New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-24
lola PUT ON TRIAL AGAIN.
HIS COUNSEL CONTEST THE VERSAILLES
COURTS COMPETENCY.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE
PROSECUTION AND THE METHODS OF
THE PROSECUTORS

THE PROSECUTORS.
Versailles MAY 23-The second trial OF Emile
Zo!a for criminal libel alleged to be contained
in charges which he brought against the officers
who conducted the Esterhazy court-raartial, be-
gan In the Assize Court here to-day. Few spec
tators were admitted within the precincts OF the
court, and rigorous measures we're adopted to
preserve order. There was no incident upon the
arrival Of the accused.
NJ. Labori. counsel for lola. Immediately
questioned the competency Of the Court on the
ground that the alleged offence was committed
in Paris. and only a Partisan jury was conpe-
tent to try the case.
VI. Bertrand. Procureur-G General OF the Paris
court. who acts as Public Prosecutor upheld
the competency OF the Court. He said to NJ.
Labori:
You desire 70 prolong matters; but We intend
70 end the case Be assured that the country
has had enough-do you hear?-of this per'lous
agitation.
The Court then decided that II was competent
to try the case. whcreupon ". Labor announced
that he appealed 10 the Court or Cessation on
that point
The trial was then adjourned. pending the
hearing Of the appeal
on leaving the Court VI. lola was greeted
with cries Of Down with lola intermingled
with cheers FOR lola and cheers for the Army.
"Aurore." were tried las, February a, the Assize
Court Of The Seine charged with having crininay
Nbelled the officers OK the EsterhaZy court martial
and Incidentally those OF the Dreytus cour,-rlar-
t,al The former acquitted Major Count Esterhazy
OF the charge n having written the famous note
which brought about the condemnation OF Alfred
Dreyfus former captain OF French artillery 70
Imprisonment for lie FOR selling important French
military plans 20 the agents % foreign govern
ment " Z0la was sentenced 70 one years I'M
prisonment and hnc OF 5000 francs Ne aH-
pealed and the Cour, Of Cessation annulled the
verdict. on the ground that the trial had been
irregular. as General Bilot, the Minister for War
had brought the indictment. whereas II should
have been brought by the officers ". lola had i'm
peached.
The officers composing the Esterhazy court-nar-
tai met on April and decided - begin civil ac-
ton FOR M5e against NM lola and Ferreux me
latters being the publisher of the paper In which
the famous authors charges were printed The
second trial was postponed until after the cleo
lions tus; held In order relieve the Government
OF the Embarrassment OF the nNair becoming a 20
utical issue
The presen. trial or the indictment which led 20
H. IS based upon the last clause OF the following
pararrapns ~ ~ Zola's famous letter. "J'accuse
which was published IN the "Aurore' OF January
~ accuse the FIRST court martial che one which
tried Alfred Dreyfus 81 having Niola'ec me IN"
in condomnirg Il defendant on piece or secret
u accuse he second court-TnnTtia! o, haFns
cloaked this ueEaNiy by order. IN Committing. !"
ifs turn. rhe judicial crime ~ knowingly "'FHi'-
ting the guilty parry
The dlserac.fl scenes witnessed az me hrst trla'
~ NJ Zoia brought down upol France ai4 her ll-
5lriai Institutions civil and military. he con
derna,on OF the press Il me world. including even
the Russian newspapers Therefore. the second
trial ~ the auth.- uss orlere. % 'akc place IN
the Assize Court y Versailles small room IN ne
Palace ~ Justice. This has t"o airnnfag"s-ihc
courtroom Will not hold more than three hundred
a.-so,. and V.rsauIes IL about ten mics from
Paris .rI very strongly gar .r"i"-- ~ ",
keep away the Paris mob. VII 20 Nah i''l ~
fh. Inst -r.aI and 1851 enable 81" military hfih"fl-
ties a. control fhe siflafi1u IN every mtiD'f i5"-
slle. including the tc.r-4-tn tu, ~, 80. ~ 20
luhahitauts q Versailles. 'wo-thlris oi Nh'W "''
h. some manner connected WIN fn" Army
The urOtcrlfurF have rro'fr- 80 th'iF 'lii'+ l.tN
representative Maitre Ioyer. tho % onni'r 'o''''
,n.,ycrl .f fh~ Council q Aivucat.s 1nu N Ia.
I,ri vhn defended u IolN nna NJ terr"uh a.
.h.ir f.s trial Will represent Them on ms .ccA-
sion The presiding Judge VII ue SAnlsrt ! ~.
,ic- VINO IL noted for ultnrinE 90 ~" pT"c'l'ilh
and traditions ~ French !aw. H.. ~,
f+-.li ~ fEs accused nave sent IN r hs' of
80 .t,....,r whom. they have asked mo Govern
,nerf 20 caI Alfred DrcsfHs pri-on", o. =.
Is.trd liz fac iasf name on th's .l-f ~ "'l''a
:, 49, not Uk.lv that the latter vii n" moved -
800, Among The other witnesses c4ilro .oE VI
Zo.a and VI Perr"lN are Col. ne. 9."N'.' l,'i,,-
90 V9tor raulxzarll. ne German ana lta!ihn
- ..,srhfs who were stationed ~ fhrlH a
b. ..,le ., me arrest 81 ireyfus. Ih"y are o"-
Z. a. NJ fhat " zola viii be p-osecu'ec win nc
-, rig., and thar - convicted h VII re,"iFe
lshrucrt from the republic for an ih"'"''' "-'''
l., ~