Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-09
THE TRIAL OF Z0LA.
NrssRS. sCHEURER-KEs EsTNER AND
CAsIMIR-pERIER TESTIFY.
FIERCE AETl-ZOLA DEMONSTRATION.
Al one Time IL Looks ns ~ the
Novelist Would lie Lynchcd-
Women Particularly Violent
AGAINST Him.

rprs oenunciaton OF the EStcrhazv
cart-martial in a letter IN the newspaper
mentioned was resumed in the Assize
count Of the Seine to-day.
scenes similar to those Of yesterday
r ming were witnessed When the
ourt opened there was terrific struggle
So catcr. people fighting their way with
Bows and kicks toward the courtroom.
Te entrance OF NJ lola was the signal
f.r an outburst. during which the few
cries Of 'Nive Zola" were drowned bv
shouts Of a bas Zola."
When the Judge entered the scene was
20 ,umultous that he directed the muni-
cpai guards TO force the crowds from the
doors and to remove some Of the people
.fom The overcrowded halls
The court admitted the claims OF the
euco. and decided that General Mer-
CIR The former Minister of War. and
Najor Patty du Clam. should be resum-
uontd.
Iho Court also decided that the other
Witnesses alleged to be ill should be visit
e. hy a doctor. and that if found able
L. appear. they should be resummoned.
Madame Dreyius was the first witness
today. NJ. Laborie. who examined her.
Bed what she thought OF NJ Zolas good
D.. and whether she could say. under
what circumstances she was informed
1y Major Patty du Clam, in 1894. of her
husbands arrest.
The Judge declined TO put the last ques-
ton.
81 Zola here rose and cried: II desire
rra r.. h.,
The thief They have always the right
So icfend themselves but 1 am deprived
of this. / am Knocked and insulted In the
streets. and the obscene press drags me
in The mud. You see. gentlemen of the
Jlry the position / am in. / wish to
have my witnesses heard. but L am pre-
vented"
CONTEMPT FOR THE LAW.
But do you not know the lawY' the
Judge asked Zola.
NO. / don't know. and l don't want TO |
know was Zola's reply.
After a long and heated argument the |
Court decided that no question not con-
tanned In the indictment could be allowed |
NJ Leblois, a lawyer and a witness |
Tor the defendants testified that he and |
Colonel PicGuart were old friends, and
lad studied together; consequently. when |
llcquart was connected with the War
Intelligence Department. he consulted the |
witness on certain grave matters ne had |
unearthed in connection with the carrier |
pigeon affair at Nancy, and in regard to |
which he had received menacing letters. |
When doubts on the Dreyfus matter arose |
~. Scheurer-kestner questioned the wit |
ness on the foregoing matter and the |
witness gave him certain information. in |
Guiding letters which General Gonz wrote |
10 Picquart, which NJ. Scheurer- Kestner /
had kept.
The witness urged NJ. Scheurer- Kest-
ler 10 apply TO the Minister of Justice /
90 annul the Droyfus judgment, in view
Of the secret documents submitted to a
court-martial. but as he was lacking In
material proofs NJ. Scheurer- esther
had not acted Immediately.
sCHEURER- R-KESTNER.
VI. Scheurer-Kestner. who was next ex-
amined, said he learned last July that
Colonel Picquart had discovered that the
'bordereaux" had not been written by
Dreyfus. and he submitted Major Ester
hays handwriting 10 NJ Bertillon, who
q greed that it was I'm the same hand
as the "bOrdereaux." Witness suggested
10 General Gonz that a fresh expert ex-
animation be made. but the General dis
sladed him from having this made
ST. ScheuTer- Kestner sketched the con-
tents Of the letters in which Colonel
wrote that fresh facts had been
discovered which would be eagerly
seized upon by the Dreyfusians, who
would create a great scandal"
General Gonz replied that II was "too
late TO stop the matter now" Colonel
plcquart. in another letter. according 10
The witness urged that the whole affair
D.. exposed. or there would be a scandal.
10 General Blllot Ghe Minister of War;
and told him what | knew. / offered TO
communicate General GonZ's letters, but
Dr. refused. Then it was agreed that the
interview should not be divulged Never
iheless. the government newspapers pub
lshed. an account OF it. / had interviews
with the Premier on. Meline) and told
him everything ] knew
NJ Scheurer- -Kestner further said he
never mentioned the name of Ester
hszy. except TO the government, but that
some time later Matthew Dreytus (bro-
.1er Of Alfred Dreyfus) came 70 him ana
leclared that he also had discovered
iaat Esterhazy was the author OF the
't0rdereaux." whereupon the witness
told Matthew Dreyfus TO write TO the
Minister OF War, which he did, de-
louncing Esterhazy.
Observation-Disclosures
There was much stir in court when 1t
was announced that NJ. Casimir-Perier
.he former President OF the French re-
public would be the next witness.
when he was called the presiding Judge
.ald: you swear 10 speak without ami
mostly or fear. and TO speak the truth'
and nothing but the TRUTH
Ill Cssimir-Perier at this point inter
-,uted the Judge. saying: Pardon me.
cannot swear 10 tell the truth. because
cannot DO so. 1t is my duty not 10 teii
H."
This statement caused commouon I
.m0ng the audience. The presidins JuuBe
"The law compels YOU beIore
even speaking or refusing TO testliy' 10
lake the oath"
a.sed his hand, and took the oatn'
Can Won say" asked NJ laborle H.
Then YOU were President. you knew De-
ore hls arrest that STAFF officer was
inspected OF treason, and that charges
bad been made against him.
The presiding Judge inteINeneo' '"S
NJ. you cannot ask that.
Counsel for ~ Zola then put ano.hei
question 10 NJ. Casimir-Perier, saying
Did NJ. Casimir-P -Perier know that
ecret ale OF papers existed at the war
ainisuyg
T was not aware Of file OF papers
concerning Major Esterhazy' was inc
eply -
"Did you" continued NJ Laborle. know
hat secret document was hanoeo u '"9