Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-19
FOR CONSPIRACY.
French Senate Meets as High
Court of Justice 49,
To Try WeII-Known Politicians for
Conspiracy Against Government.
The Indictment Read and Court Considers
Method OF Procedure.

lede. Marcel-Habert. Thebaud Baron
de NauX and Jules Guerin. on the
charge of conspiring against the gov
eminent.
The public and press galleries We're
crowded by 1.i5 p. NJ, and the senat-
ors' places We're filed few minutes
before p. NJ. Then the roll of drum
was heard in the distance announcing
that President Fallieres accompanied
by the Senatorial officers was approach
ing. a few minutes later a door on the
right of the chamber was thrown open.
the Grief usher cried: Monsieur, the
President, gentlemen: And NJ Fal-
Heres entering and bowling.
Not one of the accused was present
in the palace. today. but nine cells
have been fitted up for them in the
library. They are very comfortably
furnished. The floor is covered with
linoleum and the walls are hung with
greenish cloth. The furniture consists
Of an iron bedstead, an easy chair. a
marble topped toilet table. a cuspidor
and a rug. Thus the prisoners will
have little to complain of and may
congratulate themselves, that times
were confined in the palace of the SEN
ate by Robespierre during the reign Of
terror and langushed in its dungeons
and since Marshal Ney was immured
in an unventilated cell until led forth
to be shot in the garden.
President Fallieres opened the pro-
ceedingS amid general silence by read
ing the decree of the President of the
republic constituting the Senate, on the
report of the minister Of justice into a
high court to try the charge against
the accused of making an attempt on
the security of the state. NJ. FalliereS
then declared the Senate constituted
as 4 high court and the clerk of the
court called the roll of senators.
The leading absentees, when the roll
er-Kestner and MERCER.
NJ. Bernard appeared and immediate
ly began to read the indictment in a
monotonouS voice. The indictment
commenced by reciting the facts of the
arrest OF Mn. Deroulede and Marcel
Habert and said the inquiry had shown
the existence Of a conspiracy to change
the form Of government to which the
disorders of last February. it was ad-
ded We're due and in which Nm. Derou-
lede. Marcel Habert and some mem
bers of the League of Patriots NJ.
Guerin and some members of the Anti
Semitic League, NJ. Dubuc and some
members of the Society of Anti-Semi-
tic Youth Mn. Buffet. Godefroy and
Chevillin and members Of the Royalist
party. We're inculpated. All the socie
ties mentioned since 1898. it was point
ed out, had abandoned electoral ac-
ton for revolutionary action and the
League of Patriots openly pursued the
object of overthrowing the constitu-
tional government. Mn. Deroulede and
Marcel Habert seeking to attain their
ends by the union Of rioters and troops
in the streets. The Anti-Semitic
League. it was claimed. had Joined the
insurrectionary organization where
with were associated the NatiOnalists,
Royalsts and Imperialists League, and
the Anti-Semitic youth had, as a mis-
sion. the propaganda in the provinces
of the revolutionary movement. NJ.
Dubuc it was further charged, was the
link between the Anti-Semite and
Patriotic Leagues.
The indictment then gave a few par
ticulars of the provincial organization.
Referring to the ROyalist League it
said il was worthy of attention. be-
cause, though the idea of a Monarchic
restoration appeared inconceivable. it
had played preponderant role in the
recent events. its leader, the Duke of
Orleans himself. and its managers his
accredited representatives. All the
leagues, it was asserted, sought to
change the form of government by
street risings.
A letter from the Duke of Orleans to
his representative. NJ. Buffet. written
from Marienbad. in July. 1896 in
structing him to commence a RoyaliSt
organization. was read and also other
secret instructions, in which it was
stipulated that the sum to be spent was
not to exceed 100000 francs. The men,
ton of these figures evoked laughter
from the senators ana others present.
Three hundred thousand francs would
be cheap" was a remark heard from
the press gallery.
NJ Fallieres tapped for silence and
NJ Bernard continued to review the
Royalist agitation at the end of 1898.
showing that NJ. Buffet, Oct. "a and
Oct. %. telegraphed in code to the
Duke of Orleans. who was then in BO-
hemia to come to the frontier, Oct. %,
being the date Of the Anti-Semitc and
Royalist disturbance on the Place de
La Concord. on Dec. IL, there was
further disorder. mob marching on
the Cherche Midi prison. crying "Nive
Ic Due D'OrleanS; Success des- time
/ 1000 demonstrations; police stopped
them: but will recommence." This
Royalist outing. it appears. aroused the
Buffet wired to the Duke of Orleans
that he feared the Bonapartists We're
also contemplating action.
The indictment proceeded with re-
Capitulation of the Royalist maneuvres
and declared the Royalist led and paid
a mt b to insult President Loubet on the
day Of his election.
Letters seized at the residence of NJ
Chevilly showed that the funds were
becoming exhausted by February 1899
and promises of money. mostly from
women. were found in the correspond
ence.
The elimination of the Royalist con-
spiraCy was reached, Feb. %. when NJ
Deroulede made his notorious attempt
on the Place de la Nation to induce a
brigade of infantry to march on the
Elysee Palace. Everything it seems.