The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-09
oRFoLK yIRGINIAN: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY O. 1898
animus or fear, and to speak the truth


ana nothing but the truth
nj. Caslmir-Perier. at this point, Ia
terrupted the Judge, saying:
PARDON me. ! cannot swear to tell
the truth, because cannot do so. 1t Is
my duty not to tell It,"
This statement caused n commotIon
among the audience. The presiding
Judge resumed:
The law compels you, before even
speaking or refusing to testify, to take
the oath"
M. Casimir-Perler then submitted,
raised his hand and took the oath.
Can you say" asked NJ. I,aborie, "if
when you were president you knew be-
fore his arrest that n stan officer was
suspected of treason. and that charges
had been made against him?"
The presiding Judge interviewed, cay
ing:
You cannot ask that question"
Counsel for NJ. Zola then put another
question to NJ. Casimir-Pericr, saying:
did NJ. Casimir-Perlcr know that a
secret file OF papers existed at the war
ministry"
II was not aware OF file of papers
concerning Major Esterhazy," was the
reply.
Did you." continued NJ. Laborie,
know that a secret document was
handed TO the court -martinl?"
You cannot ask that question" in
tcrrup.ed the presiding Judge
II do not know any facts subsequent
to my presidency, said NJ. Casimir-Per-
Ter. 81 can only speak as n private citi-
zen. which l am willing to do"
NJ. II1boric Mere made a formal appli-
cation "in the interests OF Justice" that
his previous questions be allowed to be
put. The judges after dclberating on
the matter refused TO allow the uucs-
tions.
NJ. de Castro, a banker, was then
examined He declared he recognized
the identity of the handwriting OF
Major Estcrhazy aS that of the writer
OF the bordereau. The witncse revealed
this discovery to Matthew Dre yfus. and
he added, had since received Il number
Of threatening letters.
The court then rose amid great ex-
citcment and shouts for and against
Zola. There was n big crowd outside
the lower court, and as the people were
leaving the building n man cried "Vlve
Iola," Down with France" He was
Immediately arrested. tremendous
rush followed. NJ. Zola. on emerging
from the jury door was recognized and
obliged to return and seek refuge in the
robing rooms, the doors OF which were
then locked.
| The crowd remained outside yelling
"Conspuez Zoln," etc, led by number
of young barristers in their robes, who
roughly handled NJ. Zola's sympathizer.
until a detachment of Republican
guards cleared the approaches TO the
court. NJ. Zola then emerged, pale and
trembling. and the moment he appeared
on the stairs leading to the court-y ard
there was an immense clamor and
shouts OF "Down with Zola," Long live
Zola," and Death to Zola," the last
cry dominating the others. The novel
ist. with his few friends. mad difficulty
in keeping his feet amid the surgng
crowd.
In the meantime. the police, misun-
darstand!ng their orders. closed the
gates, and NJ. ZolI thus found himself
inside the courtyard surrounded by 4
bowling, threatening mob. The police
were powerless and for moment It
looked ae though he would be lynched
with the friends who formed his body
guard.
His friends rallied around him and
eventually the gates were re-opened and
III police, having been reinforced es.
corted NJ. Iola to the street, while the
majority Of III mob was confined IN
the courtyard. shrieking thrcate
against the novelist who eveneually en-
tered can ana drove quickly away
The women in the crowd were espe-
cinlly violent. y man who chcered foi
Zola was set upon by n mob OF people
who hustled him to the st. Michaele
bridge, where they tried to throw him
into the river Seine, but the police
were reinforced and saved him
The crowd remaining in the court.
yard greeted NJ. Rochefort's exit with
| great cheers OF S'Vive rArmee," anG
"Vive Ia France" They were even.
! tually dispersed.