COURT SCENE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 9

COURT SCENE.

CHEERS FOR ACCUSED Conspirators Sentenced In Alsace. i MANY FREE FIGHTS. ("Times" Cables.) LONDON, May 25. The Paris correspondent of the "Times" says four leaders of the Alsatian autonomist party have been convicted of conspiracy against the State and sentenced to one year's imprisonment and five years' banishment from Alsace. They are Ricklin and Rosse, who were recently elected to the Chamber of Deputies at the general election, and Able and Fasschauer.

Eighteen others were acquitted. Counsel for accused pleaded for the abolition of the "war psychology," which, he said, prevented a friendly international understanding.

Scenes of disorder marked the close of the trial. Many persons stood on the benches cheering the accused men and shouting "Vive Bicklin! Vive Rosse!" The persons who had been acquitted joined in the demonstration of sympathy with those who had been sentenced, and shook their fists at the jury.

The gendarmes had difficulty in-clear-ing the Court, and the excitement continued outside. The counsel for the defence was carried shoulder-high through the streets. A meeting passed a resolution demanding the release of t.he four convicted men, who have decided to appeal. Crowds remained in the streets' until late at night, and there were many free lights.

The trial of 22 autonomists and separatists of Alsace-Lorraine began at Colmar on May 2. It was alleged that they sought to undermine French authority by meann of propaganda financed from Germany, and that they even attempted to equip a secret military force. Only 15 of the accused were present in Court. The others escaped to Germany, and were tried in their _ absence. The chief defendant, Dr. Ricklin, was elected to the French Chamber of Deputies by a large majority. He was a member of the Reichstag before the war. Another of the accused, Joseph Rosse, represents Colmar in the Chamber of Deputies. Only these two speak French well. The indictment therefore was translated into the German tongue.. The accused included one woman. In his evidence, Dr. Ricklin declared he did not wish Alsace to be detached from France. No one in Alsace-Lorraine wanted a change in its political status or a return to Germany. But they did not wish to be assimilated, nor did they want the particularities of their country to be touched.