The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-26

Their Reply to the Disclosures Of tho French
Detective-rhs Generals May, Pierre Bots
set and Mr.. Sanva Rise to Explain
Tho Peaceful Ballot Our Only
Wespon"-Nev York Al
ready Commune

The startling disclosures OF Louis de Plainval,
| the French detective. who has Swallowed the
| leaders OF the Communists by order OF Superin-
tendent Matsell. published in the HERALD OF
yesterday, excited . great deal Of Indignation
among the disciples OF Rossel and BlanquL A
HERALD reporter was sent TO learn the Com.
munists' side OF the story. and all those with
whom no conversed expressed themselves In
terms Of the most bitter Remuneration about the
police and 'the traitor" who furnished the deteC-
tive the published account Among the most
prominent leaders OF the 'Cercle Revoluuonaire
ct Communists Francais" which were mentioned
by the French detective were Ellie and Gustave
May, formerly generals Of the French Commune.
The reporter found General Ellie May at his once,
No. SS John street. where . huge sign announces
In large letters the fact that the former leaders OF
the Paris Commune are now following the peace
full and harmless occupation Of supporters OF pre-
cious and imitation stones"
General Ellie May Is q short, well built man, or
strong physique, and with q face expressive OF
cultivation. He wears full beard, OF pale
brown, and his features are cast in q determined
mould. He is rather gOOd-iOOking man.
General May was very indignant at the state
ments OF the detective. "Here Is one statement"
he said. (which accuses me of having brought
here
DIAMONDS WHICH WE'RE STOLEN
during the French Commune. Now, see how alb.
surd this statement is. The Versailles govern
ment, whenever 1t detected the slightest evidence
Of criminal conduct, sent the Communists
always to the galleys. They would have gladly
sentenced US to the gaIleys If they could have
found the nimsiest pretext for dong 80:
but no, not cent that we had to
account for was missed, and we were con-
demned to Imprisonment for life in q fortress,
which, you know. Is merely the punishment for
purely political Ofences. II they could possibly
have impugned our honesty they certainly would
have sent US to the galleys No; we controlled
millions and not Eve cents were missed when we
left Ilet people talk about my politics as much as
they please, but think my private character be-
longs to me-" '-
l. REPORrKR-T presume you are still one Of the
leaders Of the Communists OF this citys
General MAY-Communistsf Why we are all
Communists. Why all this absurd talk about the
Communef What the Communists In Paris strug-
gled Tor we have here IN America. The people
elect the municipal 0fhcers OF every town-thats
what the Commune is. Now as to the detectives
statements, We should certainly correct them but
for the fact that man OF sense viii believe
them. Plainval is q secretary attached to the De.
| tectves' once, and probably
WANTED TO SHOW HIS IMPORTANCE
| by these absurd statements. II this we're France
should challenge this man to light; but, unfortu-
lenged a newspaper man and he laughed at me.
However, 1 snail take other measures to OBTAIN
Here General May was called away, and he re-
marked that he must attend to his business affairs.
he ssid; "and a. 70 our meetings: they are open TO
General Gustave May is still better looking than
his brother. His complexion is darker and his
| OF man OF education and the conversation was
carried on In French, English and German.
answer to the accusations preferred against me
by this detective. All my friends, all those who
in France and such V matter should have Settled
there with the pistol or the sword; but here OF
course, 1t must be settled IN quite dinerent man.
REroRrER-Did you know that Superintendent
MatselI mad set spies to watch you ~. .r...ou
does better than he knows what we do. ! know
what tue police do when there Is
was thrown into the most intimate relations
with the Chief OF Police Of Parts during the Com
mune, and know all the tricks OF detectives: We
have secret police, too; and II they set their de-
tectives to watch US we set our secretspolice to
watch their detectives, and our police Is much bet
Ter, because 1t is not paid, rs theirs is.
RKPoRrER-Do you know who the traitor ~
General MAY-Yes, we know the man who fur.
nished the information. ! presume he wanted
some money and agreed to betray US for a few dol
lars. We know him. and several times /! was pro
said mo, let US wait" We shall get square with
this man yet we snail take other and more enec
which IS venal corrupt and wiling 10 DO anything
for money. The newspapers abuse me because I
theri l am no citizen of the United states, and
could not even become public scavenger IN the
to my principles and not to gam anything person
ally by this communistic agitation.
era Nay was mere e up ~ e
toned M0ustral, baker, At No. II Greene street,
as one ofthe leaders OF the Communists, but there
is no No. II in this street and no INDUSTRIAL could be
! found anywhere in the vicinity. Mr.. Pierre BOis-
set, locksnth, at No 1os Greene street, was found
to De veritable workingman, unusually intelligent
and with an honest open face.
Mr. BoIssET-I assure you that the oflcial inves-
PERFECTLY INDICATED THE NAY BROTHERS
and as to our organization, we have merely come
to our mutual AND 70
believe 1t, but out Of 500 Frenchmen here there are
not twenty i've who are citizens, and we want
them all to become such, SO tnat they shall vote for
honest ana capable men. And for DONG this we
are called thieves, robbers, incendiaries Now we
Infamous traitor and liar. tell you that we have
no secret police. Why should wef The city Of
the Aldermen and the judges OF q city are APP
pointed by the government; but here they are
ap oy - M 70" in
are not armed brigands No; our only weapon Is
' RKpoRTEs-How about the atrocities of the
MIR. BoIssEr with emphatic gestures)-The
thew 1 VINO set the fuileries and Hotel De vile on
| fire. At the notorious Cooper Institute meeting,
where the division OF property was advocated, all
the speakers
! WERE GERMANS AND AMERICANS
As to our drills, the detective was foolish enough to
mistake militia company, who drill at the Casino,
for us. The rlnes which he alludes to are theirs.
mr. Boisset laughed heartily at this ideal As to
! the military companies OF 100 men each which we
are supposed to have formed what nonsense that Is
! We simply organize sections OF 100 men each, SO
that they might take out their citlzens papers at
the same time and not iOr purposes OF plage and
plumber. Because our designs are pure. we are ac-
| cused Of crimes. Why should We set fire to New
York; Are the working men OF Chicago and BOs-
those citiesf
REPORrEK-And in regard to the division of prop
erty2
MIR. BoIssET-Oh, what nonsense all that Isl And
suppose should divide the money OF all the cap
itahsts among US, how much would each working
man receiver Perhaps 81. 900 At the utmost Well,
what could do with $l.0O0f No; It Is WORK that
we want, and not division Of all property. have
been a citizen OF the Commune OF New York for