The herald., 1898-02-21
ROCHEFORT is JAILED
FOR HIS LIBEL OF A DREYFUs
ADVOCATE
THE POLITE PRISON OFFICIALS S
Take Off Their Hats to the Distin-
guished Observation-Disclosures
Rioting Narrowaly Averted

PARIS, Feb. 20.-rwo thousand people
assembled this afternoon in front of the
st. Pelagie prison, well known as a prison
for offending journalists. to greet Henri
Rochefort, editor of the Intransigeant, on
his entering to serve II sentence of five
days Imprisonment for libeling Jos. Rel
mach, Conservative deputy for the district
of Diegne and editor of the Republique
Franchise, by charging him with intending
to prove the innocence of Alfred Dreyfus
by the use of forged documents.
At first there were no signs of force to
preserve order, but as the crowd increased
a company of Republican guards, headed
by buglers and drummers, detachment
of police and two squadronS of cuirasSicrs
were drawn up on each side oil the square
in front of the prison. The troops were
received with cries of 'Vive farmee! IL
was 4 o'clock before M. Rochcfort arrived
The crowd ilocked around his carnage
shouting "Vive Rochefort!' and "VlVe la
comumne.' the police being powcrlcss TO
restrain them.
NJ. Rochefort alighted, waving his Rand
kerchief, and. escorted by the peopie'
walked to the prison gates. About Iity
of his friends. including Ernest Roche' one
of the deputies for Paris, the editor OF lie
Jour and the assistant EDITORS OIL the IN
transigeant, accompanied him inside the
building. amidst continuous cheers from
the people.
The wardens, with the governor of the
prison at their side were waiting. cap in
hand, and respectfully received the pris-
oner.
The crowd meanwhile dispersed, sing
ing the Carmagnole and shouting "Vive
Rochefort" and "ViVe In commune! and
al hlnpxinr t1ir the Rup
Monge.
Suddenly a new gathering of 5000. headed
by NM. Millevoye, Thiebaud and Regis,
marched towards the Pantheon. yelling
Down with Zola' and Death to the
Jews! The police formed across the road
and stopped the progress of the demon
stration.
NM Thiebaud and Mllevoye began ha-
rangu;ng the crowd from some steps, de-
spite the efforts of the police to dislodge
them. They advised the crowd to disperse
in orderly fashion, but to keep on shout
ing loyalty. and reserve their strength for
another occasion.
NJ. Thiebaud culoGized Rochefort as the
man who will toll the knell of the Jews"
Finally the mob dispersed, amid shouts of
''Conspuez Zola!' and similar cries. MN.
Millevoye and Thiehaud went to the police
station to demand the liberation of a dozen
people. including the editor of Petit Paris,
arrested in the course of the dcmonStra-
tion.
1t is varlously estimated that from 10000
to 10000 people took part in the demonstra-
tion. This suiiices to show that public feel
ing is unchanged. NJ. Thiebaud, in the
course of his harangue, added: Down
with the foreigners" The same sentiment
was expressed IN violent speeches deliV
ereti at a stormy anti-Jewish meeting pre-
sided over by NJ. Millesple.
The trial of Emile Zola and the publisher
Of the Aurore is regarded as practically
ended and N. Hola's conviction is looked
upon as foregone conclusion. Public
feel ng against the Jews is so overwhelm-
ing that any other result IL almost impos
siblc.
AN EXPLANATION
LONDON. Feb. 2l.--The Daily Telegraph
publishes an alleged explanation of the
Dreyfus mystery.
According to this explanation, a secret
compact between Russia and Germany ex-
isted before the France-Russian alliance
was arranged. Under its terms Russia
undertook to supply Germany with all the
Information obtainable. by spies or other
wise. regarding French military affairs
Germany supplying Russia in return with
information concerning another power,
presumably Austrp-Hungary.
Dreyfus discovered and traded upon this
compact. Whether the Bordercau was
written hy him or not, 1t was merely the
ostens!be basis Of the indictment against
him. The real secret document referred
TO a compact. the revelation of which
would have imperiled the Russian alliance
The same motives of secrecy, says the
Daily Teegraph's informant, will compel
the different governments to deny the
truth of this explanation. which is, never
theless. correct