The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-06-13 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SEIZURE OF BOULANGER'S PAPERS.  The anti-Boulangista of Paris are jubilant oven the seizure of papers belonging to General Boulanger. Some time since the committee of inquiry ascertained that, at the time of the General's departure for Brussels he entrusted his papers to some friends. The papers finally found their way into the hands of Madame Becker, who keeps a small drapery establishment, and who is a relative of M. Breuille, Boulanger's secretary. The boxes containing the documents were placed among the goods in the shop, with which they matched so well that nobody could have suspected them to contain General Boulanger's political correspondence and accounts. Unfortunately there was a spy in the Becker establishment, and information was given about the papers to the chairman of the High Court. In consequence of this information M. Lose, Prefect of Police, signed two search warrants. M. Clement, police commissary, was directed to proceed to the house of AI. Becker. He went there and took possession of three boxes and a portfolio containing letters and other papers, and also of the desk of General Boulanger, which was locked. Subsequently M. Lallemand, another police commissary, went to the house of M. Breuille. The latter was absent at the time, but on his return the police seized a quantity of letters in his house, and a memorandumbook in which were written down day by day the instructions given by General Boulanger to his secretary. The book is filled with notes from the first to the last page. Meanwhile, M. Henri Rochefort declares in his journal that General Boulanger never derived the slightest profits from the contracts " passed" while he was at the Ministry of War, explaining that they were never signed by him until all the necessary formalities had been complied with; while, as for the "secret service money," the accounts were regularly kept by an officer who is still on the staffiin the Rue Saint Dominique. As for the incriminating letters alleged to have been written by or to ladies, M. Rochefort adds that General Boulanger wishes them to be read. It is also stated that if the documents had not been discovered they would now be at Ostend. One journal has gone so far as to attempt to give an accurate estimate of the weight of the boxes, cases, and papers, which it sets down as being between two and three cwt.; but, according to this guthority, one of the cases is of iron, and this may not be an exaggeration. It bears the mark of a Clermont - Ferrand maker, and as it is provided with safety locks it has not yet been opened. The documents already examined are declared to be of immense importance. The supporters of the Government aver that this discovery will introduce quite a new phase into the proceedings of the High Court—a fact which seems to confirm the view that hitherto there had been little in the way of "revelations "to work upon. "The prosecution is now a certainty!" is the exclamation now made by one authority, and it s added that the charge of conspiracy will be maintained. It is also thought possible that owing to the new phase upon which the affair has entered, and the time which will be taken in the study of this fresh budget, the trial may be delayed until September. These are some among the many comments to which this discovery has given rise. It remains, however, to be seen whether this collection of papers will fulfil all the promises with which at the first blush it is credited. Many anticipations have been indulged in before only to be proved vain; nor have the Boulangists displayed any anxiety as to the resultof tbesearches undertakes in different parts of the metropolis.  During May no less than 43 suicides were cornmittea in Vienna, a total which for that month has not been reached for many years asst.