Show I 1 PUN punishment INFLICTED ON A FRENCH PRIVATE t was accused of murdering wife of banker military degradation in iii prance france an impressive but sad spectacle george s marie graby you ire arc unworthy to bear arms this short sharp sentence was heard in the barracks square ou on the boulevard mortier on the eastern extremity of parts paris at 8 a m the other morning granby the murderer of ammo gouin the widow of the well known ban hanker ketto to whom these words were addressed appeared in the uniform of the ordinary infantry f private rather smarter than most of his fellows but looking deathly white two minutes later he was marched arched in back to the barracks with his uniform in rags his bis back bent his head hanging low a sorry looking piece of humanity 31 A military degradation in france carried out in accordance with the exact regulations of the law is alwa always r rs an impressive though essentially sad spectacle I 1 it t was not surprising therefore that a large crowd gathered near the porte des lilas that morning soon after breakfast having heard beard the announcement no that the ile degradation gradation was for eight in the morning special detachments of all the services I 1 represented lit ill the garrison of paris were on parade and at eight at trumpet call they formed a hollow square the colonel in command gave the order shoulder arms and then graby was peen een coming from one of the buildings marching slowly but with some composure and with a guard of four infantrymen the guard accompanied him to the middle of the arms and then made three stops steps backward leaving graby in shameful solitude the cynosure of neighboring eyes tiie the officers were drawn up on horseback in front of him the colonel gave orders to the bugler and once more the high notes rang out then a sergeant stepped up to within a pace of oc graby and read out the judgment of the court martial condemning graby to death and the presidential ident ial decree commuting ills his sentence the proclamation began in t the h name ot of we french people and the sergeant concluded by makin making the usual announcement this judgment has been read aloud before the condemned damned man and before the troops assembled under arms at this col lecaille Leja ille who had bad dismounted stepped up lip and addres addressed ged grab graby are unworthy to bear arms in the name of th the e law we d degrade e ra you tho the adjutant then tore aw away ay the buttons from the uniform the strap from the kept kepi and all other decora eions including the epaulettes epaul ettes the bugle was heard once more and the saino fialo four privates private who wh 0 had led graby out of the barracks led him back again prompt punishment of a liar years ago the courthouse in san Pran francisco cisco fronted the old plaza A trial rial was in progress and counsel for the defendant was cross examining the plaintiff an earthquake shook the chandeliers and dislodged some of the belling cel ling judge jurors witnesses and spectators rushed for the door but finding that tile the seismic disturbance was over they returned you can proceed with the cross examination of the witness I 1 said the judge pardon m me c your honor bonor said counsel for tile the defendant but after the exhibition of the displeasure of the almighty at the lies this witness was telling I 1 do not care to further invoke divine wrath I 1 will ask him no more questions |