GOING TO NEW CALEDONIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1042, 5 January 1884, Page 4

GOING TO NEW CALEDONIA.

The fallowing sketch, from the Scotsdescribes one specimen of the people the French are sending to New Caledonia —to get away to Australia or New Zealand if.thejr can.:— Cochois, a young architect, was arraigned before the Assizer-Court of the Somme, at Amiens, oh the charge of an attempt "to; milder the Rev G. F. Whidborn'e ori the Northern Railway, on the 28th of June last. The presiding Judge, in accordance with French procedure, began by exposing the career of the accused up to .the .present time in minute detail. The prisoner had, it appeared, fought several duels, undergone imprisonment for a jewel robbery, entered into an extensive - building contract, now remaining unsatisfied, and borrowed cash in all directions. The accused promptly replied to the Presidents queries. He acknowledged that he had lived by theft in order to meet his bills and support his wife and child. Cochois was accustomed to travel on the Northern .Railway first class by the ekpiess almost nightly for the sake of stealing' -the passengers’ luggage, valises, and purses when the passengers proceeded to the buffet. On the morning of mur- - at Boulogne by toe rrfie.ns"When the ‘rag to go back Mr Whidborne askea Sla Whether would proceed by it to Paris, and the two travelledJOgether.v; 1 They at first slept. Before reaching Abbeville, Cochois offered a draught to the clergyman from his flask, which was,declined. Mr Whidborne then again fell asleep, turning his back to Cochois. Five miles from Aflftienslh&;S|iddenly awoke, feeling three thrusts" from some sharp instrument. He instantly rose, receiving a fourth as he did so. Being a powerful man, he grappled with his antagonist, an^.a j Jearfql struggle ensued. The clergyman wrested a formidable carpenter’s chisel from , the prisoner’s grasp t whereupon the assassin produced a §eyln:ohambeired revolver, but was un&il&tti'ifire] his wrist being tightly held. The two men dragged each other from corner to corner of the compartment. Finding that he was baffled, Cochois opened the door, doubtless in order to cast Mr Whidborne on to the railroad track. But the intended victim made good his- escape by the footboard, and,was eventually hauled into another compartment. An alarm was given, and the train brought to a standstill. The guard found Cochois besmeared with blood, standing on the footboard. ■He declared himself the victim of the outrage. The brakesman thereupon travelled in the same carriage. escaped. In spite of the high-speed he jumped out on the line. The tram'was again stopped. Cochois ran for about 200 paces, and stopped f night, watchman, recounting ' the stbry- ! bf j a pretended outrage upon himself. He then proceeded to a hut on the line. The brakesmen came in search ,of him, and found the prisoner, who thereupon fired into his own right ear. The again started for Amiens. M. Mallet, commissary of special police, having been communicated with, shortly arrived, assuming the custody of the prisoner. Cochois refusedtp speak. He was searched and four purses were found on him. Mr Whidborne arrived at Amiens on Wednesday nights, There were only seven witn£s&e£ examined, but they gave conclusive evidence. The AdvocateGeneral, in a spirited speech, taking one hbuf in ' delivery dwelt upon the increase .ofj railway outrages, and demanded a verdict- without mercy. Maitre.iDubdiSj-for the defence, in an abld reply denounced the idea of premeditation, and dwelt on the forgiving ' bearing pf Mr Whidborne exhibited on the p£. j lb? arrest of Cochois, and aga\j^,'qn‘Thiirsclay, pointing out this example of. clemency as one worthy of his sacred calling. Cochois, who had been Composed 1 during the proceedmuch* ;mpyed by his counsel's - “MdHress. " TheV trial, which had i?«C ? five, hours,. the Court being densely . crowded,; ended in a verdicttii.ofGuilty.” A sentence of transportation for life was passed, the plea of extenuating ciicumstances being adnSittfed”’ Th'efeey. G. F. Whidborne, before 1 l Teivihg Amiens for London, calle&ontlap presiding Judge in order to SfQ if-the sentence onr his assailant bei changed for one less severe.-•■ The ‘sentence was properly one ofdeatbpbut by reason of “extenuating circumstances ” intervening it was made transportation for life. The Judge said that dufing a portion of the trial he thought no clemency could have been extended to Cochois. The feiitence passed was in reality less harsh than a sentence of 20 years, which term must have been undergone in White Cochois would now be transported to New Caledonia, where, after’serving about ten years’, hard labor, he .would regain comparative freedom. This chance, however, would depend on his behavior during . thati peribd/ Th any circumstances, he could never leave the colony. If-the wife of Cochois agrees to accompany him^she is free to do so; if, otherwise, she'tiatjltberty ,tp ; remarry. The Judge said that the convict had acknowledged thejustice’pf the. sentence, having entertained fears of capital punishment.