The record-union., 1897-02-04
OPERA BOUFFE JUSTICE.
flow LibelOus Newspaper Men Are
Dealt With i'm Merry Paris.

Dealt With i'm Merry Paris.
A Paris correspondent of the Atlanta
Constitution says: The arrest, trial
and punishment OF Archambaud Sau-
rens a very young journalist, who is
speedily achieving fame, presents the
most recent noteworthy example of the
comedy vein that pervades certain pro
cesses under the French law of libel
Such sameness marks the general char
acter of these proceedings that one will
serve as a fair instance for all.
When NJ. Poisson, Socialist member of
the Chamber takes up lie Matin" and
reads therein an article calling him
baboon, he may be relied upon to make
the restaurant quake With tempest 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
lfbeilOus article. but permits him in
criminal action to assume the respon-
Sibility, if he SO elects. 1t is the invar-
liable practice of French newspaper
Writers-in fact, an unwritten law
among them-neyer to shirk response
bility, but to assume it entire, whatever
may be the consequences. The scribes
glory in this heroic practice of their
craft. This might not be the case
We're the punishment inflicted severe.
but 1t is not, and the whole business of
proceedings 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 con-
corning the article in question. Perhaps
the communication is by telephone. If
SO, the following dialogue is likely TO
ensue:
rs this the bureau de reduction of the
MATING"
''Oui, monsieur; and you?"
Il am the Commissaire de Police of
the Ninth ACCOMPLISHMENT"
"Ah, Monsieur le Commissare, je
vCus salue"
My salutatiOns to you, monsieur.
S'agit dun process. IT is the article Of
this morning about NJ. Poisson of the
Chamber. VIII you have the goodness
to inform me if I shall direct the process
against the gerant or the writer If the
latter, please give me his name
(The gerant is the person whose name
appears in every French newspaper as
the responsible editor-the person whom
the law holds answerable with the ex-
cepton nOted-fOr any offenses commit
ted by the publication.)
'tParfaitment monsieur. If you will
do me the honor to wait, l will ascer-
tain
Inc person at the newspaper end of
the wire then informs the writer of the
Commissaire's request, and asks him.
merely as a formallty, whether he
wishes to defend the action or have the
gerant answer the charge of libel.
1T 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 le Commissaire. 1 am again
at your service. The writer of the ar
ticle is NJ. Francois Gautier. and he
wishes me to inform you that he will
have the honor Of defending the ac-
ton in person"
"Cest bien Monsieur, 1 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, NJ.
Gautier win receive a note like this:
"Commissariat' de Police. Neuvieme
ACCOMPLISHMENT Paris, le Il Octobre
1S94.-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, my warm salutations.
"A. MOUQUIN,
"CommiSsaire de Police"
The meeting at the cOmmissariat is
a model of courtesy and hospitality. NJ.
Gautier and the police officials are ac-
quainted, Of course, and the arrest is
made in the snug private office Of the
commissaire, over a glass or two of
cognac. In arranging for the appear
ance of the prisoner in court the Off
clal defers entirely to his captive's con-
Nenlence, setting the day, a week, a
month or two months off He is per-
mitted to go without bail, merely Civ
ing his parole d'honneur to appear
whenever he is wanted
day or two before that set for the
hearing NJ. 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 JUS
tice. Gautier's many Journalistic
friends have been looking forward to
the trial as a genuine treat, and the
court room is sure to be filled with
them when the case is called. There
is something about these DELFT de presse
cases that puts the courtroom in good
humOr. Even the tribunal of Judges
relax their habitual austerity. and there
is 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
respectful, though decidedly unterrifed
demeanor, the prisoner takes his place
in the dock, between two stalwart
gardes municipauX. Looking first at
the judges and then al the prosecutor.
he smiles to say: Gentlemen, l am at
your service. DO me the honor to con-
vict me of delit 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 chatting under the
epithet of baboon and some other
candit assertions concerning
his record as a statesman.
He glares at the prisoner. while the
prosecutor is reading the naughty arti-
Gle. and shakes with rage as the word
baboon is again and again repeated.
each time qualified by a new and more