The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-08
Obstacles That ZOla Has
to Contend With.
WITNESSES ARE SILENT.
The Authorities Seemingly Afraid
of Revelations.
PROCEEDINGS in ASSlZE COURT.

Paris, Feb. s.-The trial OF Novelist
Zola for denouncing the Esterhazy
court-martial, in connection with the
Dreyfus case. was begun Monday. The
advocate general said IL was imperative
10 prevent the proceedings from wander
ing and thus playing into the hands
of the accused, whose aim is to get a
revision of the Dreyfus affair by a cir
cuitous route
After reading the names OF the wit
nesses summoned, Judge Delegorgue read
a number of letters of excuse. including
"a letter from the minister of justice, an
nouneing that the minister for war.
General Billot. had not received the au-
thority of the cabinet to testify. He
also read n letter from ex-President
Casimir- Perir saying he could not tes-
tify except as to facts subsequent to
his presidency.
Colonel Patty du Clam was called, but
he refused TO testify. Attorney Laborie
urged the Importance of his testimony.
adding. that unless the court ordered
The witness to testify. he might be com
PEELED TO demand an adjournment until
the next sessions. Counsel also said
he was not prepared 10 oppose a secret
trial If il was absolutely necessary.
But continued Mr. Laborie the allega-
ton that the matter they were discuss
ing was connected with state secrets
and the national defense was a mere
joke.
The advocate general thereupon pro-
tested against the national defense be-
lug called joke. TO which Mr.. Laboria
hotly replied that he would permit no
one. not even the advocate general, to
cast suspicion upon his patriotism.
0The court ordered a short adjourn
mont In order to allow Laborie To draft
his argument. On the resumption of
the hearing Mr.. Laborie made a speech
demanding that the witness be ordered
TO testify. He also deposited witI-the
court written applications requesting
the court TO order the subpoenaed WITT
nesses to appear. Regarding Colonel
Clam the application charges him with
Illegal acts in the Dreyfus and Ester
hazy affairs. claiming that If these acts
were proved in court the good faith of
the accused would be demonstrated
MIR. Laborie vehemently protested
against the absence OF the subpoenaed
witnesses and, referring TO the non-ap-
pea ance of General Mercier. he said;
when he was minister Of war. he sub
mitted to the judges OF Dreyfus. behind
the back of the prisoner and his coun-
sci, secret document which. however.
he said was unimportant If this docu-
ment, as he declared, was unimportans
then the Incident is ended and there
no further need for General Merciers
testimony; while. If the alleged secret
document did not exist. let General
Mercier come and tell the court SO, and
our side will be well satisfied"
This attempt TO drag the former min
lister OF war into the witness stand
onused much commotion in court. which
was increased when. on several men,
bers OF the Dreyfus court martial resus-
Ing TO testify Mr.. Zola rose in the dock
and Indignantly cried: "We must know
if these persons are acting under the
orders OF the minister of war. or on their
own volition."
General Boisdeffre claimed exemption
on the ground of professional secrecy,
whereupon Mr.. Laborie shouted: One
would really think all these officers
imagined they form separate caste
above all rights. and that they are total
ly exempt from the laws and the respect
due TO justice"
Mr.. Laborie. in his application for a
subpoena for Nine. Boulancy saws:
The appellants have ascertained that
Count Esterhazy has thrice written her.
menacing her with death should she sur
render the documents. with the result
that Nine Boulancy has left her home
and concealed her new address. As the
aforementioned documents have a direct
bearing on the present case. the appel-
ants ask also that an officer of the court
be sent TO impound all kilograms and
letters from Count Esterhazy in the pos
session Of Nine. Boulancy."
Iola. who was quite calm, asked the
barristers What is the maximum
penalty to which am liable?" On be-
ing told that IL was six months. he rc-
Joined. smiling: III truth could hut
emerge from this trial would willingly
take six months more"
The proceedings at the present stage
are n struggle between Mr.. I.aborie and
Advocate General Van CasseI. the latter
being determined to restrict tho scope
OF the trial and the former To enlarge
II. There is no doubt that tho visible
efforts Of the government TO suppress on
uuiry by its refusal 10 allow General
Bllot minister of war, and other inn
rortant witnesses to testify. came as
great surprise 90 the audience. Mr.
Iaboric created quite sensation by ex-
claiming Ironically What a passion for
light there is on the part OF the prosecu-
ton" There was some murmuring in
court when letters of excuse were read