The times., 1898-02-09
zOLA'S CASE PREJUDGED
Republican Guards Save Him From
Bodily Harm.
Nine. Diey rus is Called to the Stand
But lis Not Allowed to Tes-
tify Freely.

Paris. Feb. 8.-The appearance Of Nine.
Dreyfus as a witness was one OF the ex-
citing incidents Of the Zola trial today.
Mime. Dreyfus was dressed in deep
mourning. She declined to give her age.
status OF domicile. She spoke in a broken
voice.
After the roll call she was escorted to
the stand
Maitre Labori demanded that Nine
Dreyfus should say what she thought of
NJ. zola's good faith, how she had heard
of her husbands arrest, and what she
knew Of Major Paty de Clam
The president declared that there was
no connection between these questions
and the present case.
NJ Zola replied: Il wish to have the
ers and thieves. to prove my good faith -
NJ Labori said:
I'VE must prove that Capt Dreyfus
was irregularIy condemned The evil
dence of Nine. Dreyfus is indispe nsa bic. -
NJ. Clemenceau supported NJ Labori
by bringing forth arguments why Nine
Dreyfus should be heard
The excitement among the spectators
was intense, and considerable uproar en-
sued.
Al. LabOri then addressed the public,
saying that while he scorned their howl
ings he was disturbed by the applause
they had given to the enemies OF his case.
Amid the scene of tumult the court
rejected the arguments of the counsel
for the defense, deciding that no ex-
traneous subject could be touched
Ex-Presdeat Casimir-Perier was called
to the witness stand, but he refused to
be sworn upon the ground that ne could
say nothing. Subsequently he consented
to be sworn, and said:
'As President Of the Republic, / never
heard of Count Esterhazy or NJ Dosier."
NJ. Labor questioned the ex-president
relative to the communication of secret
evidence to the judges of the court-nlar-
tial, but the president of the court OBJ
jected To the question.
Nj. LIE BlOis, vino was associa ted with
Col Picquart, explained that Col Pic
quart and NJ Scheurer-Kistner knew
that the results of the Inquiry had proved
the innocence Of Capt. Dreyfus and the
guilt of Count Esterhazy.
NJ Scheurer- x istner, until recently one
of the vice presidents of the senate. con-
irmed NJ. LIE Bluisis statement, and ex-
pressed the wish to read a. letter to Col
Picquart, proving Count E,sterhazy's
guilt. -za
NJ Labori asked NJ Casimir-Perier If
he knew Dreyfus before the latter's con-
demnation. The ex-president replied:
DUTY prevents my saying the whole
truth, so [ shall say nothing"
This answer caused an indescribable
tumult in the courtroom and loud cheers
were given for Casimir-Perier as he was
leaving the court
NJ. Zola left the court Immediately
after the ex-president, and was hooted
by crowd of students. There were a
few counter-crieS of .'Vive Zola.''
Al. Castro, as an expert in chirography
declared that he was convinced of the
identity of the handwriting of Count Es
terhazy with that of the bordereau
which was attributed to Capt. Dreyfus
The close Of the proceedings was fol-
lowed by the disorderly exit from the
courtroom of a crowd of Zolaists and
anti-Zolaists, whose cries and retorts
were mutually insulting.
A party of the republican guards pro-
tected NJ. Zola from hostile rush, which
was made upon him with view Of doing
him serious personal injury.
This was the second time during the
day that NJ Zola had been in
danger. AS he came to court he
was greeted with the cries of exc
Grafton with which he was assailed
yesterday upon his arrival and the police
repeated their performance of driving
the mob away.
At the opening of the sitting. the presi-
dent of the court, read a letter from
Major Count EsterhaZy, in which he
claimed that as he had been acquitted
by court-martial, there was no need that
he should appear as a witness in this
trial
NJ Ciemenceau insisted upon the ap-
pearance of E,sterhazy and also of Ma
dame Chabond, and the court ordered
the appearance tomorrow of the follow
ing persons as witnesses:
NJ. Ormeschayille. Capt. Lebrun-Re-
maud, Major Ravary, Gen. Mercier, NJ.
VallecaIle, Col Morel, NJ Erckmann,
Gen. Boisdiffre, Count Esterhazy, and
NJ. Commings.
The court also appointed Doctor Flo
quet to examine the health of Mesdames
Boulancy. Chabond, Commings, and
others. who had pleaded illness as an
excuse for their non-appearance.
1t is quite evident that Zola'S case is
prejudged by a packed court.