THE BOLO TRIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 25

THE BOLO TRIAL.

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE. (By Cable.) Bolo's trial in Paris was opened in the same court in the Palais de Justice as that in which Madam Caillaux was acquitted. 8010 appeared to be somewhat aged by his imprisonment, but showed an unconcerned attitude. The court was crowded. Bolo's counsel asked for an adjournment in order to bring Mr Hearst from America as a witness, with a view to proving that Pavenited, who was now in prison in New York for treason, wrote the telegrams accusing 8010 at Bernstorff'e instigations. The court ordered the trial to proceed, deciding that the witness was unnecessary. The president of the court announced that Casuallinie, now imprisoned in Italy, admitted that he had remitted 2,150,000 francs from Xemil Pasha. The examination of Porchere, who- is accused of being Bolo's accomplice, was then commenced. Porchere eaid that he was "a fool, but no traitor." He only received 200 francs for his Swiss journey. 8010, being interrogated, said he thought there; was no harm in having relations with Sadik Pasha or Abbas Hilmi; everyone knew of it. Bolo's indictment states that after the battle of the Marne Germany, finding no longer hope of success by a sudden attack, desired a rapprochement with France, in order to be able to defeat Britain. It was necessary to prepare public opinion for a separate peace, and Bolo's mission was, by means of cleverly-disseminated reports, to show that Germany was prepared to make large sacrifices in money to create pessimism, in order to cause confusion and disturb the patriotic agreement between the French political parties. The indictment also stated that 8010 lost a fortune of £1,200,000, and apparently sought and received money from German sources. Bolo's defence was that he was the victim of a plot. Pressed regarding his monetary transactions with the ex-Khedive of Egypt,' he stated that the ex-Khedive .got into deep water, and he (Bolo) lent him 1,000,000 fr for his abdication. Regarding the £400,000 which he received from New York, he declared that the money was his, and he invested it in Antwerp and Hamburg before the war, in order to escape the threatened in«ome tax in France. 8010 maintained an attitude of Munchausenique audacity. He declared that he was associated with the ex-Khedive solely to induce him to abdicate, and added : " He placed his Crown at my disposal." 8010, when cornered, declared that the hostile witnesses were lia.rs. He claimed that he "still possessed a fortune of £560,000, but it was useless for the prosecutor to try to trace it. The indictment against 8010 delineates him as a fascinating libertine, a cajoling feline philanderer, bigamist, gambler, extravagant liver, and unscrupmous business adventurer. He conquered women with his silken moustaches and fondling eye, and won their devotion despite his cruelty and infidelity. He imposed upon business men by his "clever, cvnical audacity and selfconfidence. Alter bigamously marrying the rich widow of a Bordeaux wine merchant, he launched into life with wild business speculations and social pretensions. He promoted businesses in various parts of the world, but all failed. Several witnesses described 8010 Pasha's princely manner of living at Biarritz, whence the Government was ramoved to Paris. Owing to popular suspicions Madame 8010 took up Red Cross work at the outbreak of war. A doctor gave evidence as to Bolo's astounding conversations, in which 8010 said that France was only prosperous when colonised by Germans. He referred to the outrages by Germans in the north of France as beneficial, and that they would make an excellent mixture, which would improve the race. » The court resounded with murmurs of indignation. At the trial of 8010 " Pasha," M. Bouchardon produced a remarkable series of secret service reports and coded telegrams, showing that 8010 tried to extend his intrigues to England for a purpose not yet fully disclosed, but apparently either to influence the press or effect a reconciliation between the Government and Abbas Hilmi (ex-Khedive of Egypt), to prevent the sequestration of the latter's property. 8010 visited London in February, 1915, and attempted overtures through' a Mr Robertson, Avho has not yet been identified, but who peremptorily rejected them. Von Jagow had just previously promised 8010 £50,000 monthly for 10 months, for the purchase of French newspapers to carry on a pacifist propaganda, but the plan failed. It is suggested that 8010 contemplated repeating it in Britain. A telegram he addressed to Cavallini shows that Mr Robertson snubbed him.