The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-23
FACILITATING FRENCH,
M. Zola's Counsel Moves Them to
Ipxs,as.a... Enthusiasm. .,.,
AN INNOCENT MAN CONDEMNED.

AN INNOCENT MAN CONDEMNED.
NJ. Laborie vigorously Maintains That
Dreyfus Was the Victim of Treach-
erous Conspiracy-Charge Dreyfus'
Prosecutors With Fraud.
Paris. Feb. 23.-The precincts and lob
bies of the palace of justice were de-
serted yesterday, the 14th day of the
trial of NM. Zoa and Perreux. for the
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.
| NJ. Laborie, counsel for M. ZoIa 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 have 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
martiars decision to conduct the trial
in secret. in spite of the protests of
the press. He said this was the reason |
of the unceasing protests in behalf of !
Dreyfus.
Counsel for the defense then declared
that eight months prior to the arrest |
of Dreyfus the ministry of war pos
sessed photographs Of the paper con.
tanning the expression, THAT scoundrel
Of D" and showing that 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 1t,
and it was this document which the
yelled lady handed to Major Esterhazy,
the latter only surrendering 1t to the
minister for war on securing a receipt.
Referring to General Mercier. NJ. La
borie said: Maybe he is brave SOL
dier. 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 its genuine-
ness. The statement caused 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 NJ. Laborie, "it was because we
wished to discuss between Frenchmen !
alone an affair solely concerning I
Frenchmen. However opinions may I
differ Ill this affair, in the hour Of dam /
ger we all show a solid front to the for i
eigner." |
Then denouncing the action of the u =
prosecution in having Dreyfus write r
from dictation, counsel said such q =
trick proved the emptiness of the prose- Il
cution. for had they possessed proof Of t
his guilt they would not have had re- t
course to such theatrical effects. have \
all the papers concerning the affair in 0
my hands, and l solemnly affirm that =
there is nothing In them against Drey-
fus" \ \
The statement made cornmotion, d
and there were marks OF appreciation X
among the public. D b
NJ. Laborie referred to the alleged r
confession of Dreyfus to Captain Le- :,
brun- -Renault, and remarked: "If u
written report Of 1t exists is was drawn aal
up as an after thought. and / could n
have proved It by witnesses had Cap Ii
tain Lebrun-Renault testified" re
De-
ton in the chamber of deputies, in re- es
ply to ex-Mnister Caviagnac that the nt
presentation of this report would open w.
the door for a revision of the trial, M. a,
Zola's counsel said 1.-THE report was Al
not produced because the alleged con- G.
fession was neither possible nor prob IN
able" W
NJ. Laborie then gave a moving de-
'cription Of the degradation of Dreyfus. |
He recalled that amid the shouts Of W
death from the pIttiless crowd, Drey- III
'us had not ceased to cry "vive la us
France" and swear, upon the heads of 80
lis wife and children, that he was COM
,letely innocent. He only appealed
or one act Of mercy--that the ministry r.
hould continue the inquiry.
IF M. Meline did not produce tho re-
'ort of Captain Lebrun- -Renault It was
'ecauss the vehement protestation of N,
innocence of Dreyfus troubled his mind, '
nd for the moment his sense Of judicial
ectitude had prevailed over his con-
option of political consideration. L
In order to obtain avowals," M. La
orie proceeded, "the prosecution went
0 the point of fraud. Did not Major
'aty du Clam say to Dreyfus. The
Minister will receive you If you go to
onfess?" Thercupon counsel dwclt
pom Major Patty du Giants interroga-
on of Dreyfus. in which Dreyfus W.
greed there was some resemblance in Th
lie details of his writing and that Of Fri
10 bordereau. but that. taken alto 'jai
ether, they were quite distinct.
Violent duarrels broke out In the m
,urt room before adjournment. A Tri
oung officer insulted several Jews and Sat
emanded that they be expelled Free
shts ensued in the lobbies and pas
lges of the palais de Justice as The -
Iards cleared the precincts.
After the court adjourned NJ. Laboris
ceived a veritable ovation. cries Of
'ive Laborie" m!ngling with counter T~
les of "Vive l-armee" and "a bas 1e n
IFS" Ra.
The widest efforts are being made tho
tside the court room to influence the She
rynen by threats or Establishments. 4Gili Ifil
.sterday each juryman received an - -
omymous letter promising him the
IN of G400 $4,000 II M. zola should
acquitted. The letters, of course,
linated from the same source as the
rgerles by which 1t was sought TO
owe the existence Of Dreyfus syn
,ate.