Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-08
Lrrom our Regular.correspondentl
Paris Letter.
PARIs, FRANCE, q, 1882.

PARIS, FRANCE, 81, 1882.
The trial of the twenty-three individuals,
chifey miners. who took prominent part
in the disturbances at Montceau.les Mines
in August, is being daily continued at the
Saone ct Loire assizes. The utmost inter-
est centers in the proceedings, as it is
hoced that some light may be thrown
upon n movement which threatens to
become a real source Of danger to society
at large. The first two days were devoted
to the examination of tie accused. That of
Devillard, young man of nineteen, but
an old offender, which took place yester-
day, elected some curions evidence as to
the Vaccinations of tho workmen's socie-
ties. The society of Santa Maria was the
one to which he belonged. His initiation
had been accompanied with peculiar
formalities. Said the prisoner. "my eyes
were bandaged, and was asked if was
determined TO support the republic, and II
could strike a master. Ireplied in the
affirmative. A revolver was then handed
to me, and some one cried There is trail
tor before you; kill him? fired knowing
well that il was not true. | was then
informed that the traitor had left wife
and children, who needed assistance,
I besitated little before answering that
would help them, but atlast l promised. y"
The following question was then put to the
accused: Were you not made to swear
secrecy on II revolver, and were you not
taught the grip, the salute, and the trater'
nal kiss of the mouth of the initiatedP'
Tie replied that he had considered these
formalities as devoid of Importance.
Another of the accused, miner named
Thomas, who had acted rs bugler to the
Bande Noire, declares that he had been
enrolled by perfect stranger, who hac
exclaimed, "you must march. l have
come all the way from St. Etienne, where
have left my wife and children" Some
of the witnesses were also heard yester
day, among them NJ Chagot, gentlemen
sixty years of age, who is manager OF thu
Blanzy mining company, with whlcf
Montceau les Mines is connected. Ill
t stated thai be allowed his men retiring
pension of from ESQ to 5000 per annum
| and that on their marriage he provided
each with cottage and garden at mor'
than n modest rate.
The fact was that there had for sever0
5 years been a complete socialist organlza
l ton in the district The authorities ha
1 been employed to watch the movement
f but they had done nothing. M. Chago
) added: IAN these people have been lie
astray. They call themselves communists
= and demand division of property. Wei
: I voluntarily give each of them ia
It better cottage and garden than they woul
obtain by such means. During the pas
5 four or five years l have increased tn
} workmens wages by 100000; but tt
G international" has left its mark at Mon
n ceau.les- Mines, where the Syndical chan
beers nightly meet in the woods III
C witness expressed the opinion that, b'
b for the premature rising at Montceau-le
t Mines, the whole country round wou
, have fallen prey to regular consplrac,
NJ. Chagot concluded by saying that |
5 had founded workshops for girls, schoo
for children, and benefit societies for tt
. miners. "What is now going on"
. remarked, "is certainly not encouraging
; But Cooking firmly ut the accused) a
SIRE that not one of those who are he
. would fire on me-" Another witnes
Dcmily, director of the mines at Sal
; Berain Sur d Heure, declared that even
| that district secret societies met at nigh
. guarded by scntinels, each member carr
. inc Il revolver, and wearing handke
C chief to conceal his face. There seems
5 be no doubt whatever Us to the dangerol
C and whispered character of the communl
# movement in that part OF the country.
a great sensation was created IN cou
. this morning by rumor, which was su
4 scquently confirmed by the mayor of Il
place, that an attempt had been mat
$ during the night to blow up the clers
g house ut St. Waller. The eXaminatlo
l of the witnesses was continued, the ev
: dence given amply confirming that eicitt
l. at Yesterdays sitting.