
greatly moved. You made requisi-
tiODs for petroleum and miscellaneous
addresses. 1t was unnecessary to do
so he replied, as the forts were full Of
it.
Asst in reply to the question Of
the President, did not seem 20 deny
his af6latiou with the international
Society. He admits that he was q
member OF the Central Committee, is
q Free Mason and was with the Cen
traI Committee on the 10th of March.
Was not at Rue Des Raiseres, and
knew nothing Of the executions Of
Generals Thomas ard LeCOmpte. As
81 went on to say that he had not Op-
posed the law on pOstages, but should
himself have executed them, BE had
said that the only way to save their
brethren at Versailles, was to threaten
reprisals; an eye for an eye was his
maxim. Gavean exclaimed, you
take three eyes for one. He had
signed the decree for pulling down
the NendOme column and other de-
erees. Still he had not signed, but ad-
mitted he had not protested, and
never thought OF resigniBg.
The account Of those hOr-
rible details which are brought TO
light at the trials, created the pro-
foundest Indignation among the
French public.