New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-07

On March she appeared at midday on The Es-
planade DIES Invaides, where large number OF
workingmen, pckpockots and idlers had as
sembled in response to placards posted on the
walls of the city. The avowed object of the gath
ering was the presentation OF petition TO the
public authorities, but measures had been taken
Ivy the police to disperse the crowd at once.
Louise Michel, finding that the passage was
blocked toward the Seine, put herself at the
head of the throng and led the way toward the
Boulevard ST. German. A bystander offered
to lend her broom, but she declined to carry
it, probably regarding it as an ignoble symbol
of woman's domestic employment, and conse-
quently as destitute of political significanee.
She unfurled black flag, rs indicative OF the
scarcity of bread and the expedency OF labor
strikes, and marched on, attended on either
side by two men named Pouget and Mareuil.
The crowd forced its way into bakers shop,
crying, Bread, work, or bullets" Louise
Michel remained outside. laughing heartily,
flourshing the black flag, aud screaming,
aAllez, allez.n Encouraged by its leader, the
mob entered two other shops and pillaged
them, smashing the windows aud distributing
the loaves in the streets. BY this time the DO
easily dispersed, Louise Michers bodyguard
of two making desperate defence and cover
ing her retreat
This was the offence for which Louise Michel
was tried at the Seine Assizes. The black nag
was produced, the assault upon the shops was
described by the aggrieved bakers and other
witnesses. The identity of the woman In black,
with her hard, masculine face and defiant gayety
of manner, was established. She was charged
with melting the populace to pi lage, and when
the evidence for the prosecution was closed,
she was allowed to conduct her defence In per-
son. In response to questions from the BENCH
she proclaimed in loud, decided tone that the
workingmen's meeting would have been quiet
and orderly demonstration If the police had
not interfered that the pillage OF three shops
was nothing at all and that the hungry have
the right to take bread wherever they can find
1t, if they cling to life aud that it is better for
active Young men to busy themselves with in
cendiary and explosive materials and reading
scientific reviews than to waste then time In
cafes Her first witness was Nj. Rochefort,
who testified that seventy lone francs in small
change found on the person of POuget, her
chief accomplish, had been contributed for the
herself when in exile with him in New-Ca
donna. had been devoured by mosquitoes. had
slept on the ground and eaten @just anything"
and had given away her food and her stockings
to the sick whom she was nursing. This testi-
mony, which the prisoner declared to I've cruelty
kind, was folio Ned by equally irrelevant state
Ihents from one of NJ. Rocheforts assistants
that Lonise Michel was In the habit OF carry
ing pistol and Was person To be highly re-
spected aud from one OF her neighbors to the
effect that an unknown man had called ut her
lodging one day and struck with his cane q
woman who was taking care OF her aged
mother. Then came n violent barangue from
the prisoner herself, ia which she denounced
the slaughter o. the Comm nists, INDICATED
woman's right 10 think and act like a man, rid
Iculed the charge OF pilage, and entreated the
court to punish her for her writings, rather
than for laughing because hungry mob helped
itself to a few loaves of bread. The court, not
sharing her grotesque view Of this bread riot,
sentenced her to six years imprisonment and
to ten years police supervision.
One OF the most painful incidents Of this
trial was the recital OF the misery caused by u
thoughtless act of Louise Michel's associate,
Tending her when the police sought to arrest
her, but with having explosives in his possession
and with circulating pamphlet urging soldiers
to set fire TO their barracks and 10 murder their
officers. Bundles of this abominable brochure
had been sent by him to seven towns where
military garrisons were stationed. In forward
ing a package 10 Rheims, he represented it as
having been sent by NJ. Martin, OF the Rue
Reaumur. Now it happened that man of
that name did live at the number indicated, and
when tho package was seized lie and his wife
and child were Immediately imprisoned. His
widow appeared at the trial to tell in broken
accents how they had been unable to prove
their innocence for long time, how heI hus-
band had died of broken heart, and how her
child had fallen greyously sick from exposure
in prison. Everybody in court was affected 10y
this pathetic stony save tho man who had
caused the misery and the hard faced, smiling
woman who had carried the black flag and
Uttered when the mob broke into the bakeries.
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TAMN1NY AND BUTLER
Much billing and coong is going on just
now between the Tammany Democracy and
a