Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-08
Z0LA'S TRIAL
Opens at Paris Amid Most
Intense Excitement,
Police Prevent Demonstration by
Crowd for or Against lola.
Charge Limited 10 His Denuncia.ion OF the
Estorhazy caurtmar.aI.

Paris, Feb. THE trial of NJ. Emile
Iola, who is being prosecuted by the
government as result of the letter
which he wrote last December to the
Aurore, strongly rejecting upon high
officials connected with the Dreyfus
case. opened today in the assize court
Of the Seine. The keenest public inter-
est was manifested in the case. Hun
dreds Of people surrounded the court,
anxious 70 gain admittance The po-
! lice measures. taken to insure orders.
We're most rigorous. The crowds in
creased in number all the morning.
The arrival of NJ. Henri Rochefort
was the signal for shouts of give
Rnchefort' and counter cries OF "A bas
-tochetort.' Tuning in the direction
Of the hostile cries, Mr.. Rochefort
shouted: 1T would seem that with four
OF you at five francs a piece the Drey-
fus syndicate will not be ruined"
n. lola. who arrived in carriage
shortly afterwards, was greeted with
Nehement shouts Of "Conspuez Zola''
(apit upon Zola'D. An individual who
shouted "Nive lola" was promptly sup
pressed.
The proceedings commenced at l =.
Nj, under the presidency of NJ Dele
gorGue. who announced that the court
would br cleared if there was any dem
onstration. Although the court was
thronged, quiet was maintained owing
p the knowledge that a company of
Republican guards had been placed at
TN disposal Of the judge to preserve
order.
While the jury was being selected NJ.
lola entered the dock {, He was pale.
and few cries of ssssive aZola" was
promptly suppressed BY the Vigorous
protests of the majority of the
audience
After the. reading OF the Indictment.
the advocate general explained that
the charge <was Strictly limited to the
passage in NJ. lola s letter denouncing
the Esterhazy court martial Continu-
ing, the advocate general said it was
imperative to prevent the proceedings
from wandering. ana thus playing
into the hands Of the accused whose
aim is to get revision of the Dreyfus
affair by a circuitOus route"
AT this juncture three experts IN
handwriting, who were charged, in
NJ. Iolas letters with making fraudu-
lent reports. asked permission to an
pear in the action as private prosecu-
tors But II. Laborie. counsel for NJ.
Ic,d, objected and the court upheld
him
In regard to the limitation of the
trial. the court decided to allow the
accused to call evidence in support of
the C.her charges contained in his
letter, including the accusations which
ne made against Colonel Patty Du
Clam, and Generals MERCER, Boisdeffre.
&ill0t and PelHeux
After reading the names of the Wit
1eSses summoned. NJ. Delegorgue read
g number Of letters of excuse. includ-
ms letter from Minister of Justice
l>aFlan announcing that Minister of
" ar biii"t, had not received that au-
thority OF the cabinet to testify.
CoL Patty du Clam was called and
refused to testify Nj. Laborie, urged
the Importance Of his testimony. ad-
ding that unless the court ordered the
witness to testify, he might be COM
PEELED TO demand an adjournment until
the next sessions. Counsel also said
ne was not prepared to oppose a secret
trial. If it was absolutely necessary.
i'ut, continued n. LaboIie the allega-
ion that the matter they were discuss
nS was connected with the state Sc
'rcts and the national de.erfce was a
mere joke.
The advocate general protested
against the national defence being
allied joke, to which NJ. Laborie hot
y replied that he would permit no one,
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