The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-28

very young Journalist who is speedily
achieving fame. presents the most re-
cent noteworthy example of the
comedy vein that always pervades GER
tain processes under the French law of
libel. Such sameness marks the gen.
eral character of these proceedings
that one will serve as a fair instance
for all.
When NJ. Poisson, socialist member
Of the chamber, takes up LIE Marten.
and reads therein an article calling him
a baboon he may be relied upon to
m axe the restaurant quake with a tenn
pest of denunciation against the writer.
whose name is signed. With all speed
he goes to the nearest commissaire de
| police. and makes complaint under the
law known as DELFT de presse. This law
does not hold responsible the writer of
a libellous article, but permits him, in
| criminal actions, to assume the reSpon-
sibility if he so elects. It is the in
variable practice of French newspaper
Wr1terS-ln fact, an unwritten law
among them-never to shirk such re-
sponsibility, but to assume it entire
! whatever may be the consequences.
| The scribes glory in this herioc prac-
tice of their crafts. This might not be
the case were the punishment inflicted
/ severe; but 1T is not, and the whole
business of proceeding under the law
of DELFT de presse possesses for the
American a marked flavor of opera
| bouffe.
NJ. Poisson having laid his complaint
before the commisSaire de police. that
functionary acquaints the newspaper
at once that proceedings will be taken
concerning the article in question.
Perhaps the communication is by tele-
phone. If so the following dialogue is
likely to ensue:
rs this the bureau de reduction Of
the Matin?'
"Oui, monsieur; and you?'
II am the commissaire de police of
the Ninth reimbursement.
"Ah, montieur lie comm;ssaire, je
vous salue.'
MY salutations to you, monsieur.
S'agit dun process. 1t is the article
of this morning about NJ. Poisson, of
the chamber. Will you have the good
ness to inform me if 1 shall direct the
process against the gerant or the
writer? If the latter, please to give
me his name"
(The gerant is the person whose
name appears in every French news
paper as the responsible editor-the
person whom the law holds answer
able with the exception noted-for any
offences committed by the publication)
"Parfaitment, MONSIEUR. If you will
do me the honor to wait 1 will aScer-
tain
The person at the newspaper end of
the wire then informs the writer of the
commissaire's request, and asks him
merely as a fOrmality-whether he
wishes to defend the action or have
the gerant answer the charge of libel.
TT is purely my affair." answers the
writer, with affected nonchalance, and
you may inform the commissaire that
/ shall have the honor of defending the
case myself"
The dialogue at the telephone is then
resumed as follows:
Monsieur lie Commissaire, / am
again at your service. The writer CT
the article is NJ. Francois Gautier, and
he wishes me to inform you that he
will have the honor of defending the
action in person
.'Cest bein MONSIEUR, I thank you.
My compliments, as well, if you please,
to NJ. Gautier.'
with great pleasure, monsieur. Au
revoir''
"Au revoir''
Next morning, perhaps, that night. |
Mr.. Gautier will receive a note like |
this:
Commissaire de Police,
Neuvieme ACCOMPLISHMENT,
Paris, lie 10 Octobre, 1894.
Monsieur:
You are respectfully requested to call |
at my office on the 18th inst, at II |
o'clock in reference TO an affair that
concerns you. Accept, dear sir. s1y
warm SalutatiOns.
A MOUQUIN,
Commissaire de Police.
The meeting at the commissariat is
model of courtesy and hospitality. NJ. /
Gautier and the police official ere &C
quainted, of course, and the arrest" is
made in snug private office of the
commissaire over a glass or two of cog
nae. In arranging for the appearance
of the prisoner in court the official de-
fers entirely to his captive's conven-
fence, setting the day, a week, a month
or two months off. He is permitted to
go without furnishing bail. merely CIV
ing his parole d'honneur to appear
whenever he is wanted.
A day or so before that set for the
he airing Nh. Gautier receives another
note from the commissaire de police,
couched in the usual polite language,
reminding him of his engagement at !
the court of asSiZeS in the palace of
justice. Gautier's many journalist
friends have been looking forward to
the trial as genuine treat, and the
court room is sure to be filed with
them when the case is called. There is
about these DELFT de presse
cases that puts the court room in good
humor. Even the tribunal of judges
relax their habitual austerity, and
there is a wink in the solemn voice of
the public prosecutor as he rises in his
flowing black robes and announces the
charges against the prisoner With a
though decidedly unterrified
demeanor, the prisoner takes his place
in the dock between two Stalwart
gardes municipaux. Looking first at the
judges and then at the prosecutor he
smiles to say: Gentlemen, l am at
your services. Do me the honor to
convict me of DELFT de presse.
The one person in the room who
evinces any genuine sign of regarding
the case as one of serious import is NJ.
Poisson, who is still chafing under the
apithet of babboon and some other
equally candid assertions concerning
his record as a statesman.
He glares at the prisoner. while the
prosecutor is reading the naughty ar
icle, and shakes with rage as the
word babboon is again and again re-
Deated, each time qualified by a new
and more exasDerating adjective. 1t
S plain that if Poisson had his way !
1autier would be transported to Cay .
snne for life.
The spectacle of the deputy being
0roiled again on the journalistic grill !
S the hugest kind of a joke for the
and manv a silent chuckle /,
Ind inward round of applause greets
he caustic periods of their confrere-
The prisoner seldom employs coun-
el. He prefers to conduct his own de-
ense, for that gives him a chance to !
1<7roce tho court and craat< his mind :