The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-08
Insults Showered on Him by an
Angry Crowd.
THE CHARGE WAS LIMITED
The Advocate General Will Not Permit
the Dreyfus Affair to Appear a tie
Trial More Than He Can Ave id.
No Sensations.

Z
which the novelist caused to be publish
ed in the Aurore. in December last
strongly rejecting upon high officials
connected with the Dreyfus case opened
To-day in the asszes court of the Seine.
Nj. Zola was represented by NJ Laborie
and NJ. Perrieux was defended by NJ
1lemenceau. The most keen public in,
tefest was manifested in the case. Hun
dfeds or people surrounded the court
anxious To gain admittance. The crowds
increased in number all morning The
arrival OF Henri Rochefort was the sig
nal for shouts of "Nive Rocheforts and
counter cries of "A bas Roehefort"
lola, who arrived in carriage shortly
afterwards. was greeted with vehement
shouts of "Conspuez Zoia" tspit upon
Zola). An individual who shouted "Viye
lola1 was promptly hustled and sup
pressed
Although the court was thronged,
quiet was maintained owing to the
knowledge that company of republican
guards had been placed at the disposal
81 the judge to preserve order. While
the jury was being selected Zola entered
the dock. He was pale. A few cries of
Nive Zola We're promptly suppressed
ny the vigorous protests of majority of
the audience. After the reading of the
Indictment the advocate general ex-
planned that the charge was strictly
limited to the passage in Zoia's letter
denouncing the Esterhazy court martial.
Continuing, the advocate general it
was Imperative to prevent the proceed
ings from wandering. and thus play
ing into the hands of the accused.
whose aim II Is to get "A revision of the
Dreyfus affair by circuitnus route
The court decided to allow the ac-
cused to call evidence in support of the
other charges contained I'm his letter, in
Guiding the accusations which he made
against Col. Patty Du Clam and Cen
erals Merier. Bosdeffruer. Bllott and
Pellieux NJ. de le Gorgue read a num-
Der or letters of excuse. including one
from the minister of justice. Mr. Dar-
ian. announcing that the minister of
war. General BilIott. had not received
the authority Of the cabinet to testify.
General de le Gorgue also read a letter
from ex-President Casimir- -Perier. say
ing he could not testify except as to
facts subsequent to his presidency
Gol. Paty Du Clam was then called
ana refused to testify. NJ Laborie
urged the Importance of his testimony.
AIDING that unless the court ordered
MIN to testify he might be compelled to
demand adjournment until the next
session. Counsel also said he was not
prepared to expose a secret trial. un-
less II was absolutely necessary, but
continued Nj. Laborie. the allegation
that the matter they discussed was
connected with state secrets and ma
tionai defense was a mere joke.
The advocate general then protested
against the national defense being a
joke, TO which NJ Laborie hotly replied
that he would not permit anyone not
even the advocate general, to cast sus-
picion on his patriotism. tCheers)
Addressing the jury, NJ. I4aborie said:
ne proof we wish to show you Is so
ha
making efforts to prevent its becom-
Ing known. Nevertheless. If 1t is neces-
sary. ! will declare it alone. without
witnesses IL | fall, Dreyfus will re-
main in the salleys. where he was
placed by law expressly made for |
him. tNiolent protests)
nj. Iaborie insisted that the judges /
of Dreyfns should give evidence and |
that Nine Rouiancey. whom zola had /
summoned but who has declined TO |
appear on the ground of III health /
should also testify urging that she be
ordered TO appear If necessary
Counsel added that Mime Eoulancey.
In addition TO the notorious Ehlan let
ter. possessed others from Major Ester
hazy outrageously insulting the French
army. which had not been published.
Counsel for the Aurore supported NJ
Laborie's request for the appearance
of Nine. Boulancey and urged the court
III health. Later on. NJ. Laborie in
sisted that the deposition made before
The examining magistrate be read in
court. This was opposed by the attor-
ney general on the ground that the
was not concluded.
NJ. Laborie then vehemently protested
against the absence of the witnesses
and referring To the appearance of
General MERCER, said: When he was
minister of war. he submitted TO the
Judges Of Dreyfus. behind the back Of
he prinsoner and his counsel. a secret
document which. however. he said,
Vas unimportant If this document
's he declared. was unimportant. then
he incident is ended and there Is no
urther need for General Mercier's tes-
imony. but If. as alleged. the secret
document did not exist, let General
dercier come and tell the court SO and
,ur side will be satisfied" "
This attempt to drag the former min
ster Of war into the witness stand |
'aused much comment in court. which |
vas increased when on several MEM |
,ers of the Dreyfus court martial re-
using To testify. NJ. Zola rose up in |
he dock and Indignantly cried; We |
must know ii these persons are acting /
inder the orders of the minister OF /
sar or their own Solition. General /
3esdeffruer was then called and claimed |
on the ground of profession
1 secrecy. whereupon NJ. Laborie
houted: One would really think all
heSe officers imagined they form a
eparate caste. above all rights and
hat they are totally exempt from laws
nd the respect due 10 Justice
The court tnen ordered short ad-
5urnmeut until i:50 p. m in order 10
low NJ. Laborie 10 draft his argu-
lenr
There Is another application calling
Pr the appearance Of Generals Mercfer
nd Rosdeffruer and others. Ii declares {
nat they have no right to absent them
elves on the plea that their eyidenr4
not necessary, as that Is for The
curt and not for them 10 decide The
anrt postponed decision until to-mar 4
~ and the case was adjourned. /
ram prevented large crowd from I