The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-09

4es, lnterJected M. lola, "as they
now treat me as an Italian There
was much stir in court when it was an
nOunced that NJ. Casimir-Perier, the
former president of the F'rech republic
would be the next witness.
When he was called the presiding
judge said:
You swear to speak without animus
and fear, to speak the truth and moth
ing but the truth
M. Casimir-Perier at this point inter-
rupted the judge, saying: Pardon me
1 cannot swear to tell the truth, be-
cause I cannot do so. 1t is my duty
not to tell it,
This statement caused a commotion
among the audience. The presiding
judge resumed: THE law compeIIs you
before even speaking or refusing to tes-
tify, 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
before his arrest that a staff officer
was suspected of treason, and that
charges had been made against him pr
The presiding judge interviewed, say
ing: You cannot ask that"
This intervention aroused murmurs
in court
Counsel for NJ. lola then put another
question to n. Casimir-Perier, saying:
Did NJ. Casimir-Perier know that a Sc
cret file of papers existed at the war
minister's?"
I was not aware of a file of papers
concerning Major Esterhazy." was the
did you" continued NJ. Laborie.
know that a secret document was
handed to the court martiaI?"
You cannot ask that question:" in
terrupted the presiding judge
I do not know any facts subsequent
to my presidency said NJ. Casimir-
Perier i can only speak as a private
citizen, which I am willing to do"
You are setting a noble example"
replied M. Laborie, (which other wit
nesses have not deemed fit to follow,
ia 70 T,--i,,
them here by force (Applause.)
The court then adjourned amid great
excitement and shouts for NJ lola.
On leaving the witness box, NJ. Cas-
lmlr-Perier received a great ovation
There was a big crowd outside the
lower court, and as the people were
IeaVlng the building, man cried ''Vive
Aola, Down with France" He was
immediately arrested. A tremendous
rush followed. NJ. lola, on emerging
from the jury door, was recognized and
obliged to return and seek refuge in the
rObing rooms, the doors of which were
then locked. The crowd remained out
side yelling "Conspuez ZoIa'' etc. led
by number of young barristers in
their robes, who roughly handled NJ.
Zola's sympathizers until a detachment
OF Republican guards cleared the ap-
prOacheS to the court. M. lola then
emerged, pale and trembling, and the
moment he appeared on the stairs lead
ing to the court yard there was an i'm
with ZOla," Long live Zola," and
Death to Zola," the last cry dominat-
ing the others. The novelist had diff
Guilty in keeping his feet amid the
surging crowd.
In the meantime the police, misunder-
standing their orders, closed the gates
and NJ. lola thus found himself inside
the court yard, surrounded by a howl
ing, threatening mob. The police were
powerless, and for a moment it looked
as though he would be lynched with the
friends who formed his body guard
His friends rallied around him, and
eventually the gates were re-opened,
and the police having been reinforced,
escorted M. lola to the street, while the
majority of the mob was confined in the
court yard, Shrieking threats against
the novelist, who eventually entered a.
cab and drove quickly away. The Wo-
men in the crowd were specially violent
A man who cheered for lola was set
upon by a mob, who hustled him to the
st. Michael bridge, where they tried to
throw him into the river Seine, but the
police were reinforced in the nick of
time and saved him.
The crowd remained in the court yard
and greeted NJ. ROchfOrte with great
cries of 'fVive L'Armee'' and give La
France"
They were eventually dispersed.
When the trial was resumed today,
Gen. Bojsdeffre refused empha tically to
testify under the plea of professional
and state secrecy.
NJ. Dele Gorgue, the presiding judge,
consented that Madame Dreyfus should
be allowed to testify, on the condition
that her evidence be restricted to the
Esterhazy case.
over eco barristers in their robes
gathered at the public entrance and
INDUCED in horse play. When the pre-
siding judge ordered them not to OBJ
struct the passage, the barristers made
a demonstration against the judge.
Thereupon the commandant of the Re
publican guards sent a detachment of
troops to Quell the disturbance. The in
ceived and led to a violent ARRAY. The
barristers rushed upon the guard and
struck them. One of the young lawyers
was arrested, but after quiet had been
restored, he was released.
Gen. Come refused to testify. A scene
fnlInr1red q NJ the court was cleared.