New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-08
ZOLA'S TRIAL BEGUN.
r,rE, NOVELIST APPEARS TO ANSWER
THE CHARGES MADE BY GEN
ERAL BILLOT.
,o1.Es COUNSEL MAKES AN APPEAL TO THE
oo,-RT-A CROWD PREsE>T-PUBLIc OPINION
DIVIDED. But THE MAJORITY IN FA-
VOR or THE ARMY.

DIVIDED.
voR OF THE ARMY.
paris Feb The trial Of NJ Emile Zola and
\, Perreux manager of the "Aurore." who are
,s,ng prosecuted by the Government astheresult
o,a letter which the novelist caused to be pub
ushed in the "Aurore' in December last strong
" rejecting upon high officials connected with
,he Dreyftls case. opened to-day in the Assizes
Court Of the Seine. NJ. Zola was represented by
N Iaborie and NJ. Perreux was defended by NJ.
rremerCeau The keenest public interest was
manifested In the case. Hundreds of people sur
ronnded the court. anxious to gain admittance.
Tho nolce measures taken to Insure order were
most rigorous.
The crowds increased in number ali the morn
,rs The arrival of Henri Rochefort was the
s,snal for shouts Of "Vive Rochefort!' and coun-
,nr cries # A has Rochefort" Turning in the
a,actIon of the hostile cries NJ. Rochefort shout
-. "1t would seem that with four Of you at Ave
,,orcs apiece the Dreyfus syndicate will not be
ruined"
THE CROWD HOOTs ZOLA
n Zola who arrived in a carriage shortly
.,s,vard. was greeted with vehement shouts of
.co,snuez Zola." An individual who shouted
ovive Zola." was promptly hustled and sup
pressed
The proceedings commenced AT ] p. m, under
-, nras,dercv Of NJ Delegorgue, who
rounced that the court would be cleared II
.sa-a WAS any demonstration. Although the
oou-t was thronged. quiet was maintained ow-
inc 70 the knowledge that company of Re-
,ubl,can Guards had been placed at the dis
ross, of the Judge 10 preserve order.
While the jury was being selected NJ. Hola
.,tered the dock He was pale, and few
voIo SUPPRESSED
hv the vigorous protests of the majority of the
audience.
af,er the reading Of the indictment the Advo-
ca,a-General explained that the charge was
strictly limited 10 the passage in NJ Zola S let
,e- denouncing the Esterhazy court-martial.
zo1As COUNSEL APPEALS TO THE COURT.
Counsel for NJ Zola deposited with the Court
written applications requesting the Court to
ordor the subposnaed witnesses TO appear. Re
earding Colonel Patty de Clam, the application
charges him with Illegal acts in the Dreyfus
and Fsterhazy affairs. claiming that If these
acts are proved III court the good faith OF the
accused man will he demonstrated, and that,
therefore. Colonel Patty de Clam should be com
nelled 10 testify. without prejudice TO the right
Of the appellants TO demand the pcstponemeht
Of the trial 10 later sessions II necessary NJ
Iaborie further affirmed that he was prepared
% show that certain letters alleged 10 have
been sent by veiled lady prejudicing Colo
mel PicQuart emanated from one of Colonel
Patty de CLAIMS own friends, and not from
Colonel Picquart. The counsel was whIlhs
that Colonel Patty de CLAIMS evidence should De
given behind closed doors, If necessary Another
application called for the appearance OF Gen
erals MERCER and Boisdeffre and others II de-
clares that they have no right to absent them
selves on the plea that their evidence is not
necessary as that is for the Court and not Tor
them 10 decide.
The Acknowledgement said 1t was imperative
to prevent the proceedings from wandering ana
thus playing into the hands Of the accused
whose aim is 10 get a revision Of the Dreyfus
affair by circuitous route
AT this tuncture three experts in handwriting.
who were charged in NJ Zola's letter with max
ing fraudulent reports asked permission to ap-
pear in the action as private prosecutors. But
NJ Labore. counsel for NJ Zola. objected. and
the Court upheld him. In regard to the limita-
ton Of the scope Of the trial, the Court decided
10 allow the accused TO call evidence in support
OF the other charges contained in his letter, IN
cuding the accusations which he made against
Colonel Patty du Clam, and Generals Mercier,
Boisdeffre. Billot and Peleux.
After reading the names Of the witnesses sum-
NJ.
Of excu.e including a letter from the Minister
OF Justice VI. Darlan announcing that the Min
lister Of War; General Billot, had not received
the authority of the Cabinet to testify NJ Dele
gorgue also read letter from ex-President
Casimir Perier saying he could not testify except
to facts subsequent to his Presidency.
WITNESS REFUSES TO TESTIFY.
Colonel Patty du Clam was then called and re-
fused TO testify NJ. Labore urged the impor-
tance Of hs testimony, adding that unless the
Court ordered the witness TO testify he might pe
compelled to demand an adjournment untl the
next sessions. Counsel also said he was not
prepared 10 oppose a secret trial. if It was abso-
lutely necessary. NJ. Iaborie also said that the
allegation that the matter they were discussing
was connected with state secrets and the ma
tonal defence was d mere joke. The Advocate
General thereupon protested against the ma
tonal defence being called Joke, TO which
M Laborie hotly replied that he would permit
no one, not even the Advocate-General, 10 cast
suspicion upon his patriotism. Cheers)
Addressing the jury NJ Laborie said; The
proof We wish n show you is so striking that
cur opponents are making efforts to prevent It's
becoming known. Nevertheless, If it is neces-
sary, will declare 1t alone, without witnesses
II fan Drevfus Will remain in the galleys,
where he was placed by law expressly Maue
or him" violent protests) NJ. Lahore III
sisted that the judges Of Dreyfus shouiu give
evidence. and that Mime. Boulancy. "hom Ho'a
had summone but who has declined 10 appear
on the ground Of III health, should also tes''S'
urging that she be ordered to appear IL heces
sary. Counsel added that Nine BouiancS' III
addition 10 the notorious Uhlan letter PoS-
sessed letters from Major Esterhazy ou'i"se
ously insulting the French Army when hao no'
been published NJ Laborle, In his appNc@tioi'
for subpoena for Mime. Boulancy' saio' Inc
appellants have ascertained that COME rs'e'
hazy has thrice written TO her menaclhe heI
with death should she surrender the documents
with the result that Nine Boulancy mas ie't he'
home and concealed her ne" ADDRESS. As '"'