Evening journal., 1919-05-20
Other EX-RULERS
have STOOD trial
Napoleon Imprisoned, While
Louis XIV and Charles |
Lost Their Heads
NO MONARCHS ARE
ABOVE THE LAW
BY J. w. T. MASON.
rWrltten for ihe Tnlled D.


NEW YORK, May 2O.-No precedent
exists under International law for the
trial OF William IIohenzollcrn, cx-Em-
poror Of Germany, by court OF the
Allies, nevertheless this will not be the
first case Of a monarch. "above the
law" brought 10 punishment by extra
legal means.
When Napoleon began TO he deserted
by his soldiers in 1911, and saw his
hopes Of final victory vanish. ne en-
trusted Marshal Ney and others Of his
friends with the work Of negotiating
terms with the allied enemy powers.
The allies insisted upon Napoleon's alb
dicstion on behalf Of himself and his
heirs as Emperor Of France and King Of
Italy. Napoleon consented. The allies
thereupon did not bring him TO trial, but
continued the negotiations. In the end,
Napoleon was permitted 10 keep the
title Of Emperor with an allowance Of
100000 yearly. Chiefly through the in
fluence Of Gar Alexander. Elba was
created a principally for him. and he
was sent there oslensibily as its ruler,
but in reality, a prisoner.
After Napoleon's escape from Elba.
and his defeat at Waterloo, he became,
in effect. an outlaw. lie fed 90 Paris
from Waterloo and abdicated again. The
Prussians were marching toward Paris
intent in making Napoleon a prisoner OF
war, and the French provisional govern
ment ordered him 10 leave the capitol.
Napoleon was advised TO try 10 escape
10 Amrica. lie got as far as Bochefort.
on the French Coast, hoping 10 find an
American sailing ship there The Brit
ish man-Of-NNar BcllcrOphon however.
was in the harbor, and escape was i'm
possible.
The French rOyalists were now pur-
suing Napoleon. and rather than fall
into the hands Of his own cOuntrymen.
Napoleon boarded The BellcrOphOn and
surrendered Internationally TO the Brit
ish. Tile Bellcrophon took him 10 Ply
mouth From there, ne was sent 10 st.
Helena. by order Of the British Govern
ment lie was stripped Of his imperial
dgnities. as punishment for his escape
from Elba. and thereafter was known
not as the Emperor Napoleon, but as
General Bonapartc.
Previous 90 this termination Of The
used eXtra-legal authority for Kidding
themselves Of the Bourbon monarchy.
The National Convention Of the French
Revolution. on September 10Th, 1892.
decreed the establishment Of a republic.
Louis XVI, who lost his throne by this
act. fell under suspicion OF conspiring
20 restore the monarchy. 4 charge or
treason was brought against him, and
be was brought 30 trial before the con-
vcntion. January 10Th, 1923. A majority
vote alone Of the convention was de-
clared necessary TO convict. ON January
goth. the convention voted 3S1 for con-
viciion. and 33s for acquital. There
was no authority in French law for this
procedure. but that fact didn't save
Louis head, and he was guillotined Jan
nary 2ist.
Tho English had greater difficulties in
evading the law before they succeeded
I'm beheading the last Of their own abso-
luti0nists. Charles ]. Charles had at
tempted 90 intimdate the House Of
Commons into doing his viii by storm
ing the halls, sacred 10 the elected rep
resentatives Of the people Nevertheless.
when Cromwell's soldiers captured
Charles and called upon the Commons
90 proceed against him. the sense of
lawful procedure was too strong among
n majority Of the members for them TO
act in so unprecedented a case.
Thcrcupon. the Cromwell warriors
under command Of Colonel Pride, en-