The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-02-23
FACILITATING FRENCH.
M. Zola's Counsel Moves Them to
Enthusiasm.
AN INNOCENT MAN CONDEMNED.
NJ. Laborie vigorously Maintains That
Dreyfus was the Victim of n Treach-
erous Consplracy-Charges Dreyfus'
Prosecutors with Fraud.

lildl VI MIN. Ibld anu ItlltuAf III llt
allegations which the former brought in
The Aurore, published by the latter,
against the conduct of the Esterhazy
court martial. The assizes court itself
was thronged.
M. Laborie, counsel for M. lola, re-
sumed his argument for the defense.
He chronologically reviewed the case
from the arrest of Alfred Dreyfus,
pointing out that as Major Patty du
Clam had interdicted Nine. Dreyfus
from speaking the announcement of
his arrest, published in The Libre Pa
role and Eclair alone, must ave been
communicated by the ministry of war.
Continuing, M. Laborie charged The
Libre Parole and Eclair with lying in
regard to the guilt of Dreyfus and re-
ferred to Major Patty du CLAIMS attempt
to intimidate Dreyfus and to Major
Forzinetti's belief in the latter's inno-
cence. He also dealt with the court
martial's decision to conduct the trial
in secret, in spite of the protests of
the press. lie said his was the reason
of the unceasing protests in behalf of
Dreyfus.
Counsel for the defense Their declared
that eight months prior to the arrest
of Dreyfus the ministry of war pos
6tS6tu BllOlO6l dDIlS VI TIC DdItl Cpll o
tanning the expression, That scoundrel
of a D." and showing that a French
officer had relations with two foreign
military attaches. This document, NJ.
Laborie pointed out, did not refer to
Dreyfus, but, all the same, the culpa-
bility of Dreyfus was founded Upon it,,
and it was this document which the
yelled lady handed to Major Esterhazy,
the latter only surrendering it to the
minister for war on securing a receipt.
Referring to General MERCER, NJ. La
borie said: Maybe he is a brave SOL
der, but he is not familiar with great
affairs. In the abesnce of proofs he
substituted his own arbitrary impress
sion, and thus had an innocent man
condemned"
Counsel also asked why the document
referring to that scoundrel D. had
not been previously spoken Of, as the
defense could have brought into court
foreigners who disputed it's genuine
ness. The statement caused a commo-
ton in court, and the presiding Judge
interrupted counsel to say, I'VE would
not have heard them"
"If we did not summon them" con-
tinued M. Laborie, at was because we
wished to discuss between Frenchmen
dlOlt I'LL dlldlI SOlGly COHCeTUllB
Frenchmen. However opinions may
differ In this affair, in the hour of dan
ger we all show a solid front to the for
eigner."
Their denouncing the action of the
prosecution in having Dreyfus write
from dictation, ounse said: such a
trick proved the emptiness of the prose-
cution, for had they possessed proof Of
his guilt they would not a a re-
course to such theatrical effects. l have
all the papers concerning the affair. in
my hands, and 1 solemnly affirm that
there is nothing in them against Drey-
fus."
The statement made a commotion,
and there were marks of appreciation
among the public.
M. Laborie referred to the alleged
confession of Dreyfus to Captain Lee
brun-Renault, and remarked: IF a
written report of 1t exists Is was drawn
UP as an after thought, and I could
have proved it by witnesses had Cap
tain Lebrun-Renault testified"
Recalling Premier Meline's declara-
ton in the chamber of deputies, in re-
ply to ex-Minister Caviagnac that the
presentation of this report would open
the door for a revision of the trial, M.
AOld y CbuilStl Sdlu. ne ItlpIl WAS
not produced because the alleged con-
fession was neither possible nor prob
able"
M. Laborie then gave a moving de-
scription of the degradation of Dreyfus.
He recalled that amid the shouts of
death from the pittiless crowd, Drey-
fus had not ceased to cry "Vive la
France" and swear, upon the heads Of
his wife and children, that he was COM
pletely innocent. He only appealed
for one act of mercy-that the ministry
should continue the inquiry.
IF M. Meline did not produce the re-
port of Captain Lebrun-Renault 1t was
because the vehement protestation of
innocence Of Dreyfus troubled his mind,
and for the moment his sense of judicial
rectitude had prevailed over his con-
ception Of political consideration
"In order to obtain avowals," M. La
borie proceeded, "the prosecution went
to the point of fraud Did not Major
Patty du Clam say to Dreyfus, The
minister will receive you If you go to
confess?'" Thereupon counsel dwelt
upon Major Patty du CLAIMS interroga-
ton of Dreyfus, in which Dreyfus
agreed there was some resemblance in
the details of his writing and that of
the pOlptlfdu, pul llldlt ldhGu dllO-
gether, they were quite distinct.
Violent quarrels broke out in the
court room before adjournment. A
young officer insulted several Jews, and
demanded that they be expelled. Free
fights nsued in the Hobbies and pas
sages of the palais de justice as the
guards cleared the precincts.
After the court adjourned M. Laborie
received a veritable ovation, cries of
"Vive Laborie" mingling with counter
cries of "Vive l-armee" and "A bas lie
Juifs."
The widest efforts are being made
outside the court room to influence the
jurymen by threats or Establishments.
Yesterday each juryman received an
anonymous letter promising him the
sum of e40O $4,000 If M. lola should
be acquitted. The letters, of course,
animated from the same source as the
forgeries by which it was sought to
prove the existence of a Dreyfus syn
dictate.
Bucklen'siArnica SaIve.