The San Francisco call., 1898-02-22
ZOLA LEAVES HISTORY TO
 JUDGE HIM Addresses the Court in Defense of His
 ActiO nS. Thrice Loudly Proclalms the Innocence of
 Dreyfus. His Words Seemingly Indicate That He Expects a
 Conviction.
KISSED BY SPECTATORS.
Repeated Uproars While the Novel, ist and His Counsel Make
 Their Pleas
Special Dispatch to The Call.

PARIS. Feb. 21-The rains to-day decimated the crowd about the ap- breaches to the Assizes Court of the Seine in the Palace of Justice, though the interior was packed with people. N. Zola was hissed when he reached the court.
 When the Advocated General com menced his address he declared that M. Zola's assertions that the Esterhazy court-martial acquitted a guilty person in accordance with superior orders re- mained entirely improved. Major Els terhazy, he added, could not be the au- thor of the bordereau. and he protested against certain newspapers accusing officers of seeking to overthrow the re- port. In conclusion the Advocate Gen eral expressed confidence that the jury would condemn M. Zola.
 NJ Zola read an address to the court in which he said that the Premier, M. Moline. had the air of giving the jury, who are charged with the national honor an order to find me guilty" Loud prOtestS.)
 The presiding Judge said: You can not say that the Premier has given an order to condemn you"
 Continuing, M. Zola said: Such pro- ceedings are an abOminable piece of political manners. 1 have never insult ed the army, as has been said, but I have raised a cry of alarm, and I leave history to judge and to appreciate my acts. Those who dishonor France are those who mingle cries of 'Vive FArme' with A bas les Juifs and 'Vive Ester hay after the letters he has written. (Murmurs.) If I am here it is because s~1,- you, who are the voice of Justice. It is for you, gentlemen, that I raise the cry of alarm and that l wish to bring out the truth, perhaps unsuccessfully; but here stand before you and await your justice"
 NJ. Zola complained of the prevail ing state of lassitude, and exclaimed:
 Your thoughts, which l think I can read on your faces, are: We have had enough of it. The matter must be brought to an end I am not defend Ag my liberty, gentlemen. In present. ing myself to you, I am defending the truth. Look me in the face, gentlemen. Have I been bought, or am I a traitor? l am a free writer who intends to re- sume his vocation and again take up his interrupted labors. 1 indignantly protest against the charge of being an Italian.
 ''No,'' he added; T am not defending my liberty Condemn, then, if you wish. It will be but an additional er- TOT. It will be the seed which will germtnate and prevent France from falling into indifference. If the country is in trouble, the fault lies with the Government who, in the hope of saving some culprit, has tried to prevent the truth from coming into the light of day. The very life of the people is at stake. It is for you, gentlemen of the jury, to utter the truth upon this af- fair and render justice
 NJ ZOla dwelt upon the fact that the entire people had been thrown into painful anguish through doubts of the guiltiness of Dreyfus, and said:
 The Government, who know all, and who, like you, are convinced Of the in nOcence of Dreyfus, will one day make 1t known and will publish it without running any risk"
 Then, raising his voice, M Zola three times proclaimed the following:
 Before all the world I swear Drey- fus is innocent"
 Loud murmurs and misses from the back of the court greeted this utter ance. M. ZoIa concluded by saying:
 The day will come when France will thank me for saving her honor" (Pro- lOnged uproar)
 M. Laborie, counsel for M. Zola, fol- lowed with an eloquent speech. His opening words, We are here in defense of justice and right" were hailed with loud protests from the back of the courtroom, and counsel continued, re- preaching the authorities for being Ted astray by passing interests" and with mot wishing to deal with the Dreyfus affair. although there are few Senators 1 or Deputies who doubt his innocence.
 Nevertheless" continued M. Laborie, l truth will prevail. The elections will i not be allowed to pass amid mystery and ambiguities." (Renewed protests) M Laborie then thanked "all those personages of the intellectual elite of ' France who have had the courage to seek for truth and light" Counsel re- 1 ferred to the inspired articles in the l press" intended to deceive the country | and said: If q syndicate exists it is a syndi- | cate of good faith and loyalty. whose aim is to obtain justice and right in the 1 interests of the entire country, and this | syndicate has the greatest faith in | your perspicacity."
 This caused violent uproar, against | which NJ. Laborie vehemently protest | cd. An individual in the back of the | courtroom shouted:
 How much have they paid you?"
 To this M. Laborie reiterated: 'If we | had been paid such people would have ] applauded us''
 M Laborie then proceeded to re- l proach the Premier for refusing to al- | low generals to be judged before jury, | and he asked:
 Are generals, then, above the legal conscience Of fha cOJnfrU2 Oilr 0rln0- nents talked of confidence in the army. Ne too, have confidence in it; but it is eyt an insult to the army to raise a cry oi alarm as M. Zola has done He l. spoke in strong terms, but he did not insult the army"
 In conclusion, M Laborie declared mat he intended to prove Zola's good 4alth and review the whole affair, groping into things hitherto un-