The age-herald., 1898-02-11
TEDIOUS TRIAL OF
 NOVELIST ZOLA No Demonstrations Characterised the
 Day. WITNESS REFUSED TO REPLY To Questions Put By Defense and Their Examination Abandoned. THEvEnEr DEFENDED M. zoLA Said He Acted in Good Faith. and That His Mind Was Not the Only One Ex- = ercised Over the Es-
 terhazy Affair.
THEvEnEr DEFENDED M. zoLA

Paris, Feb. 10.-The examination of M. Trariux, former minister of justice, was completed at todays session at the assizes court of the seine, before which M. Zola and M. Perreux, manager of the Aurora, are being tried, the former for writing and the latter for printing a letter reflect ing upon the Esterhazy courtmartial.
 M. Trarieux said that while he was min- ister of justice he had nothing to do with the Dreyfus affair. He approved of M. Scheurer-Kestner's agitation of the mat ter
 When Commandant Fornisetti was called M. Delegorgue, presiding judge, refused to allow him to be questioned regarding the Dreyfus case, and M. La Borie, coun- sel of M. Zola, announced that owing to the action of the court he would abandon the examination of Commandant Forni- setti, and Capt. LeBrun-Renaud and oth- CTS, whom he only desired to question re- gardng the Dreyfus case.
 Major Paty DuClam was called and re- fused to reply to questions put to him rel ative to Mime. DeComminges.
 He Refused to Reply
 The major also refused to reply to other questions on the ground of professional secrecy"
 General Gong and Colonel Henry gave explanations of the indiscretion of Colonel Picquart, who had knowledge of some of the secret papers of the ministry of war;
 General Pellieux, who was appointed to Investigate the Dreyfus case, and upon whose report Major Esterhazy was court martialed, was examined. General Pell- ieux said he would tell the whole truth and not plead professional secrecy" He then proceeded to relate the story of the Ester hay inquiry, and said M. Mathieu Drey- fus and M. Scheurer-Kestner both. admit ted that they could not prove the charges against Major Esterhazy.
 Gen, PelMeux then induIgpd amid aD- plause in an outburst against Col. Pie quart, whom he accused of divulging an espionage affair to an outsider, exclaim- ing, "Such conduct is shameful"
 Referring to the Bordereau the general declared that the alleged fac siniles pub Hshed were all fictitious.
 As to the compromising letter sent to Major Esterhazy, which might raise sus- pictons that he had shady transactions with a foreign agent, Gen. Pelheux said; ''It is inconceivable that any one should be so naive as to employ this method of correspondence in a matter of such grave importance"
 Gen. Pelleux here expressed indignation at the 'inexcusabe action of Col. Picquart in having Major Esterhazy's rooms bur glarized without authority of any kind.
 "Col. Picquart admitted this," the wit ness continued, land when the courtmar- tial acquitted Major Esterhazy was not astonished. I was proud of having con- tributed to the acQuittaa Of MaJOr Ester hazy, which proves that in the French army there are not two, but only one traitor"
 M. Dupuy( the former premier, was ther called, and M. LaBorie began to question him regarding the case of Dreyfus whdcf the presiding judge vetoed whereupon M I.aBorie announced he would throw up the examination of Mr. Dupuy and other for. mer ministers as the rulings of the presd l ing judge made it fruitless. Acted in Good Faith M Thevanet, a former minister of jus tice, who was next examined. said he coult easily understand why M. Zela was exer cised by the "veiled lady, story. M. Zola he added had acted in good faith, for com plete light had not been thrown upon tht matter, and M. Zola was not the only mint troubled.
 M. Thevanet expressed satisfaction d | the acquittal of Maj. Esterhazy, which h, said proved there were no traitors in thu | French army, but he boldly insisted' tha | complete light had not been thrown upor | the affair, which, he added, interested tn, whole of Europe. He further expressed re gret that the government had not spoker in order to restore tranquility for the coun try. (Uproar in court and various cries). Continuing, M. Thevanet said that he wa. astonished that the officers, instead of giv ing open testimony should have taken ref uge behind professional secrecy" The court then adjourned.