The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-09
you and to the Jury

ieaux, here declared that Colonel
Picquart wrote that fresh facts had
been discovered which would be eagerly
seized upon by the Dreyfusians which
would create a great scandal.
General Gonz replied that it was ''too
late to stop the matter now
Colonel Picquart, in another letter,
according to the witness, urged that
the whole affair be exposed, or there
would be scandal.
Continuing, the witness said: Il went
to General Billot, Minister for War,
and told him what I knew I offered
to communicate General Gonzs letters.
but he refused. Then it was agreed
that the interview should not be di-
vulged. Nevertheless, the Government
newspapers published an account of
the interview. l had interviews with
the Premier On. Meline) and told him
everything l knew"
NJ. Scheurer- Kestner further said that
he never mentioned the name of Ester
haZy, except TO the Government. But
some time later Matthew Dreyfus.
brother of Alfred Dreyfus, came to
him and declared that he also had dis
covered that Esterhazy was the au-
thor of the Borderau, whereupon the
witness told Matthew Dreyfus to write
to the Minister of War, which he did,
denouncing EsterhaZy.
NJ. lola here asked Scheurer- Kestner
to give the court details of his inter-
view with the Minister for War, and the
witness did so, recountinG how he had
begged his old friend to take the ini-
tiative in the matter, adding: Il gave
him fortnight to make up his mind,
during which time | was insulted as a
Prussian."
Yes" interjected NJ lola, "as they
now treat me as an Italian
There was much stir in court when it
was announced that. NJ. Casimir- Perier,
the former President of the French Re-
public, would be the next witness.
When he was called the presiding
Judge said: You swear to speak with
out animus and fear: to speak the
truth and nothing but the truth
NJ. CasimirP erier at this point inter-
rupted the Judge, saying: Pardon me,
cannot swear to tell the truth because
l cannot do so. 1t is my duty not to
tell it,"
This statement caused a commotion
Judge resumed: The law compels you
before speaking or refusing to testify.
TO take the OATH
NJ. Casimir-Perier then took the oath
Can you say" asked NJ Laborie. IF,
when you We're President, you knew be-
fore his arrest that a staff officer was
suspected of treason, and that charges
had been made against him.
The presiding Judge interviewed, say
ing: You cannot ask that?"
This intervention aroused murmurs in
court.
Counsel for NJ. Zola then put another
question to NJ. Casimir-Perier saying:
Did NJ. Casimir- Perier know that a
secret file of papers existed at the War
Ministry"
Il was not aware of a file of papers
concerning Major EsternaZy," was the
reply.
Did YOU" continued NJ. Laborie,
know that secret document was
handed to the court-martial?"
You cannot ask that question" in
terupted the presiding Judge. a state
ment which caused renewed murmurs
in court
Il do not know any facts subsequent
to my Presidency" said NJ. Casimir-
Perier. Il can only speak as a private
citizen, which / am willing to do
You are setting a noble example,
replied NJ. Laborie, (which other Wit
nesses have not deemed fit to follow,
since it has been necessary to bring
them here by force" (Applause)
VI. Laborie here made formal appli-
cation. ''in the interests Of justice" that
his previous question be allowed to be
put. The Judges, after debating on the
matter refused to allow the question
NJ. De Castro, banker, was then ex-
amined. He declared that he recog-
nized the identity of the handwriting
of Major Esterhazy and that of the
writer of the "Bordereau" The wit
ness revealed this discovery to Matthew
Dreyfus, and, he added, he had since
received a number Of threatening let
tiers.
The court then arose amid great ex-
element and shouts fer and against NJ.
lola
On leaving the witness box NJ. Cast
mir-Perier received great ovation.
There was a big crowd outside the
lower court, and after the people were
leaving the building man cried: ''Vive
Zola, down with France." He was i'm
mediately arrested. A tremendous rush
followed.
NJ. Zola, on emerging from the jury
door, was recognized and obliged to re-
turn and seek refuge in the robing
rooms, the doors of which were then
locked. The crowd remained outside.
yelling, ''Conspuez Zola,' etc. led by
number of young barristers in their
robes. who roughly handled NJ. Zola's
sympathizers. until detachment of
Republican guards cleared the court
yard. There was an immense clamor
and shouts of Down with Zola," Long
live Zoia," and Death to Zola!" the
last-cry dominating the rest. The nov
elist had difficulty in keeping his feet
amid the surging crowd.
In the meantime the police, misunder-
standing their orders, closed the gates.
and NJ. Zola thus found himself inside
the court yard, surrounded by a howl
ing threatening mob. The police We're
powerless, and for n moment it looked
as though he would be lynched with the
friends who formed his body guard His
friends rallied about him. and eventu-
ally the gates were reopened, and the
police. having been reinforced. escorted
NJ Zola 10 the street, while the major
ity of the mob was confined in the court
yard, shrielSing threats against the nov
elist, who eventually entered cab and
drove quickly away.
The women in the crowd were espe-
cialiy violent A man who cheered for
Zola was set upon by a mob, who hus-
~ Ia, hn hriA loo
where they tried TO throw him into the
h,.+ the molina in