New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-02
TRIAL OF ROCHEFOET.
OPENING SATISFACTORILY TO SEE TIE PRS
ONER-nIS DEFENSE OF HIMSELF-ThE
DESTRUCTION OF THIERsS MANSION.

OPENING sCENEs-CURIOsITY TO SEE TIE PTIs-
ONER-nIs DEFENSE OF HIMsELF-ThE
DESTRUCTION OF THIERS'o MANSION.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
VERSAILLES, Sept. 20.-The long-cIpeCtcd
trial Of Henri de Rochefort Connie de Rochefort Lucay
began this morning III O'Clock, in the riding
school Versailles before the court-maral which
recently sentenced Perre ASH, Grousset and the other
members Of the Commune Long before the court began
TO sit the doors besieged by anxious crowd
am informed that people actually passed the night
on the Place dArmes, in front OF the ridng-school
In the hope Of securing good places TO see
the writer Of La Lanterns tried for his life. 1t
is quite extraordinary the spell which the
OF RochefOr exercises over the French VI al ranks
and conditions This imagine, arises from the fact
that Rochcfort OF the first to beard the cor
rupt Government Of the Empire and to put into WHY
singing words what hundreds Of thousands OF French
men were thinking without the courage often without
the power 10 EXPRESS their thoughts Nor it be de-
med that most people had high estimate OF Rocheforts
well known reputation for wit and they hoped to be
present at some scenes between him ana the orcers
appointed to try him. Whatever the motive the court
was crowded the moment the doors were opened ENeh
the standing room was occupied, and the journalists
benches were so full that many reporters were lain
to sit upon the foOr Among the audience noticed
great many ladies-indeed, should judge
that the center sex formed least half OF the secta
tors The ladies present belonged To all worlds"
there were great ladies with titles, ana actresses VINO
had PLAYED in the vaudeviles which RochefoEt used TO
write before he took up politics. III the frusSianS had
not put down Napoleon Ill at Sedan" said French
friend as We went into court you may De
sure Henri Rochefort 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 movement among the
crowd III renf The comes) was passed from mouth TO
mouth and every stood and strained his neck In
the hopes Of getting good look at the OBJECT OF interest
They were soon satisfied for ROchefort at once ap-
peared between two gendanes. He did not seem TO me
to be greatly changed although my French companions
all declare that he has grown gray during his iprson-
mont He was dressed in complete suit OF blsck (hs
father died recently he wore very tgntnttihg DacA
kid gloves which seemed to excite great aulra'oh
among the ladies' How well ne Is glo'eu
they kept saving land what eeh''eii"n n'
ooksr Certainly Rochefort contrasted favoraby with
b prisoners Mourot and Maret who were very vul-
gar looking beings although they had both been
writer's in Roohefors last paper the Io dOrdre Hardly
had Roctfort sat down and glanced rouhd the cou oe
fore the Council announced, ana the enpeS VI 'o
Court Martial their seats None OF inc nave
been changed and consequently Rochefort WI" DC urea
by the officers tried the members OF the
The indictment Of Rochefort ana nlS TWO
feIIow.,ournalists very long one, was
frat read. this took nearly nearly an hour
The President then proceeded to lnterrosa'o NV
The prisoner showed no signs of fear and answered with
great readiness all tho questions put 70 MIN. Inc s'
few answers given were OF little Importance out A'1r
tev ren,es Rochefort said 81 wish TO reply once Tor
all TO the court and would rather do 50 at once In order
to save an explanation of my conduct necessary ootn
for me and the members Of the court he pfocoooeu
make the following speech: ,.,
Every one admits the frankss and the clearness WITH
which opposed the Empire shall be here Wnn rot az
ways was People seek TO make or me Ie pnoa ~ a
which ali revolutions turn: Allow me 70 zen w. wss de
for ALL what sort OF When ths wa ~ Nc
cded mon WAS in prison at st. Pelsgie tbe Pairs Pc
little PRISON. In spite Of the loss OF anrivtna
risked I suppressed the AarsefAafse thus osprts5
myself Of important property nodn in order 70
the people came TO seek me at b. PeiaEle, IA h.d
carry me to the Hotel de Vile. At that ponen va a.
the popular forces Of Paris or my t Nothing
would been than to have sad con-
liked. Instead Of this annihilated myse nstby
6drnce IN Gen Tfochu: gave him all my sy. assrs
and my aid. Twas overcome with tns pnpp ria Lnow
10 see the Prussans driven from before Ts cn.sd
fiat to-day Gen. Trochu repudiates me- ne n ,ny INV
ne and yet 1t Is 10 Lin thai siCfnc'u Nv ,Hn No.
nnulnrlrv brt my fortune Having seen ia t nI,,r,ons
hgII Af an article den ClusCICtH, winch was ~
Ir 4 IA