Evening journal., 1898-02-24
ONE YEAR FOR lola.
French Novelist, as Was Ex-
pected, Is Convicted.
LIKENS HIS POSITION TO CHRIST'S
Hears His Sentence with Composure--Ed.
itor Perreux Gets Four Months-Mob
Makes the Customary Rush For
the Authors Carriage.

PARIS, Feb. 24.-The zola trial is
ended. The jury agreed days ahead on
the verdict, and it's unanimity was due
to threats. 1t staid in the juryroom fol
few minutes, and the sentence is one
year for M. zola and four months for
M Perreux. the nominal director of The
Aurore. Both Of the accused were also
fined the sum Of 1900 francs.
The hour was z in the evening, and
the court was lighted by electricity
which revealed the face of every per-
son. A very striking picture. Christ
Crucifed," hung high behind the bench
Maitre Labori ended his speech by say
ing, THE name of Plate is the most
abhorred in history" The figure of
Christ caught zcla's eye. After SEN
tence had been passed with pompous
decorum he exclaimed, To-day. asso-
ciated with Christ, !. too, am a victim
of mob violence, official cowardice and
a grand miscarriage Of justice"
But he did not vince or finch. He
looked as Indifferent as a mere specta-
tor. Nine. Zola's heart at first seemed
broken, but when she felt that she must
brace herself up she became calm and
self possessed. His friends, the artists
Bruneau and Desmoulin, were more
broken hearted than she. They have
daily accompanied Zola. protecting him
from mob violence. M. Labori was also
greatly upset.
NJ. zola's other friends were delight
ed. They declared that by the sentence
he was redeemed from all past faults;
that IL set him on a radiant PEDESTAL
gave him a unique position and would
make him the representative man Of
humanity. They had greatly feared a
severe sentence, but one wiped off with
the benefit Of the first offenders law.
In this case he would not have gone to
prison.
Frantic braves greeted the announce
ment of M. Zola's sentence, and a scene
of intense excitement followed. M. La
bori, M. Perreux and some Of the others
present embraced NJ. Zola. There was
extreme tension in court while the Jury
was in retirement, and the public was
on tenterhooks until the verdict was
rendered. Then the people present burst
out into tremendous applause.
In the meanwhile all the approaches
to the Palace of Justice had been clear
ed, the police commissary charged with
the safety of M. Zola having declared
that he could not guarantee the latters
safety until the streets were in thor
ough control OF the police. Exceptional
measures were taken as the public
emerged from the assizes court Out
side the building there was terrific
cheering. especially upon the appear
ance Of the officers who have figured In
the trial. They were almost carried in
triumph, and shouts Of Death to the
Jews" resounded on all sides. num-
Der Of violent fights ensued and police
secretary was slightly injured
The mob seemed to be delirious
shrielxing cheers for the army and howl
ing down the Jews with fierceness. NJ
Zola emerged from the court at 7;3(
p. m, and his appearance was the sig
nal for tumultuous denunciations and
insults and shouts OF Down WITH
Zolai" Death to Zolal" The Grove
made mad rush after his carriage. bu
a strong bulwark Of police intervenet
and saved him from the fury Of hii
denunciators.