The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-09
EX.rrisid ut CaSlm.r-Perier Makes This
startling Statement.
SAYS "ITISM DUTY not TO TELL IT"
The Presiding Judge Saves His Conscience
However By ObjectIng 10 the Questions.
Zols Demands lair Treatment
From the Jourt.


Assize Court OF the Seine to-day, scenes
similar to those OF yesterday morning
were witnessed.
When the court opened there was
terrific strugse to enter. people fighting
their way with blows and sticks toward
the courtroom.
The entrance OF II. zola was the signal
FOR an outburst during which the few
cries Of ''Nive, lola : " were drowned by
shouts Of "A has lola !" When the
Judge entered the scene vas so tumultu-
Gus that no directed the Municipal Guards
TO force the crowds from the doors ana 10
move some Of the people n ON the over
crowded halls.
WITNESSES RE-SUMMONED.
The court admitted the claims OF the
defence and dCcidcd that General Mer-
cier. the former Minister Of War, and
Major Patty du Clam should be re-sum-
moned. The court also decided that the
other witnesses alleged 20 be III should
be visited by a doctor and that II found
able 10 appear they should be re-sum-
mOued.
Madame Dreyfus was the first witness
to-day. NJ Laboric, who examined her,
asked what she thought OF NJ. Iolas good
faith and whether she could say under
what circumstances she was informed by
Major Patty du Clam in 1924 Of her hus-
bands arrest The Judge declined TO put
the last question. VI. Zola here rose and
cried
ZOLA DEMANDS FAIR PLAY.
"I desire the same treatment az the as
sassin or the thoif. They have always
the right to defend themselves, but ! am
deprived of this. ] am Knocked and in
suited in the streets and the obscene
press drags me IN the mud. You see.
gentlemen Of the jury. tho position ! am
IN. 7 wish to have my witnesses heard
hut am prevented"
'But do you know the iaw?" the Judge
asked Z0la
NO. 7 don't know and I don't want 70
know" WAS Icla's renlv
After a long and heated areument the
court decided that no question. not CON
tained in the Indictment could be allowed.
PROOF LACKING.
u. Leb'c,s. idwy r and a witness 'or
the dcfondants. testified that be- ana
Colonel Plcquart we're old friends and mad
studied together consequently when Pic
uyart was connected with ths war intel
ligencc department. he consulted the Wit
ness on certain grave matters, he had
mearihed In connection with the carrier
pigeon cf'air az Nancy and in regard 70
which ne had received menacing letters.
When doubts on the Dreyfus n1.ter
arose. NJ. Scheurcr- Kcstner questioned
the witness on the foregoing matter AMI
the witness gave him certain Information
including letters which General ucuZ
wrote tc ?i,1r ~ which NJ. Srtmcr-
Kestncr had kept The witness urged IL
Schuier- kesfner &c apply to the Minister
of Justice 10 annul the Dreyfus judgment
in vlow Of shc secret documents submit
ted TO court martial. but as he wHs
lacking IN mGtcrial proofs NJ. Scheurer-
Kestner h5d not acted imm adiately.
DAMAGING TESTIMONY
NJ. Scheurcr- y StncT, who was next ek-
amined, said he learned last July that
Colonel Picquart had discovered that the
BordcrcauN had not been written by
Droyfus ana he submitted Major Ester
hays handwriting TO ". Bertillon. who
agreed that It was in The same hand as
the BordereouX Witness suggested 10
General GOnz that fresh expert exam
nation be made but the General dis
saudtd him from so doing.
NJ Schcurer-Kestner sketched the con-
tents Of the letters In which Colonel
Picquart wrote that fresh facts had been
discovered which would be eagerly selz-
cd upon by the Dreyfusians who would
create a great scandal" General Gonz
replied that il was too late to stop the
matter now" Colonel Picquart I'm anoth-
er letter according to the witness ureed
that tho whole affair be exposed or there
would be a scandal.
TOLD ALL HE KNEW.
Continuing the witness said.
i went 10 General Billot Ohe Minister
Tor War and told him what 4 knew
ohered to communicate General Gonz.s
letters but he refused. Then It was agreed
that the Interview should not be dlv1,aed
nevertheless the government newspa nere
published an account OF IL. 7 had inter.
views with the Premier. IN. Melinol ana
toiu him everything knew"
NJ Schurer- kestner further sata =.
never mentioned the name OF Esterhazv
except 10 the government hut Soma
time later Matthew Dreyfus brother oc
aired Dreyfus) came 10 him and de.
clared that he also had discovered tbat
Esierhazy was the author OF the borde-
reaux, ~hereupon the witness told Ma
thieu Dreyfus 10 write 10 the Minister az
war "hich he did. denouncing Ester
hazy.
There was much stir in court when II
was announced that NJ. Casimir- Perier.
the former president OF the French re-
public, would be the next witness
Wnen ne was called, the presiding
Judge said:
COULDN'T TELL THE TRUTH.
You swear to speak without animoslty
or fear and to speak the truth and no
thing but the truth"
NJ. Casirnir Perier. at this point inter
rupeted the judge. saying:
Pardon me. 7 cannot swear to tell
the truth because ! cannot do so. II Is
my duty not 10 tell IT,"
This statement caused commotion
among the audience The presiding
judge resumed:
The law compels you. before even
speaking or refusing TO testify to take
the oath"
NJ Caslmir-Perier then submitted. rails
ed his hand AMI took the oath.
Can you say" asked VI TahOrie. IN
when you were president. you knew be-
fore his arrest that a stan officer was
suspected OF treason and tha, charges
had been made AGAINST him?"
THE OBJECTER
The presiding JUDGE intervened. saying.
"YOu cannot ask that"
Counsel for NJ Zola then nut another
question 10 NJ CasimIr-perier. saving:
"Did NJ. Casimlr-Perier know that a
secret iile OF papers existed at the War
Ministry"
II was not aware OF file. papers con-
cerning Major Esterhazy." was the re-
ply.
"Did you" continued NJ Laborie. know
that q secret document was handed 10
H. ..urf ma rffa1