The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-08
cp,cidi cable Despdfch 10 the Sun.

uo1eiIst ~Insuited BY the btreet CroNo-hain
-, r,,.,,,ni witness went be Admitted.
sp,ctai Cable Despatch TO THE Sun.
p,n,s Feb. THE trial OF NJ. Zola 10 to be a
80 and A trnvcsty upon justice. which theGov-
..n,ncnt. with the approval, apparently, OF the
e.tori,v NJ the French people, desires. The first
-. ,rocecdings brought out the fact that tho
49, witness whose testimony Is necessary to
80 zola's grave charges has been forbidden
,os,Ifv nv a decree OF the Ministerial Council.
Tho other essential witnesses who are unable to
.aLe refuge behind this outrageous decision
sa,o resortcd to the p~alpable subtcrfugo Of pre-
,.ndod illness in order to avoid the necessity OF
sailing the truth or perhaps perjuring them
.s,yes The lattor dcvice was so puerile that
A. nroceedings were suspended SO that the
sg,cial nhrsician might have an opportunity to
examine the interesting invalids and report
anon their condition, and the court will decide
to.morroy whether to compel their attendance.
The days session suficed. however, TO mako
4. n.rtectly clear that NJ. Zo!a will have no
genuine opportunity to defend himself by prov
Inc tho truth Of his allegations. It 10 equally
a,s.r that tho French Government will, In its
dilemma. never dare to treat him with severity
wh. IA condemned, as he probably will DO.
Every effort 10 making to minimize tho i'm
,o,,.nce of the case. Already there are some
s,on. NJ n popular reaction, which 10 inevitable
.ooner or later and which will speedily arrive IL
This rash champion Of the principles of justice 10
,.nt To a felon's cell. Tho secret desire Of the
French authorities, undoubtedly, 10 to get rid
40 tho case BY INJECTING q substantial fine. It 10
,e.lIy pitiable to contemplate tho embarrass-
mani into which tho Melino Cabinet will DO
thrown II NJ. lola should refuse to pay q fine
and elect to 60 to Jail.
Tho most aggravating feature Of to-day's pro-
ceedipRs is the manner In which the Paris press
IA treating the case. The reports that are spread
before the public tonight comprise, on the
whole, the most outrageous prostitution of the
profession Of journalism which the present day
has witnessed. They abound in distortion Of
facts, suppression Of the truth, and appeals to
public passion and prejudice to an extent that is
almost beyond belief. This thing in itself con-
atitutes ono Of the most alarming symptoms Of
this strange French crisis; and, finally, these
Nberty.loying Parisians, to the number Of q
thousand or more, when the defendant, rather
male. but dignihed and calm, walked out at the
close Of the session, crowded threateningly
around him and raised q storm Of Kisses and
snarling shouts of "Conspuez Conspuez ZolaI'
THE DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
vast gathering OF people assembled around
the Palace OF Justice this morning to witness
the arrival of NJ. lola. NJ. Henri Rochefort, the
editor Of tho In.ransiceant. arrived at IL
o'clock and received the first manifestation Of
popular displeasurei in cries of Conspirez!"
The arrival of NJ. lola at 1880 o'clock pro-
voked a storm OF bowls, Misses and cries OF IA
bas Zola." There were some counter cries of
"vive Zola," which moved the police to dispense
the crowd, which fed before the police in up
~roarious confusion.
The President of the Assizes opened the court
at midday and witnesses were Immediately
called. The courtroom was packed and quito O
large number OF brilliantly attired ladies were
present.
Procurator Van Cassel. in his opening state
ment, announced that the prosecution would be
limited to specified passages In n. Zola's letter
to President Faure, which was published in the
Aurore. The trial. he said. must not touch the
case of DreyfuB. who had been legally con-
demned. He asserted that there was 10 ground
for revision of the case Of Dreyfus. The present
case. he declared, was confined entirely to the
calumny which lola had uttered against the
Judges in the court-martial Of Dreyf"'.
NJ. Maitre Labor, counsel for M i. charged
the Ministers with a desire to withhold light
from the public. and declared that Dreyfus was
innocent. Proof OF his innocence. he added.
would be demonstrated despite the contention
Of all advocates to tho contrary. He protested
against the absence of witnesses. and intimated
that he might be compelled to demand the ad-
3ournment of the trial till the next sessions of
the Assizcs. He would not oppose the hearing
Of the case in camera. he said. IL such o course
were absolutely necessary.
The Judge read q number of excuses offered
by witnesses for their non.attendance. Ono of
these was from Nine. Boulancy, who pleaded i'll
health as An aXcusef for hcr ahaenca NM Iahori
and Clemenceau, for the defence. protested
against Nine. Boulancy's absence. declaring
that she possessed proofs OF the guilt Of Ester
hazy, who bad recovered his letters from her by
threatening her with death. The others who
sent excuses. practically refusing to attend,
were Gems. Boisdiffre and Mercier and Col.
Morel.
The handwriting experts. MN. Belhomme.
Varinard. and Couard, whom NJ. Zola in his let
Ter charged with fraud in connection with the
AsterhaZy case. claimed the right to intervene
% private prosecutors in the action. NJ. Labori.
counsel OF NJ. lola, opposed their claim. and was
upheld by the Court. The Court also sanctioned
the accused mans demand to prove eight points,
OF which the procuralor had already been mott
hea' apart from the phrases in the letter to
which the procurator had limited the indict-
ment, This decision is of the greatest i'm
p~ortance to NJ. Zola, as it will allow him to 20
INTO all the matters raised in his letter.
When tho list OF witnesses was read M. Labori
renounced his claim to call the members of the
two courts.martial.
The Court read n letter from tho Minister of
justice saying that Gen. Billot, Minister of
war. had not received the Cabinets authority
70 testify, and that he therefore would not ap-
pear.
hN'fresident Casimir-P erier wrote, excusinR
MS non'nppearance, AMI claiming tho Presi-
Dental privilege.
Major Patty de Clam. who had been summoned
ss a witness, refused to testify. pleading pro-
fessional secrecy.
A. Labor protested against the absence of
"i'nesses' especially OF Major de Clam, owing TO
ns acquaintance with the yelled lady whose
name mas been mentioned in connection with
tno case. The Court refused to agree with M. |
Laoorls arguments.
Aslhe counsel for the defence renewed these
protests the Court suspended the session in
ofuer 10 consider them. Eventually the decision
y .he court in the matter Of the protests was
ue'cfred until to morrow. The Court finally
toSe NJ O'Clock. Henri Rocheiort WAS accloimed