POTTER United Families

He also used the letters to show Louis' true character was quite
opposite from the dismal portrait the government wished to ·paint:
“a wild ambitious without faith nor religion." All the defendants were
accused of "causing public troubles and anarchy in public opinion”.
Gendebien, on the other hand, speaking in defense of Louis, said that
the real goal of the prosecution was to destroy his popularity: “The
main goal of the trial against Louis is to counter his popularity gained
because of the government not being wise nor careful.”
Given the mood of the king and his ministers, a sentence was
preordained. The men were found to have engaged in seditious
activity and sentenced on April 30, 1830.
Coche-Mommens and Vanderstraeten received lesser sentences, the
other four were exiled. Louis was banished for eight years, plus eight
years of surveillance; Tielemans and Bartels banished for seven years,
with seven years of surveillance, de Neve, for five years each. The
defendants were also fined.
In sentencing two Liberals, Louis and Tielemans, and two Catholics,
de Neve and Bartels, the King punished both parties. Unfortunately
for William, the sentences not only increased the popularity of all the
men, it extended Louis' renown to the lowest classes ·of Belgium.
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