REVOLUTION PLOT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1927, Page 3

REVOLUTION PLOT

TRIAL OF SPANIARDS

Australia it N.Z. Cable Assoe utioii

PARIS, .January 20. The trial of Garibaldi, Maeia and sixteen Catalans, has opened dramatically. Tne proceedings commenced by each prisoner reading a statement. Riceiotti Garihakli, wearing the scar- . et rosette ol’ the Legion of Honour in his buttonhole, denied that he had betrayed the Catalans, and he accused Mucin of inaccurately explaining the plot.

Immediately a storm broke out, -Maeia indignantly repudiating the allegation. His counsel, M. Torres, then denounced Garibaldi as both an Italian and a Spanish agent. Garibaldi bellowed a denial. Torres retorted hv reading Garibaldi’s statements to the police. Counsel added:— “Perhaps a Garibaldi who is a member of the Legion of Honour does not sign documents confessing the receipt of Judas’s thirty pieces of silver!’’

Garibaldi admitted that he had signi ed the statement alter thirty hours of " examination, owing to his fatigue. Torres: “You, a soldier, admit that fatigue caused you to break down? Be a man!” Tile Court then became a scene of tumult, the Judge ordering a short suspension. After the proceedings were resumed, Af. Benoit, a Secret Police Commissioner, made a statement that lie had a favourable report regarding the Catalans, but that Garibaldi was an Italian agent-provocateur, and bad admitted that he had received six hundred thousand lire from the Italian police.

Garibaldi shouted: “Nevertheless I am no traitor!” The hearing was adjourned. LONDON, January 21. * The “ Daily News ” Paris correspondent says:—A hig force of police were employed to suppress partisan displays at Garibaldi’s trial. Lawyers representing the Catalans appealed to prevent the igominy of sitting beside an arch-traitor surli as Garibaldi. M. Tliaon, representing Bizzoli, an Italian Socialist, aroused of participation in the plotting declared that Garihakli had betrayd four million anti-Faseists, who were living in France, and who regarded him as their

v - god. Maeia, in denouncing Garihakli. emphasised that Catalans had a love for F ranee. The judge interjected:—“Did you think of the trouble you would cause when you prepared your plot on French soil ? ” Maeia retorted :—“ Eleven thousand Catalans fell at Verdun. That is my answer! ”