The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-10-25
Trial of ReChefOrt.

MY dIC lUi1cu W ULcG.
Trial of Rechefort.
| OPENING SCENES -CUROSITY TO SEE
THE PRISONER-HIS DEFENCE OF
HIMSELF DESTRUCTION OF THEIRS
MANSION.
We copy as follows from the New
York Tribune:
VERSAILLES,
~Sep,e nber 90
The long expected trial of Henri de-
Rochefort, Comte de Rochefort Lucay,
began this morning at liz o'clock, in
the riding school at Versailles, before
the same court martial which recently
sentenced Ferri, Asst, Grousset, and
the other members of the Commune.
Long before the court began to sit, the
doors were besiesed by an anxious
crowd. l am informed that some peo-
pie actually passed the night on the
Plate d'Armes, in front of the riding
school in the hope of securing good
places to see the writer of La LaRterne
tried for his life.
1t is quite extraordinary the spell
which the name of Rnchefort exercises
over the French of all ranks and con-
ditions. This, imagine, arises from
the fact that Rochetort was one of the
first to beard the corrupt government
of the Empire, and to pnt into witty,
singing words what hundreds of thou
sands of Frenchmen were thinking,
without the courage, often without the
power, to express their thoughts. Nor
can it be denied that most people had
high estimate of Rochefort's well
known reputation for wit, and they
hoped to be present at some scenes he
tween him and the officers appointed
to try him. Whatever the motive, the
court was crowded the moment the
doors were opened. Even the stand
ing room was occupied, and the jour
nalists' benches were so fall that many
reporters were fain to sit upon the
floor. Among the audience / noticed
il great many ladies-indeed, I should
Judge that the gentler sex formed at
least half of the spectators. The ladies
present belonged to call worlds )"
there were great ladies with titles, and
actresses who had played in the van
devilles which Rochefort used to write
before he took up politics. eff the
Prussians had not put down Napoleon
III at Sedan" said French friend. as
we went into court, "yOu may be sure
Henri RocbefOrt would have laughed
him down in Paris in less than year.
No one can estimate the effect of his
articles"
At half-past IL there was a move
ment among the crowd. III rient,"
(he comes,) was passed from mouth to
mouth, and every one stood mp and
strained his neck in the hopes of get
ting a good look at the object of inter-
est. They were soon satisfied, for
Rochefort soon appeared between two
gendarmes. He did not seem to me to
be greatly changed, although my
French companions all declare that he
has grown gray during his imprison-
ment. He was dressed in q complete
suit Of black, (his father died recently
He wore very tight fitting black kid
gloves, whicl, seemed to excite great
admiration among the ladies. "How
we'll he is gloved," they kept saying.
"and what gentleman he looks."-
Certainly Rochefort contrasted favora-
bly, with his co-prisoners, Mourot and
Maret, who were very vulgar looking
beings, although they had both been
writers in Rochefort's last paper, the
Not dOrare. Hardly had Rochefort
sat down and glanced round the court
bciVIC Tile SouHCII was dHuOuuCtu, duu
the members of the Court Martial took
their seats. None of the judges have
been changed, and consequently Roche
fort will be. tired by the officers who
tried the members of the Commune.
The Indictment Of Rochefort and his
two ellow-journalists, very long one,
was first read; this tuok nearly an
hour. The President then proceeded
to interrogate Rochefort. The prison
er showed no signs of fear, aud an
swered with great readiness all the
questions put to him. The first few
answers given We're of little impor-
lance, but after a few replies Roche
fort said: II wish to reply once for all
to the court, and l would rather do SO
at once in order to save an explanation
of my conduct, if necessary, both for
me and the members of the court"
He proceeded Ia make the folloWlor