Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-01-13

+ Inc prisoner answered the pubic prose
cutors questions in a cool manner.
| After the prisoner had admitted that he
had been In prison for theft, the prisoner
| exclaimed fercely: THE unjust condi-
| tons of society were responsible for what
| you are pleased to term robbery"
In reply to further questions by Prose
cutor Bertrand and Judge Gaze, valiant
said that he regretted the bomb did not
have the effect he desired. The presiding
| judge turned to the prisoner and said:
who did you particularly want to hitf"
Valiant replied: II did not aim at any
one in particular, but / wanted to hit
some of the ministers. am not waging
war against the people, but against So
ciety, and aimed directly at these para
site deputies"
Replying to further questions Valiant
| said that he filed his bomb with nails, as
he only wished to severely injure some of
the ministers and deputies After making
this assertion Valiant remarked that he
would rather have seen two or three hun
dred deputies killed than single spec
tator injured.
You speak of wounds and I'M ured peo-
pie, /" the judge remarked.
What about the soldiers you sent to
Tonquin?" fiercely exclaimed the prisoner.
Are they not wounded, and even killed.
Don't cry about deaths since none oc-
Cured"
Il see, continued the judge, that you
want to profit by the accident that no.
body was killed"
"Oh. mop cried Valiant If you pre-
tend to think that l am trying to save my
head shall refuse to answer any further
| questions"
~ \, = u ~.
softened greatly and which touched the
hearts of many of those present to recount
the struggle of his Life in his efforts to pro-
vide food for his wife and children, his
whole manner denoting that he was either
| man of very sensitive nature or else
consummate actor.
During the course of his summing up of
the picture of the miserable struggle for
existence, which he had drawn with so
much effect, Valiant remarked:
Il said to myself, why work when wife
and child are perishing of starvation2
asked myself this question many and
many time during the day time, and as
lay awake at night, feverishly tossing
about on my hard bed. without knowing
where the next days food was to come
from, and without having any means of
knowing where / was to get the next
franc which was to put off for another
day what seemed to be the inevitable end
of our long struggle for existence-starva-
ton.
II then resolved. after much delibera-
ton and after carefully weighing thu
matter over in my mind to manufacture
that bomb and to throw it into the cham
Der of deputies in order that it's explosion
might echo around the world, and posi-
bly, be the signal for others to take des-
perate means to attract attention to the
Bufferings of the poor"
valiant was then allowed by the court
TO read a long declaration which he had
drawn up. Among the statements made
| in this declaration were the following:
you who are to judge me- let me tell
you that my act was borne of the misery
| of the people, whole families of whom are
| dying of starvation. Woe betide those
| who leave their fellowmen to die for want
| of bread, for then we shall see the bloody
heads of the exploiters of the people car
ried aloft on pixies"
Valiant was listened to throughout the
| reading of his declaration in the most pro-
| found silence and with the closest atten-
| ton. The prisoner read the document,
| which he had evidently carefully pre-
| pared, in the most fervid and dramatic
manner, seemingly believing all his utter
ances to be true, and deeply moved by the
| excitement of the occasion. Several ladies
| were actually moved to tears by some of
the most touching portions.
| After Vaillant's statement had been con-
| cluded the public prosecutor introduced
number of witnesses, deputies and others.
| The taking of testimony was quickly con-
| cluded, and then the public prosecutor,
In an able address, dem anded punishment.
Maitre Labon, in an equally able argu-
ment, asked that a term in prison be the
| punishment.
The jury were absent for about twenty
| five minutes. They returned a verdict of
guilty without extenuating circum-
| Stances
Upon hearing the verdict Valiant
\ sprang to his feet and shouted: 1T 10
DEATH l thank you for it." He then
turned with a smile to the people in the
court room and passed his hand around
his neck to signify that the guillotine
would be his doom.
When the presiding judge announced
the sentence which condemned him to the
| guillotine valiant shouted: "Vive PAN
archiep'
| Valiant has refused to sign an appeal
| to the court of cessation.