Palace of Justice (Port-au-Prince). The correctional tribunal sits there and acquits Petit Louis and Dorival.

“Having seen the order rendered on 8 November last by the chamber of council of this jurisdiction, which sends the persons named Petit Louis and Dorival before the correctional tribunal sitting at Port-Républicain, there to be tried on the charge of wilful wounds inflicted on sailors of the French warship Le Génie; which order was duly served on the accused by writ of the court usher, Philippe Souchin, dated the 2nd instant. Having seen the various documents of the proceedings and the deposition of two witnesses at the hearing of this day. Having heard citizen Trichet, substitute of the government commissioner at this tribunal, in his oral submissions, as well as the accused in their means of defense; these presented both by themselves and by citizen Joseph Zamor, counsel for the accused Petit Louis.

“Whereas nothing in the proceedings proves that the accused inflicted wounds on the sailors of the French vessel on 27 August last; that, if it is true that the said sailors received bruises and wounds, this was only when the crowd had thrown itself upon them with sticks and stones, on the occasion of the brawl that had taken place between Dorival, the State’s mason, and the French sailor Noulleau. That, although it is stated in the deposition from the brig that Dorival had struck Noulleau a blow with a stick on the side without any provocation, it is also established by the examination before the investigating judge that Dorival received a severe bruise on the left arm;

“Whereas the accused maintains that he had not had time to return upon the sailor Noulleau the kick he had received, and that he was nevertheless at once set upon by the French sailors present at the brawl, which forced the laborers of the waterfront to take his side.

“That these facts have not been contradicted either by the documents of the case or by the witnesses, whence it follows that there is against the accused neither crime, nor misdemeanor, nor contravention.

“For these reasons, the Tribunal annuls the investigation, the summons and all that has followed from them, and dismisses the accused from court and from the proceedings, in conformity with article 175 of the Code of Criminal Instruction.