The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-27
RAVlCHOL CONVICTED.
The Arch Anarchist Sentenced to Life
Imprisonment.
HB PLANNED THE DYNAMITE OUTRiCES.
Paris in State Of Excitement Over the Bomb
hplosions-Fears Of Injury to
the Jury.
Ereeial to THE MORNING CALr..

PARIS, April 26.-The trial Of the anarch-
ists-RavachOl. Charles Achille Simon, Jao
Beala, Charles Ferdinand Chaumartin and
the girl RoSalie Soubere-began to-day. 30
many threats had been made that the
friends of the prisoners would attempt some
desperate act that admission TO the court
was severely restricted. and the most des-
perate precautions were taken TO guard any
attempt to interfere with the course of JUS
tice. The guards about the Palace of JUS
tSce were redoubled. and every part Of the
approaches to the building was closely
watched. When the Judge entered he al
once summon ed the jury, whe presented
greatly disturbed appearance.
The threats OF the friends OF the prisoners
had evidently greatly frightened the jurors.
and the journalists present expressed the
opinion that IL would require very strong
evidence TO force them to render verdict
of guilt in the face of the threats Of death
made against them if they decide against
the prisoners The explosion last night no
doubt had much to do with the very ap-
parent anwlllngness of the jurors to serve
In the case. for that is taken TO prove the
police will not be able to protect the jurors
after the't trial is finished
After the jurors had taken their places
the. prisoners, headed by RavachOl. were
brought in, guarded by an immense number
of police. Proceedings at once commenced
by reading the indictment. which occupied
, considerable time.
Everybody in the courtroom stared at the
prisoners as they stood listening to the
reading of the indictment. They bore the
scrutiny composedly,a and appeared more to
pose as heroes than to pay attention TO the
Cf 4;,o har flaa Qf
their crimes as set forth in the Indictment
10 the center Of the courtroom was table
covered with bombs, the apparatus with
which they were made, and everything the
police had captured.
RavachoFs Confession.
When the reading of the indictment was
concluded Judge Guese examined Ravachol
concerning the murders which it was
charged he had committed, and also con-
eernng the explosion. Ravachol, in nom
chaant manner, admitted his guilt, and
took upon himself the entire responsibility
for the Boulevard ST. German and Rue
Clichy explosions.
Questioned as TO the motives for causing
the explosions, Ravach0l replied: 81 felt
feeling of unfeigned anger at the conviction
of Levalois and -Perret. / do not think
BenOit and Bulot should have demanded the
death of the fathers of families. Then,
again, the brutality of the police when they
arrested my comrades revOlted my con-
science and l determined upon revenge. In
regard TO the ST. German explosion /
loaded bomb that contained 50 cartridges.
j dressed myself in broadeloth, went to
. BenOits house without attracting any at
tentiDD, and after depOsiting the machine
and lighting the fuse l ran downstairs and
reached the pavement just as the explosion
occurred. The operation in Rue Clichy was
much the same, only l carried the bomb ina
bag. portion of the powder became dis
placed and thus rendered Ii extremely dan
1.--l-N 81. Il ~.
Dlode in an instant, yet did not hesitate to
take the risk"
Ravachol concluded his remarks with an
exposition of his theories. He said: 81
wish TO see anarchy established, and the
whole beople as one great family, each
member ready to share what he has with his
brethren. i committed these outrages in
order to draw the attention Of the public to
the desires of the anarchists"
Accomplices In Crime.
Simon was next examined, but no new
revelations were obtained from him. He
admitted completely. in the 0utrages.
Chaumartin said when questioned that
RavachOl stole from SoissY cartridges which
he intended TO use in blowing up the Palace
OF Justice. The other two prisoners tried
TO exculDate themselves.
Witnesses were then called and their tes-
timony corroborated all the details of the
crime as set forth In the indictment.
When Judge Geuse questioned Ravachol
he admitted in an insolent manner his
criminal history as far aSit Is known 10 the
police, but he added that when be was
questioned concerning the crimes Of which
he was suspected and not accused he would
not respond.
The Judge asked him il the sum Gf 1000
francs found In his room when arrested
was the proceeds Of the murder Of an old
man at Chambles.
Precisely" answered Ravachol. glanc-
Ing around. as though enjoying the effect
the answer Produced.
Rayachol also admitted that he intended
killing the policeman standing in front of
the police station at Clichy, but was pre-
vented by his friend.
Assassins, Not Anarchists.
In his address the public prosecutor de-
clared that the prisoners were assassins
and not anarchists; that the trial, there
fore. was merely matter of common law.
lie caused q sensation when he read letter
that the anarchists were sending cartridges
. to Paris. He concluded by calling on the
jury to return a verdict against Ravachol
and Simon without any recommendation of
mercy. and to return a severe verdict
against Beala. Tie other two prisoners
were left 10 the discretion of the Jury
A force Of municipal guards was kept
under arms at the Prefecture all day, while
the Palais de la Justice fairly swarmed with
Republican guards, ready to crush any at
tempt at a demonstration or 20 blow up the
place with dynamite.
Plea for the Defense.
At 9 o'clock at night the court reassem.
bled after the recess, and Lagasse began
bis address for Rsvachol. He Insisted that
tho prisoners offenses were political and not
i common law crime. Kayaehol only
wanted TO assist the poverty-stricken class
TO " hch he himself belonged. He appealed
TO the jury TO imagine themselves In the
world of misery with which Ravaehol was
acquainted, and said that one must be OF
great strength Of mind to resist becoming
an anarchist in the face of such scenes of
misery and acts of injustice.
A dynamite cartridge was discovere Ia q
sewer at st. Etenne
There was a report late this aftern oon
that the house of Dreson,s Police Commits
q sary, WHO arrested Ravaehol, had been
blown up by the anarchists. 1t caused
great excitement An investigation showed
there was no foundation for the story.
LONDON, April pa number of precau.
tionary arrests of anarchists have be en-
made at Rome and Berlin.
BERLIN, April 26.-The police made an
other raid upon lodgings occupied by an
archists, and succeeded in capturing twenty
persons and seizing quantity Of the usua
Sc literature.
BORDEAUX, April ga dynamite car.
fridge exi loded this afternoon Nj the hall Of
the residence OF tie Swiss Consul. No one
was hurt
RavachoI Convicted.
Lagasse concluded an impassioned ora
ton, almost amounting TO a defense OF
anarchism, by asking a verdict In accord
ance with what he considered extenuatipp
circumstances.
Simon's attorney next addressed the Jury
fter that the attorneys of the other foul
prisoners addressed tho jury.
Ravach0l was permitted to address th,
court. He declared himself full Of conf
dence that his actions would bear fruit, add
ing: 'May my unintentional victims under
stand and pardon my acts"
The Judge summed up briefly and tn
Jury retired. Their verdict found Rayacho