Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-17
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF MARSHAL NEY.

Napoleon Bonaparte gave to Marshal Michel Ney his familiar title of the bravest of the brave" and none of his marshals was more highly esteem ed nor more sincerely relied upon. Ney may be said to have been born a sol- dier. His father was a soldier and the boy was brought up amid the stir of arms and 1t Is small wonder hts tastes were entirely military. Hie father tried to discourage his military career and chose for him the law, but after an honest attempt to follow the wishes of his parent he gave up the struggle and joined the army.
 Michel Ney's advance was rapid. Napoleon placed perfect confidence in him and after the Russian campaign and the abdication of Napoleon Ney still served France under the restora- ton. When Napoleon came back from Elba and Ney was sent to oppose him he and all his forces fell under the spell of their old leader and followed him to Paris.
 advance of Napoleon Ney called on the king, to whom he promised to bring Napoleon back in an iron cage" Ney was no doubt sincere at the time, but when he arrived at the head of his army he was met by the news that on all sides troops were deserting. The same evening enfssaries arrived from Napoleon alleging that all the mar shais had promised to go oyer. Fin ally. when his vanguard at Bourg had deserted. Ney said: t1t is impossible for me to stop the water of the ocean with my own hand"
 Ney finally felt himself posyeriess to overcome the circumstances and he cast his lot with Napoleon Then came the fatal battle of Waterloo. Ney knew what it meant to come out of the battle alive and defeated. He a,,&A a4-. ~ A-. <f- Five horses were shot under him, his clothes riddled with bullets, but he was reserved for a more sinister fate. As the British were sweeping his army along with rush Ney passed DEfJn and screamed out to him; "If you and I come out of this alive, DErion. we shall be hanged!"
 In the fight Ney reached Paris and witnessed the capituiation and second abdicatfon. He considered himself safe under the terms Of capituiaion and. anxious to clear his name for the sake of his children. he remained hid den in the chateau of Bessoriis. walt ing to see what the attitude Of the government would be.
 It was there he was discovered by a jealous police omcial, who caught sight of the Egyptian saher. NapoIe on had presented to him In 1sol He was at once arrested and taken to Paris. This was on Aug. 8. He was conduit ed to prison on Aug. IS. On the day following the prefect of police came to interrogate him. He said that he had been swept away by the torrent I am not a traitor. I was drawn on and misled."
 The military court appointed to- try him declared itself unable to try a peer of France. On Saturday. Nov. II the Duke de, RfcheIieu, president of the council and minister of foreign af- fairs. rose in the chamber Of peers to move a resolution for the trial of Marshal Ney in that assembly
 The trial being held in the palace of the Luxembourg, Ney was confined in an irnprovised prison in the palace to avoid having to escort him bacs- ward and forward from the eoncies-, gerie, It was begun on Nov. 21-
 The house of peers found Ney guilty by majority of Iss to 1s. The mar shaPs lawyers tried to get him of By the s1bterfuge that he was no longer a Frenchman, since his native town Sorreiouis had been taken from France But Ney would hear Of no such ex . euse. q am a Frehcnman." he cried -and will die FrenchmAn-"
 Then 1t came to taking a vots ss to