TREASON TRIAL
Accused Indignant
(Rec. 7.30 p.m.) RONDON. Jan. 24. Charles Maurras, the 77-year-old Royalist leader, a member of the Academy and political director of the extreme Right Wing paper “Action Francaise,” shouted at the president and beat the dock rail in impassioned indignation at the court procedure when his trial opened in Lyons on charges of collaboration. Maurras refused to answer when accused of denouncing the present Foreign Minister, M. Bidault, declaring: “I am as much a resister as anyone.” Crowds flocked to the court, which was packed when Maurras and his 73-year-old assistant, Maurice Pujo, who is editor of “Action Francaise” stepped into the dock. This is regarded as one of the most important treason trials since liberation. Maurras is stone deaf, and a warder stood beside him shouting the court’s questions at the top of his voice.
Maurras violently denied collaboration or “the abominable charge of treason.” Witnesses were called after the inaugural questioning, but only a few answered their names. Maurras’ anger increased as the trial progressed. At one stage he shouted “humbug” at the prosecuting counsel. He declared that he had been anti-German all his career, and then read a 193-page document to the court, which then adjourned.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19450126.2.91
Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23110, 26 January 1945, Page 6
Word Count
203TREASON TRIAL Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23110, 26 January 1945, Page 6
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