Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-27

chOl, alias a half dozen other names,
and the girl Rosalie Soubere, began to-
day at the Seine Assize Court, the trial
opening at IL o'clock.
So many threats have been made that
friends of the prisoners would attempt
some desperate act to either free the
accused or prevent their trial, that ad-
mission to the Court room was severely
restricted. Only those personally
known 10 the Court officials and the
twenty-five witnesses were admitted.
The main points of the indictment have
already been sent in these dispatches.
The prisoners are charged with causing
the explosion at the residence OF Judge
Benoit, No. 1856 Boulevard ST. German,
and at the residence OF public prose-
Cutor Bulot, at the corner of the Rue
de Clichy and the Rue de Berlin. They
are also charged with attempting to
blow up the police commssariat at
Clichy.
The most elaborate precautions were
taken by the authorities to guard
against any attempt TO interfere with
the course Of justice. The guards about
the Palace de Justice were redoubed,
and every part of the approaches to
the building was closely watched. The
attendance In the court loom was con-
fined to the witnesses, officials, detec-
tives and journalists.
When Judge Guos entered, he at once
summoned the jury, which it must be
said, presented greatly
disturbed appearance. The threats of
the friends Of the prisoners have evil
IDENTIFY greatly frightened the jury and
the journalists present expressed the
opinion that it would require very
strong evidence to convince the jurors
of the guilt of the accused-rather not
to convince them, but to force them
to render verdict OF guilty
in the face of threats Of death that have
been made against some OF them IL they
decide against the prisoners.
The explosion Of last night no doubt
had much to do with the very apparent
unwillingness of the jurors to serve in
this case, for that is taken to prove that
the police will not be able to protect the
Jurors after the trial is finished. After
the jurors had taken their places, the
prisoners, headed by Ravachol. were
brought in. They were guarded by an
immense number of police. The pro-
ceedings were at once commenced by
the reading OF the indictment which oc-
cupied some little time.
Everybody in the court room stared at
the prisoners as they stood indifferentlY
listening to the reading OF the indict-
ment. They bore the scrutiny compos-
edy. They appeared to be more dis
posed to pose as heroes than to pay at
tention to the reading of the history Of
the crimes as set forth in the indict-
ments.
In the centre of the court room was a
table which was covered with bombs
and the apparatus with which they were
made and everything the police had
captured.
When the reading of the indictment
was concluded, Judge Guese examined
Ravachol concerning the murders, which
il is charged he has committed, and
also concerning the explosions.
Ravachol, in a nonchalant manner,
admitted his guilt, and took upon him
self the entire responsibility for the
Boulevard, ST. German and Rue Clichy
explosions.
NJ. Beaupac, the public prosecutor. in
his address to the jury, declared that
the prisoners were disciples OF the IA
nous bandit, Claude Duval, and equaled,
if not excelled him In the way in which
their acts of outlawry were performed,
and in their utter disregard of all es-
tablished laws. He said that they had
not sought to convert people TO their
opinions, but to terIo orize them, and to
subject them to their will by reducing
them to state OF abject fear.
The prosecutors speech, which lasted
two hours, will be memorable in the an
nails OF the French bar for close reason
ing and brilliant invective.
A force OF the municipal guards was
kept under arms at the Prefecture Of
Police all day long, while the Palais De
Justice fairly swarmed with the ReDub-
liean guards, ready TO suppress any at
tempt by the anarchists to make dem
onstration or to carry out their threats
of blowing up these places with dyna-
mite.
The court took recess and reassem-
bled at o p. m., NJ. Lagasse immediate
ly began his address for Ravachol. He
complained that the law had been dis
torted in order TO convict the accused.
NJ. Beaupac interposing, said that the
new law applied to property, while the
old law was limited to the protection Of
persons.
NJ. Lagasse continuing, said 1t was
impossible toodeny that the prisoners
offences were political, and he reproach-
ed NJ. Beaupac for describing them as
common law crimes. Ravachol, he said,
only wanted to assist. the poverty
stricken class to which be himself be-
longed. A Mont Brison jury, dealing
with the charge of murder, could be
pitiless against Ravochol: but the Seine
Jury could only consider the dynamite
attempts in the Rue Clichy.
The police, he said, had acted as ver-
liable brutes. He appealed to the jury
TO imagine themselves in the world OF
misery, with which Ravachol was ac-
quainted aud said one must be OF great
strength Of mind toresist becoming an
Anarchist in the face Of such scenes Of
misery and acts of injustice
NJ. Lagasse concluded an impassored
Grafton almost amounting TO defence
of Anarchism by asking for verdict In
accordance with what be considered ex-
tenuafing circumstance, which he said
would constitute the work OF paciicaE on
Counsel for the other Anarchists piet tded
in calmer style. The Judge then &1m-
med up briefly. and the jury refirdt az
1:3o this norning 70 decide upon Ieir