Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-04-23
MODIFIED VERDICT AGAINST CAItLAux
FOUND BY HIGH COURT Of FRENCH SENATE
EX-PREMIER'S SENTENCE WILL Be LIGHT
Guilty of Commerce and Correspondence
with Enemy" = Escapes Conviction of
Higher Treason-Was Recklessly Impru-
dent and Close to Reasonable Ambitions
May Be Banished for Five Years or Confined
in Fortress VIII Also Be Compelled to
Stand Expense of Trial
ESCAPES HIGHER CRIME

AA-S<tI &c I1AtELEn Nnl-hL
Paris. Apr.l BY the Associated
Pressj-Joseph CaiIlaux former pre-
rnier Of France and twice minister
Of finance. stands tonight convicted
Of having placed his personal politi-
cal ambition during the war higher
than the interests Of the couutr-y
that hOnored MIN and gave him birth
Cailiax while escaping conviction
for higher treason vas found 10 have
been reekIessly imprudent anu verv
close 20 reasonably ambitious. for
sucn IS the Interpretation Of the YER
dict Of guilty Of commerce ana CDR
respondence with the enemy WHICH
was rendered today against him BY
the French Senate
This Is the first verdict If the sort
rendered in any Of the allied conn
tries since the war began. com
1 nerce" as interpreted by The senators
; who were the Judges 1ut meaning
Z
! means Of common ideas. w1ile Cur
respondence" N TINS particular case
/ is employed n the sense Of assoCia-
tim
The senators entered Luxembourg
palace this afternoon determined 10
have finished with the affair. which
has taken up their time during the
past three months No one took SER
ousiv the prediction that the verdict
would be reached this evening. But
after the court had disposed Of the
high treason charge anu that of in
telligence with the enemy and mad
declared its own sovereignty in less
than four hours. word was passed
that decision was impending and
Luxe,nbourgs gardens were filled To
over flowing u the aeighborhood of
tie palace by dense crowds and po-
Ice reserves had 70 be called out.
The ballots followed one another rap
idlE- The par-tsans Of the former pre-
n1e- were thrilled with Joy ana hope
when the treason charge was SO prompt
" eliminated and confidently predicted
acquittai and began 70 appur-iou among
which CaiIlaux was expected 10 form
within Six months after his release.
When they attempted 70 have The Sen
ate refrain from establishing itself rs
ne highest constitutional authority.
with power 70 ina the accused not
guilty as charged. but guilty Of i lesser
a1ensa. their enthusiasm waned
The doors OF the deiiberation cham
Der were ciosed-aInost herreficaIlr
sealed Two ushers stood BIZ each door
for the purpose apparently Of warciing
OF inqulsItlve newspaper men. nut &C.
oasionally disaevellt=d. perspirtng sen
ator would rlxE out OF he cham Der
and make 4 direct line for the Senate
bar where ne was Immediately sur
rounded ny correspondents offering 10
purchase for him the best v1ntages IN
Franco Il only ne would ak
The verdict may mean a sentence Of
i've years punishment for CaiIlaux
which nay. however. 5e diminished TO
one year. according an eSteruattnE cir
c-1Instancez are found Incarceration, IN
L fortress = another sentence which
may be pronounced tomorrow when tha
high court -eeonveaes. Il vas The en-
ssnsus Of opinion that the. sentence
would be light and that the 3 months
which Caillaux mas spent in all and Z
sanitarun would be taken into con-
siderarior-
The FORMER prerniers attorneys were
discoEsoiate over the verdict ana rushed
n Al automobile to the Ne1iIlv SAM
-ar'urn % inform N Caillaux Of ire
verdict. The defendant had -e-rained
II ths sanitarurn throughout the DAYS
sitting. Before they started away. h-~-
ever, n. Moutet said 10 he Associated
P-ess:
N. Caiiiaux Vas convicted not for
what he has done but for what he might
do were he aIlowe d 20 20 free
II seems probable that C2iIIarx VIII
5s condemned % pay the costs Of the
rial. amounting TO more than so 0Ga
francs Among these s bill for lnres-
legations in the United States winch
: one u the prominent iterus