[ASSASSINAT DE VICTOR NOIR] Affaire du Prince Pierre-Napoléon Bonaparte

Rare first edition of this virtuoso plea in defence of Prince Pierre Bonaparte (1815-1881), first cousin of the Emperor, in the case of the assassination of the journalist Victor Noir [Yvan Salmon], which took place on 10 January 1870 and caused an immense scandal.

According to the CCF [Catalogue Collectif de France], copies are held only at the BnF, Compiègne and Versailles.

Smooth spine, unlettered, small corner losses to the boards, some foxing.

The High Court of Justice, the only body empowered to try a prince of the Emperor's family, convened at Tours on 21 March 1870 and heard counsel for the civil party recall the accused's unfortunate past record (he was said to have been guilty of two murders during his stay in the Papal States between 1834 and 1836); he was nonetheless acquitted, though ordered to pay costs and a pension to the Noir [Salmon] parents. The advocate Emile Le Roux truly deploys treasures of ingenuity to present an acceptable version of the facts held against his client.

Autograph inscription signed by Emile Le Roux to the former minister Odilon Barrot (1791-1873), who had retired from political life since 1851.