Arrest and trial Hélène Brion

postcard issued l avenir social after brion s arrest

brion s home searched on 26 july 1917. little found apart pacifist writings , leaflets. however, position in cgt , militancy made natural target. georges clemenceau, become president of council in november 1917, wanted examples. brion arrested on 17 november 1917 , sent women s prison of saint lazare. smear campaign started in newspapers such le petit parisien , le matin. among other things accused of wearing trousers. national syndicalist journalist Émile janvion published undated pamphlet, in late 1917, titled le féminisme défaitiste (defeatist feminism). identified pro-peace feminist leaders such hélène brion, séverine, marguerite durand, hubertine auclert , nelly roussel, , wrote, history of defeatism, when known, demonstrate superabundantly feminism there merit, dare say, place of honor.

madeleine vernet organized defense committee hélène brion, secretary of board of workers orphanage l avenir social @ Épône. 2 weeks after brion had been arrested, vernet produced 30-page pamphlet presented case dreyfus affair. wrote, tissue of infamies came out hélène brion dangerous , suspicious character—anarchist, revolutionary, malthusian, anti-militarist, defeatist. ... word spy, not directly pronounced, visible between lines. vernet presented different picture of dedicated , generous person devoted helping children, women , workers. general assembly of militants held on 17 december 1917, issued manifesto in brion s favor , raised subscription.

brion during trial

brion first woman in france tried military tribunal during world war i. trial became cause célèbre, reported on front pages of national newspapers. trial took place in march 1918. charges based on law of 5 august 1914 prohibited publications give information enemy or exercise bad influence on mind of army , people. brion co-accused mouflard, soldier godson , suspected of having circulated pacifist propaganda @ front. debates lasted several days, , many witnesses brought defense. character witnesses included séverine, jean longuet, deputy , grandson of marx, marthe bigot, teacher said had distributed same material brion , therefore deserved same punishment, nelly roussel, vice president of union fraternelle des femmes , others. defense stated offending leaflets not illegal , had been openly circulated long time without authorities taking action. brion questioned validity of trial, saying,

i appear before court charged political crime; yet denied political rights. because woman, classified de plano country s laws, far inferior men of france , colonies. in spite of intelligence has been officially recognized recently, in spite of certificates , diplomas granted me long ago, before law not equal of illiterate black guadeloupe or ivory coast. can participate, means of ballor, in directing affairs of our common country, while cannot. outside law. law should logical , ignore existence when comes punishments, ignored when comes rights...

she went on first , foremost feminist. , because of feminism enemy of war. ... war represents triumph of brute strength, while feminism can triumph through moral strength , intellectual values.

the prosecution said pleases me state helene brion has generous heart, no 1 disputes that. reminded court brion s actions judged, not moral character, , insisted blind pacifism defeatism. brion s lawyer asked if court found guilty, should lenient: if made mistake, did without personal interest, mistaken out of goodness, nobility of soul. said had endured 4 months of harsh imprisonment in st. lazare, prison of thieves , prostitutes ... has weathered them courageously, gently. has largely expiated little of wrong reproach with.

the outcome mouflard given 6 months suspended sentence , brion 3 years suspended sentence.

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