The age-herald., 1899-09-19
FRENCH SENATE
 IS IN SESSION Political Prisoners Araignsd for Plotting Against Republic BERNARD READS INDICTMENT Leagues Sought to Overthrow Government by lnciting Mobs. THE ATTACK ON PRESIDENT LOUBET Duke of Orleans Alleged to be the In stigator of the Election Incident
 Ministers Laugh At the
 Penurious Royaiists
THE ATTACK ON PRESIDENT LOUBET

Paris September 1S-The senate met as a high coucil of justice today at p. m. for the purpose of trying twenty-two poli- ticians, including NM. Demoncourt De- roulede, Mercier- Habert, Thiebaud Baron DeVaux and Jules Guerin, on the charge of conspiring against the government
 The prosecutor general. M Bernard, read fhe long indictment which lasted from 2;25 till $40 p. m., when the senate entered into secret session to discuss the indictment and determine the questions relating to the preliminary inquiry which is to be ordered. The public and press galleries were crowded by 1:45, and the senator's places were filled a few minutes before D. m Then the roll of a drum heard in the distance announcing that President Fal- iieries, accompanied by senate officers, was approaching. few moments later a door on the right of the chamber was thrown open, and the chief usher announced the president
 M. Fallieries entered, and, lowing to the two officers, who naked sword in hand, had escorted him through the corridors of the palace to the chamber, proceeded to the platform and took his seat behind the table in the center. The president presented a dignifed figure. He has a fine head and grizzly hair, and was attired in evening dress.
 Wore Silver Chains of Office
 Behind him were grouped the ushers and other officers of the senate in evening dress and wearing the silver chains of office. On a table at the presidents right hand was big brass hand-bell, which, however,
 
 press the laughter which greeted some of the passages of M. Bernards 'bill of indict- ment.
 Not one of the accused was present or in the palace today but nine cells have been fitted up for them in the library. The cells 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 and 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 have changed since the Girondins confined in the palace of the senate by Robespierre during the Reign of Terror, and languished in its dun geons, and since Marshal Ney was immured in unventilated cell until led forth to be shot by the garrison.
 Treason Small Matter
 There were people who, while lounging in the corridors just after the senators were supposed to have entered behind closed doors, though in reality they were taking the air outside for few minutes, remarked that conspiracies to overthrow the existing regime were apparently re- garded as much less serious matter now adays than in times past.
 President Fallieres opened the proceed ings amid general silence by reading the decree of the president of the republic, constituting the senate, the report of the minister of justice, into high court to try the accused on the charge of making an attempt on the security of the state.
 M. Fallieres then declared the senate con stituted high court and the clerk of the court called the roll of senators, who answered with the word 'Present!'
 Arrest of the Cons nspirators
 The indictment commenced by reciting the facts of the arrest of NM. de Roulede and Marcel-Habert, and said the inquiry had showed the existence of a conspiracy to change the form of government, to which the disorders of last February, it was added, were due, and in which NM. de Roufede, Marcel-Habert and some mem- bers of the League of Patriots, M. Guerin and some members of the anti-Semite league, M. Dubuc and some members of the Society of Anti-Semitic Youth, NM. Buffet Godfrey and Chevilly and members of the royalist party were inculpated. All the societies mentioned since 1898, it was pointed out had abandoned electoral tion for revolutionary action, and the League of Patriots openly pursued the object of overthrowing the constitutional government, NM de Rouede and Marcel Habert seeking to attain their ends by the union of rioters and troops in the streets. The anti-Semitic league, it was also claim ed has joined the insurrectional organiza- ton wherewith are associated the nation- alists, royalists and imperialist leagues.
 The Provincial Organization
 M Dubuc, it is further charged, is link between the anti-Semtic and Patriotic leagues The indictment then gave a few particulars of the provincial organization. Referring to the royalist league it said it was worthy of attention because, while the idead of monarchic restoration appeared inconceivable, it had played a preponder- ant role in the recent events, its leader be- ing the Duke of Orleans himself, and its managers his accredited representatives. All the leagues, it was asserted, seek to change the form of government by street rislngs
 A letter from the Duke of Orleans to his