Paris under the Commune: The Seventy-Three Days of the Second Siege; with Numerous Illustrations, Sketches Taken on the Spot, and Portraits (from the Original Photographs)Leighton, John
History
Paris under the Commune: The Seventy-Three Days of the Second Siege; with Numerous Illustrations, Sketches Taken on the Spot, and Portraits (from the Original Photographs)
Leighton, John
Paris (France) -- History -- Commune, 1871
wandering for about an hour in the streets about the prison, and being
unable to find shelter anywhere, and afraid of being murdered in the
streets, I determined to return to La Roquette. As I reached it I met
the archbishop’s secretary, two priests, and two gendarmes, who, like
myself, had been driven to return to the prison. One of the keepers
told us that the safest for us was the sick ward. We dressed up in the
hospital uniform and hid in bed. At eight in the evening the federates,
who were not aware that we had escaped, came back and called on the
gaolers to produce us. They were told we had gone; fortunately they
believed it. On Sunday the troops came in, and I left La Roquette for
good this time. In reply to a further question the witness said that as
the hostages marched past his windows, on their way to execution, he
saw President Bonjean raising his hands, and heard him say, ‘_Mon Dieu,
mon Dieu!_’
XIII. (Page 82.)
URBAIN.
Urbain, formerly head master of an academy, was elected to the Commune,
and became, in virtue of his former office of teacher, a member of the
Committee of Instruction, retaining at the same time his office of
mayor. He finally installed himself in his mayoralty about the middle
of April, with his sister and young son, and gave protection there to
his mistress, Leroy, who had great influence over him, and who used to
frequent the committees and clubs. At the mayoralty of the 7th
Arrondissement this woman, in the absence of the mayor, took the
direction and management of affairs. During the administration of
Urbain searches were made in private and in religious houses, this
woman, Leroy, sometimes taking part in the proceedings; on these
occasions seizures were made of letters and articles of value, which
were sent to the mayoralty and from thence to the police-office. Urbain
and the woman Leroy are accused of having appropriated to themselves
money and jewellery. At the mayoralty of the 7th Arrondissement there
were deposits for public instruction to the amount of 8000 francs,
which had dwindled down to 2900 francs. Urbain confesses having
employed this money in helping persons compromised like himself. It is
certain that during the residence of the woman Leroy at the mayoralty
the expenses exceeded the sum allowed to Urbain. According to the
evidence of a domestic everybody tad recourse to this unfortunate
deposit, and it is stated in the instructions that the accused had left
by will to his son a sum of 4000 francs in bank notes and gold,
deposited in the hands of his aunt, Madame Danelair, while there is
clear proof that before the days of the Commune he did not possess a
sou. Madame Leroy herself, who came to the mayoralty without a penny,
was found in possession of 1000 francs, which she said were the results
of her savings. It appears from the statement of M. Laudon, inspector
of police, that the search made at his house resulted in the
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