The Evening Telegraph

FRANCE.

Pierre Bonaparte Declared Not Guilty—His Indignation at not Being Immediately Released—Astonishment of the Parisians at the Verdict.

Paris, March 26.—The Procureur-General made his argument in the High Court of Tours to-day. He opened his discourse with an energetic denunciation of the political party to which Victor Noir belonged, and made frequent allusions to the Marsellaise—a journal, he said, "full of blame."

Nearly all the evidence for the prosecution was set aside by the Procureur, who, however, demands the condemnation of the Prince because the shooting was not done in self-defense. The Prince was much excited during the delivery of this argument. Messrs. Laroux and Demange, counsel for the defense, both denounce the Marseillaise. The Court will meet again at noon to-morrow, when the verdict is expected.

Tours, March 27.—Prince Pierre Bonaparte has been acquitted in spite of the strong appeal made by the Procureur-General for a verdict of guilty with extenuating circumstances. The jury was out only one hour. As soon as the verdict was announced the counsel for the partie civile demanded 100,000 francs damages, and in consequence of this demand the Prince was not released from custody. He was exceedingly indignant because he was not allowed to leave the court-room instantly, and said he wished to show that he was not afraid of the menaces against his life.

Paris, March 27. The news of the acquittal of Prince Bonaparte produces everywhere an immense sensation and astonishment, and is the universal topic of conversation.

In their closing arguments the lawyers for the defense laid great stress on the constant and violent denunciation of the Prince in the Marseillaise, and on other circumstances calculated to exasperate the accused.