, 1875-02-21

xhe "fmpffen-Casaasna Libel Suit.
Ina telegraph has informed Us that in tho
LIBEL suit Of Gen- De Wimp1sn vs.. Paul De Cas-
ssgnac' the verdict was for the editor. This
case u huEsd NTH an important historical incl
dent, thus related in the New York Times:
The Importance II this deciMon lies In the
fact thar IN case OF libel proof h nl.uitked in
the Civil Courts. while Justification can bo plead
cd and proved in the Aasize Courts. For this
rassou Paul De Cassagnac demanded = cz31ni-
nal trial, although be would haye been subject
to fine If condemned in the former, whi1a ho IS
subject to fine and imprisonment in tho LATTER
But he has an opportunity for citing witnesses,
and caa have his cAso heard before jury. Tho
libel alleged by Gen. Wlmplfeo is continued in
d criticism upon his conduct at Sedan, aud is =
mere reiterarion Of the chxrgas contained
in Con. Ducro.s book. In nv opinion this
uas the most important Of all the works pub
lished about Sedan, but for some reason or
other it att1scted very little attention. I made
a translation Of it at the time, but did not find
publisher. It is this work that IS now in ques-
tion, and the result OF the trial in the Criminal
Court will depend greatly upon Dc Czssagnxc's
ability 70 prove tho statements made BY Du-
crot- The General has been cited "a = wit
nesa in tho case noT brought by Wimpffen in
the Aasize Court, and between the two parties
nearly all the ofncets at Sedan have beon cited
to appear. The sum OF the libel is contained IN
tne chargo that Wlmpneu is mainly responsible
for tho dlsaster. When 11ac3fahon uaa de-
feated at Reichschoffen the Minister Of War
Rent Mlmp1en down to take command Of tho
army N case Of accident to the commanding
General Ha arrived just as Nac3fahon Was d.
feated and wounded before Sedan Finding tha
army refreshing, he declined the command, on
the ground th2s ha had not the confidence OF
the officers, and it was given to Ducrot, That
active and energetic officer made m arrange.
mont by which he could retreat by th8 helch.s Of
1lly, and sent Lebrun forward to engage thu
enemy. For the moment the Germans vars
checked with severe loss. Dnc-ot meant to
already sent oil his wagon trains aud spart
Wimpffen claimed the command Of tIt
army, and the Emperor tried to persuade him
not to act upon his orders just then; but tLs
Geuerai wanted tho credit OF tho victory planned
BY Ducrot He took command, was badly
whipped. and when his army was routed, ho
rushed into tho Emperor's presence mud cried:
Sire, can do no more; my officers refuse to
obey me- Ducro. was hidden in tho embsasure
ITO whom do you refer2' he saia Gcrsely; mot
one OF your officers has refused to obey you-' 4
savage speech from Wimptfen followed d.
crot said that the only thing to be done
was to let the re.rea: 20 on as he bad or
dered it. Wimpfen said that he had himself
given orders to stop the resreat. Ducros ra-
Piled thar il this was the case, al Was lost.
Having, by his fault, caused tho surrender,
Wmp1en refused to raise the white flag, and it
was altar this, to spare further blood.had, that
the Emperor did il in Person. Such ara the
charges made by Gen. Ducrot against Gen
WimpIan, and reiterated in more onenzive
way, perhaps, By Paul De Cassasuac in tho
Pays. Tho Civil Tribunal could hardly have
failed to find this libel, although De Cas-
eaguac's condemnation would have bean light,
sinca he merely repeated Ducrot's charges, b,1s
in the Criminal Court proof can be offered, aud
Jury must decide whether or not Ducrot' atate-
mens il correct. and whether or not Pau1 Do Cas-
asgnso was guilty Of defanstion by repeating it,