A motion despatched by Charles Adam, member for Flacq protesting against the “unparliamentary and highly improper language” the junior member for Port Louis, Gustave de Coriolis, made use of in the Council of Government on 8 August 1887 was like a firecracker as Mauritius experienced the first brush with political democracy after the first general election held in 1886.
The motion scheduled for debate at the Council meeting on 23 August 1887 referred to a previous meeting in the course of which Gustave de Coriolis bitterly complained about arguably a twisted reporting of a proceeding published in the newspaper Le Cernéen and in the same vein lashed out at the Editor Clare Bernard, stating he was a “dishonest and immoral individual”.
Adam’s motion stood no grounds, according to Coriolis’ Democrats supporters. They argued that at no time had the officer administering the Colony presiding over the meeting in the absence of the Governor tackled Coriolis for using objectionable language and that if a motion of censure was warranted, it ought to have been taken then.
Charles Adam belonged to the Reformist party that represented the oligarchy segment of the population whose interest was vigorously defended by Le Cernéen. His motion was labelled thus: “that the Council of Government protests energetically against and censures the unparliamentary and highly improper language which the junior member for Port Louis made use of at the last meeting of the Council in speaking of the Editor of Le Cernéen”.
Reacting strongly through the newspaper Le Progrès Colonial of 12 August, Coriolis made it known that he would not tolerate any vile propaganda and mud-slinging attacks targeting him and warned that he was determined by any means to deal rough and tough with his detractors.
“Il faut qu’on sache”, he said, “dans certains milieux que tant que je serai au Conseil, je tiendrai le fer chaud et ferai la chair fumer….”
“Quand on se trouve en présence de journalistes et d’ennemis dont quelques-uns emploient des procédés de cannibals”, he warned “on ne s’amuse pas pour les vaincre à jouer de la flûte et à contempler les astres. C’est le plus sûr moyen de se faire dévorer. Le seul procédé dont on doit user pour le réduire au silence, c’est celui que j’emploie…”
But on 23 August when the sitting was suspended for the recess and members were on their way to the lunch room, Dr Tollemache Wilbraham Arthur Edwards, who entered the Council of Government as a nominated member after his electoral defeat at Pamplemousses in 1886 by Charles Planel, alluded to the “conduite honteuse” displayed by Coriolis who he said was a coward taking advantage of parliamentary immunity to pour insults on his political adversaries.
“Coriolis est si lâche”, insisted Dr Edwards who went on to add that “qu’il n’a pas le courage de répéter en présence des personnes qu’il insulte , ce qu’il dit d’elles à la table du Conseil…”
Tensions began bubbling up. There followed an altercation. “Vous ne répéterez pas ce que vous venez de dire….”, burst out Coriolis showing his clenched fists.
“Oui, Monsieur”, replied back Dr Edwards: “vous êtes un misérable, un lâche…..”
Thereupon, Coriolis reacted instantly by throwing a punch in Dr Edwards’ face causing him to lose balance and fall on the floor. With his mouth bleeding, Dr Edwards stood up and tried to hit Coriolis who retaliated by delivering more punches. The next moment, both were down on the floor – « Les deux roulèrent sur le parquet corps-à-corps ». Dr Edwards found himself underneath Coriolis and seemed running short of breath; Edgar Antelme, the member for Rivière du Rempart and the Protector of Immigrants, had a hard time trying to pull the two honourable members apart. Dr Edwards, on being freed from the grip of Coriolis, stood up “tout meurtri”.
Dr Edwards, on leaving Government House by the back door to reach his coach on the parking, challenged Coriolis to fight a duel with him. It was not Dr Edwards but Boyer de la Giroday who showed himself up to confront Coriolis the day after. In a provocative tone, he told Coriolis to stop being insolent – “Ce n’est pas avec moi que vous ferez votre rodomont”, Giroday warned. A hot-tempered Coriolis then hit him hard in the face cutting his lips.
“Le soufflet que j’ai donné à M. de la Giroday”, claimed Coriolis, “devient un soufflet historique qui l’immortalisera dans les annales de l’histoire coloniale….”
Giroday ordered his coach driver to fetch him his pistol…
