The record-union., 1892-04-27

OF guilty IN the lace or the threats OF death
made against them if they decide against
night, no doubt, had much to do with the
very apparent unwillingness of the jurors
TO serve in the case, for that is taken as
proof that the police viii not protect the
jurors after the trial is finished
After the jurors had taken their places
the prisoners, headed by Ravachol, We're
brought in. They were guarded by an
immense number OF police.
The proceedings were at once COM
menced 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 cornposedly, and appeared
more disposed to pose as heroes than to
pay attention to the clerk of the court, as
he read the history OF their crimes as set
forth in the Indictment
In the center of the courtroom was a.
table covered with bombs, the apparatus
with which they were made, and every
thing that the police had captured.
When the reading of the indictment
was concluded, Judge Guese examined
Rayacho Jon e.ning the murders which
1t was charged he had committed; also
concerning the explosions. Ravachol in
nonchalant manner admitted his guilt,
and took upon himself the entire respon-
sibility for the boulevard st. Germain
and Rue Clichy explosions.
When questioned as - his motives for
causing the explosions, Ravachol replied:
= felt feeling OF unfeigned anger at the
conviction of LevalloiS and Perret ] do
not think that Benoit and Bulot should
have demanded the death ofthe fathers of
families. Then, again, the brutality of
the police when they arrested my COM
rades revolted my conscience, and l de-
I'm regard to the ST. Germain ex-
plosion, loaded q bomb that contained
sixty cartridges. | dressed myself in
broadcloth and went to Benoit's house
without attracting any attention. After
depoSiting the machine and lighting the
fuse L ran down stairs and reached the
pavement just as the explosion occurred.
''The operation in Rue Clichy was
much the same, only that / carried the
bomb in bag. A portion of the powder
became displaced and thus rendered it
extremely dangerous to light the bomb,
as 1t night explode any instant, yet did
not hesitate 10 undertake the risk
Ravachol concluded his remarks with
an exposition of his theories. He said
Il wish to see anarchy established and
the whole people as one great family.
each member ready to share what he has
with his brethren.
81 committed these outrages in order to
draw the attention of the public to the
needs of the anarchists"
Simon was next examined but no new
revelations were obtained from him. He
admitted completely in the outrages.
Chaumartin said when questioned that
Ravachol stole from Soissy the cartridges
which he intended TO use in blowing up
the Palace of Justice.
The other two prisoners tried to excul-
pate themselves. Witnesses were then
4
all the details of the crimes as set forth in
the Indictment.
In his address the Public Prosecutor
declared the prisoners assessins, not
anarchists; that the trial. therefore, was
merely matter of common law. He
caused sensation when he read a letter
from Belgium magistrate informing
him that anarchists were sending cart
ridges 10 Paris. He concluded by calling
on the jury TO return a verdict against
Ravachol and Simon, without any recon-
mendatlon OF mercy, and to return Sc
we're verdict against Beala. The other
two prisoners were left to the discretion
OF the jury.
a force of municipal guards were kept
under arms at the prefecture all day,
while the Palais de la Justice fairly
swarmed with republican guards ready
to crush any attempt at demonstration or
to blow up the place with dynamite.
az y i. Ne tuo court rG3SSoln Dleu.
After recess Lagasse began his address
for Ravachol. He insisted that the
prisoners otfenses were political and not
common law crimes. Ravachol only
wanted to assist the poverty-stricke en-
class, to which he himself belonged. He
appealed to the jury to imagine them
selves in a world of misery, with which
Ravachol was acquainted. He said one
must be great in strength Of mind to re-
sist becoming an anarchist in the face of
such scenes of misery and acts of in
justice.
Lagasse concluded his impassioned ora
ton, almost amounting to a defense of
anarchism. by asking verdict in accord
ance with what he considered extenuat-
ing circumstances. Simon's attorney
next addressed the jury. After the at
torneys of the other four prisoners adj
dressed the jury, Ravachol was permitted
to address the court. He declared himself
full confident that his actions would bear
fruit, adding: MAY my unintentionaI
victims understand and pardon my acts.n
The judge summed up briefly, and the
jury retired. Their verdict found Ra-
yachol and Simon guilty, and sentenced
them to penal servitude for life. The
other prisoners were acquitted.