Glad Madman

Such a trial as could revolve only around a fanatic vortexed in Paris last week around Dr. Paul Gorgulov who was caught red-handed assassinating the President of the Republic, Paul Doumer (TIME, May 16). The strange proceedings so fascinated a group of young French lawyers that they stealthily occupied the press box one day when it was vacant, tried to hold it against the furious assaults of newshawks, had to be ousted by the police.

"I did not shoot Paul Doumer!" cried the prisoner (who in French courts may interrupt at any time). "I shot the President of the Republic of France! France listen to me! . . . When I came to France I saw people living in security and plenty and I thought of millions of Russian peasants groveling out their lives in starvation and misery. . . . My crime is a protest in the name of the enslaved Russian people. ..."

"But didn't you know," interrupted Presiding Justice Eugene Dreyfus, "that the French President does not direct the policies of the country?" "I always read in the papers." replied Assassin Gorgulov humbly, "that he presided at Cabinet meetings and that he was called the Head of the State so I thought he directed the policies of France."

Though the prosecution adduced evidence that Dr. Gorgulov was a bigamist and had squandered the $1,600 dowry of his small, red-faced, fourth wife, she testified stanchly in his behalf last week. "He has always," she explained sobbing, "been so good to me! A few days before this --this--happened he took me to a movie. There was a newsreel in it of President Doumer and my husband applauded. I just can't imagine why he killed him!"

Dr. Gorgulov argued violently and professionally with the alienists. "You should have given me the Wasserman test!" he reproached one defense alienist and approved only the testimony of prosecution alienist Dr. Logre who said:

"The tendency to regicide has not been rare in the past 20 years, and if I say Gorgulov is entirely sane, then many I have had to shut up should be free."

This rather mystical testimony appeared to touch Russian Gorgulov deeply. "There!" he cried. "There stands the only man in France who understands me!"

The prosecution, obviously afraid that the jury would be moved by Dr. Gorgulov's outbursts, at least to the point of judging him insane, concentrated on attempts to picture him as a former Bolshevik terrorist. "He is the Rasputin of the Russian refugees." summed up Chief Prosecutor Donat Guigue. "He is a wild beast!"

"The soul of Gorgulov." Dr. Gorgulov had previously observed, "is not available to Communist gold. Never! I didn't like the Bolsheviks any more than I liked Tsardom which betrayed my country. My sympathies were with Kerensky."

For the defense Maitre Marcel Roger and Maitre Henri Geraud argued quietly that it was the sufferings of Russians under the Soviet regime which motivated Dr. Gorgulov to kill M. Doumer whom he held responsible for the existence today of trade & diplomatic relations between Russia and France.

"Gorgulov," queried Presiding Judge Dreyfus, "have you anything further to say in your defense?"

"Kill me! Kill me!" screamed the Russian, tearing his collar from his neck and wrenching his shirt open. "Kill me as you killed my country! ... I am committing suicide. I am glad to leave this earth!

"The world catastrophe will kill you," finished Gorgulov. "It will kill your children. You will be slaves! I have always been unhappy."

Retiring in good order the French jury pondered. What was this Gorgulov? They had heard the testimony of a German inventor, a man who makes rockets, hopes to shoot one to the moon. He had testified that, several years ago, Dr. Gorgulov volunteered to be shot to the moon, declaring at the time, "I detest this earth!"

Frenchmen are practical. After deliberating for 29 minutes the jury sent the fantastic Russian to the guillotine. His head will be sliced off next month.

"I salute you!" cried Dr. Gorgulov on hearing the jury's verdict. "I die a hero to myself and to my friends. Vive la France! Vive la Russia! I love you unto death."

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