The herald., 1898-02-23
M. LABORIE'S ADDRESS
DRAWS A CROWD OF EXCITED
FRENCHMEN
NO PROOF OF DREYFUS' GUILT
One Point Persistently Proclaimed.
The Speech an Effective One and
Well Received
Associated Press Special Wire

PARIS. Feb. 22.-The precincts and lob
bies of the Palace of Justice were deserted
today, the fourteenth of the trial of NM.
Zola and Perrieux for the allegations which
the former brought in the Aurore, pub
lished by the latter, against the conduct of
the Esterhazy court-martial The assizes
court itself was thronged.
M Laborie, counsel tor NJ Zola, resumed
his argument for the defense. He chron-
ologically reviewed the case from the ar
rest Of Alfred Dreyfus, pointing out that
as Major Patty de Clam interdicted Dreyfus
from speaking, the announcement of his
arrest published by the Libre Parole and
Eclaire must have been communicated by
the ministry for war.
Continuing, NJ. Laborie charged the Libre
Parole and Eclaire with lying in regard to
the guilt of Dreyfus, and referred to Ma
Jor Patty du CLAIMS attempt to intimidate
Dreyfus and to Major Forzinettis belief
in the latter's innocence He also dealt
with the court-martials decision to con-
duct the trial In secret. in spite of the pro-
tests of the press. He said this was the
reason of the unceasing protests in behalf
of Dreyfus, (which troubled all high
minded PERSONS, adding: 1.-The strength
of those of our adversaries who are acting
in good faith lies in their belief that the
whole affair was conducted with justice
and legality, but the facts do not bear out
this belief" (Murmurs)
Counsel for the defense then declared
that eight months prior to the arrest OF
Dreyfus the ministry of war possessed
photographs of the paper containing tho
expression, THAT scoundrel of d,
and showing that French officer had re.
lations with two foreign military attaches
This document, Nj. Laborie pointed out
did not refer to Dreyfus, but, all the same
the culpablity of Dreyfus was founded
upon 1t, and it was the document which
the yelled lady handed to Major Esterhazy
the latter only surrendering it to the min
lister of war on securing receipt.
Referring to Gen. MERCER, M. Laborit
said: maybe he Is a brave soldier, but he
is not familiar with great affairs. In the
absence of proofs he substituted his owr
arbitrary impression, and thus had an in
nocent man condemned"
Counsel, after reading an account of the
court-martial, added: "I have all the pa
pers concerning the affair in my hands
and l solemnly affirm that there is nothing
in them against Dreyfus. l pledge you my
honor, gentlemen, that there is no proof
against Dreyfus."
M. Laborie then gave moving descrip-
ton of the degradation of Dreyfus. He
recalled that amid calls of DEATH" from
the pitiless crowd, Dreyfus had not ceased
to cry, "Vive La France!' and swear upon
the heads of his wife and children that he
was completely innocent.
"Dreyfus," M. Laborie asserted, "only
appealed for one act of mercy-that the
ministry should continue the inquiry
(Commotion.)
After this NJ Laborie read a series of let
ters written by Dreyfus to counsel and tc
his family, in which the prisoner always
demanded that the real culprit should be
sought, and added: IF M. Meline did not
produce the report of Capt Lebrun- Re-
nault, 1t was because the vehement pro.
testations of innocence of Dreyfus troubled
his mind and for the moment his sense OF
judicial rectitude had prevailed over his
conception of, political consideration
(Commotion.)
After the court adjourned M. Laborie
received veritable ovation, cries of "Vive
Laborie! mingled with counter-cries OF
"Vive iArmee!' and "a bas les Juifsr
The public emerged from the court in a
state of excitement, but there was no dis
order.
M. Laborie will continue his address to-
morrow.
BRIBING THE JURY
LONDON, Feb. 22.-The Paris CORE
spondent of the Daily News says: The
greatest efforts are being made outside the
court room to influence the jurymen by
threats or Establishments. Yesterday
CTuesday) each juryman received an an
onymous letter promising the sum of fouI
houndred pounds ($2OOO) if M. Zola should
be acquitted. The letters, of course,
emanated from the same source as the for
geries by which it was ought to prove the
existence of a Dreyfus syndicate.
NJ. lola throughout the day was cool and
collected. l can vouch from personal as
surance that he is quite Indifferent as to
the result of the trial SO far as his own per-
son is concerned. Several of his intimate
friends, as well as his wife, would not be
sorry if he were condemned to three
months imprisonment, as that would be
an apt conclusion of one of the most dra-
matte trials of the century
Popular passion against him has been
famed TO such a fury that an acquittal
would make his position most uncomfort-
able, while If he were sentenced TO i'm
prisonment, popular opinion would per-
haps soften and relent.
The final daring and eloquent passage of
M. Laborie's speech evoked an outburst of
applause lasting nearly thirty minutes
His friends rushed forward to congratulate
him. M Zola, who was terribly excited,
threw his arms around M. Laborie's neck
and kissed him.
Meanwhile violent quarrels broke out in
the court room after M. Laborie's mention
of Pontius Plate as "the name which oc-
cupies in history the most humilating
place." Somebody exclaimed "after that of
Judas" The whole audience yelled "Ju-
das," and a young officer insulted several
Jews and demanded that they be expelled.
Free fights ensued in the lobbies and pas
sage of the Palais de Justice as the guards
cleared the precincts.
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