The Portland daily press., 1898-02-09
MOB THREATEAED ZOLA.
Continuation Of the Trial Of the
French Novelist.
EX.PRESIDENT CASiMIR-PERIER
ON THE STAND.

| L. . III
ON THE STAND.
Is Not Allowed to Testify to Facts That
Came to His knowledge During HIS
| Official Career-The Novelist Narrow
ly Escaes Lynch!ng.
Paris, February 8.-When the trial OF
M. Emile Zola and M. Perreux, manager
of the Aurore, growing out of the former
announcement of the Esterhazy court
martial in letter to the newspapers
mentioned was resumed in the Assizes
court of the Seine today, scenes similar
to those OF yesterday morning, were W.T.
messed. NJ. Henri Rochefort was cheered
whsn ne arrived.
The presiding judge, NJ. Delegorgue,
read letter from Majonr Count Ester-
hazy, in which the latter refused to testi'
fly. Thereupon NJ. Laborie, counsel for
NJ. Zola. insisted that Esterhazy should
be brought to court by force.
| -
terrific struggle to enter, people fighting
their way with blows and kicks towards
the court room. The entrance OF M. Iola
was the signal for an outburst, during
which few cries of "Vive Zola" were
drowned by shouts of ga bas Zola." The
crowd pushed and hustled and ladies
climbed upon the benches reoklessly In
order to avoid the crushing.
| When the judge entered the scene was
so tumultuous that he directed the
municipal guards to force the crowds
| from the doors and to remove some OF the
people from the overcrowded halls.
| Madame Dreyfus was the first witness
today.
NJ Laborie, who examined her, asked
what she thought Of M. Zola's good faith,
and whether she could say under what
circumstances she was informed by Major
| Patty du Glenn, in 1894, of her husband 8
arrest. The judge declined to put the last
question.
the same treatment as the assassin or the
thief. They have always the right to
| defend themselves; but 1 am deprived Of
this. am mocked and insulted In the
streets, and the obscene press drngs me In
| the mud. You see, gentlemen OF the jury,
the position I am in l wish to have my
witnesses heard; but am prevented"
On the resumption of the session Of the
court in the afternoon. M. Laboire pre-
sented statement, claiming the right to
ask Madame Dreyfus certain questions
in the interest of justice.
The advocate, General NJ. Van Casssl,
argued that the court could not reiudge
facts already legally decided and turning
to NJ. Zola, he exclaimed: "You say you
don't know the law and don't want to
know it. Well, we do know the law and
will have it respected, with the aid OF the
Jury in which we have the mosb complete
confidence.
This apostrophe, delivered in the most
yeh sment manner evoked marks of ap-
proval.
M Laborie responded with great warmth
protesting against the obstruction OF
which his client was victim. Finally
NJ. ZoIa said he wqald submit to the Law
and to justice, adding: II do not revolt
against the law. What want, gentle.
men, is that you should end your hypo-
critical scenes.
This was greeted with shouts OF
ssBravo, - bravo" and murmurs of dis
sent The court then decided against tn
defense, saying that no question not con
tained in tho Indictment would be al
lowed.
NJ. Blevous, lawyer and witness for
the defendants, testified thai he and Col.
Picouart were old friends. When Picquart
was connected with the war intelligence
department he consulted witness on GER
tain grave matters he 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, NJ. Scheurer-
Kestner questioned the witness and the
witness gave him certain information in
Guiding letters which Gen. Come wrote
to Col Picquart, which convinced M.
Scheurer- -Kestner of the innocence OF
Dreyfug. Witness urged NJ. Scheurer-
Kestner to apply to the minister OF Justice
to annul the Dreyfus judgment, 10 view
of the secret documents submitted to tne
court martial, but as he was lacking, IN
material proofs, M. Soherer- -Kestner had
spoke of the intrigues against Col.
Picnuart when he was transferred TO
Tunis.
former Vice President of the Senate, who
was next examined, said he learned las,
July that Col. Picquart had discovered
that the Bordereau had not been written
hv Dreyfus. and he submitted Major
Esterhazy's handwriting to M. Bertlllon,
| who agreed, that it was in the same hnno
as the Bordereau
Witness suggested to sGen. Come tina,
an expert examination be made, but the
General dissuaded him from SO doing. y,
M Laborie then intervened, saying:
ask that these letters be read in court. II
is time that light WAS thrown into the
case"
The Judge, however, reiterated that the
lettors were inadmissable, as previous
notice had not been given.
M. Laboire remarked: "There is Still
time to communicate them to you snf
then to the Jury"
"You know that is impossible, replied
the judge, ''as the law formally forbid'
it."
M. Laboire read the section of the Law
code authorizing the production of docu
ments in support Of morality and gooo
faith. But the judge again pointed ou
the necessity for previous notification.
NJ. Clemenceau, counsel for M. Perreu1
manager Aurea declared that Col. PIC
quart submitted these letters to the Presi
dent of the Dreyfus court martial, whe
impounded them without reading to TN
court. Thus it was impossible to giV'
notification of them as evidence.