, 1873-12-30


against Marshal Dazatne..
~ o,clocls, quarter Of ar honr nffor tho
sentence had been pronounced, Con. Pourcot,
tho Government prosocutor, accompanied by
teo & CLERK Of tlle Court and escorted by picket
on tho ground-floor OF the right wing Of tho
Petit Trianon. In this room, which Ia kuown to
visftora as tho sallo des Donchers,-ao namod
After a,Ias 9 tho collection Of pictures by
tus,-Dazatno, who was upstairs with hia
Wlto, hs Hon Go Yoara Of ago), two nephows and
their wives, md throo other fricnds, was il-
formed his pseaonco WAS required below. He
simply replied, an1 cunning, mud, ,aftor saying
Col. Vilotto, who wcro oycryhomod with grlcf,
Dazaino loacohdotl tlio staira with q slow. firm
tread. 1lo found tho gunid drawn up On threo
sides Of the room, presenting arms. don.
poureot. holding . rol! Of papor IN hta hands,
Al!art, the olcrk Of tho Court, was by bis sido.
ponrcet told Bazaine llo Ind come to perform
tho duty Of having the sentence Of TIC court.
martial road out to him. Tho Marshal bowed
atify. Tho prosecutor then handed the roll to
thcroupon said. quietly, Worry veil, Monsieur
Polrcot; hnv0 ino shpt, md rs soon aB possible "
{Ces& 1ten, Monsieur Pourcct Jusilleznlot el
le plus ute posstole).
friends upstairs, and appeared greatly relieved,
talking about tho proceeding ratlor uH he would
of ono TINT related to somebody else, and not to
himself: A lew ininutos after q very affecting
separation from his family. lo retired to his
private study with Alaitro Lachaud, who brought
him tho document, sguod by all tho Judges,
containing the RECOMMENDATION to mercy. La-
chaud In valu endeavorcl to obtain Bazaino's rig
naturo to this peiltton. 80 far, inaoel, was lie
from consonting to this. that, oven aftor seotn
ingly quiet nights rost, DnZaine wrote the fol-
lowing lottcr to aIaityo Lachaud:
Mr. DEAR AND DhAvs DEFENDER: Before the a..-
pre,no hour would thank you with all my soul for
na IT. ors e. ps9n
you have borrowed from tho sentiment of truth and
in the devotion Of your noble heart could not convince
ed; for III your atnrablo speech you aavo surpassed
human effort. will not a,io for mercy. DO nut
G tosng 10 tho yn no 10 w9sa n % sG o.
hehalF. do not wish 10 bo judged moro by me1; It
from tine and The abatement Of passion that hope
tenrc firm mud resolved, strong in my conscience.
which does not repfoacA nc in any!1ting u.,s
Ta1AsoS-sous-no1s Dec. II, 1875.
From tho Journal t!Dieicl VIC translate tho fol-
lowing appeal for morcy which was sout by tho
Judges to President MacA1alon aud which pro-
cured the communication Of the sentence:
SIR: Tho connci! Of War has ]nst pronounced d
ing to our oath We havc solved tue questions put to
according to tle voice Of our coincidence only. We
Place Iefore lis. 70 Cod aloao IL duo a. account Of
tho motirea which haya influenced liz. According 10
our oath we have Ind 10 carry out an tnextbo law
ln . ctiuo against military duly. But luvo tho
Fight TO point out to you tho circumstances which tue
We wn, remind you tlut ii .raai Dazaino Ind taken
and exercised command Of the Army of tho hine IN
The midst of unhcard dicuties that lie Is not scspon-
tho clo!cc Of ais rlaus Of operations. We would
mind you that lo has nlwayB borno himself well
rt9sds 4 s and Gf u o Seye that t n0sn s
ia:h of august, BY the tfuness u ljs attitude 10
Lis services from the tnle he enlisted III 1885, count
the battles, tic wounds md the brilliant actions which
Won for him the haton ot Msrsha Of France. Think
Of tho long detention which ho has inst borne thtnk
has listened day by day u,d heard s homer disputed
praying tho President Of Tho Republic to commute tho
sentence which We hAse Just pronounced. Resolve,
Bir. tue assurance OF our respect.
(s'gnea by all tho Julgcsl
We translate from tile Journal 0giciel OF tile
18th. tue following official statement Of tho
communication:
Dy the recommendation Of tho Minister Of War, the
President OF the Republic has conmnted tile sentence
Of death pronounced against Marshal Dazaino into
twenty years. detention from today. The formulisies
Of military degatinn will 10 dispensed with, but tho
degradation itsclY will take place.
After learning tho Communication Of his Bon-
toncc. Alarslal Dazaine wrote tho following let-
ter to Marshal alacMahon;
You hnvc remembered the days IN which wo served
country together, aud fear TINT tho impul6o Of
your heart orern,astcred state considerations IBhoud
nave died without regret Rtuce tho Recommendation to
mercy made 10 yon by my judges Nndicatcs my honor
Alatre Lichaud, Marshal Dazaine's counsel,
has writton to N. Thlors thanking him in tho
alarsl'al's uamo and Lis own, for believing his
client innocent Of the charges made against him,
for encouraging tho defense by his sympathy for
tho aceuacl, aud Tor having RssIstod him by Ills
advice.