The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-15
M. LABORl SHOT.
Continued From First Page.)

/ the central figure of which was the
| Commissary of Police, note book in
hand. taking down the testimony of the
witnesses of the affair.
| The scene of this pathetic picture was
a dusty high road, the dark, green, slow
waters of the River Vilaine on one side
and on the other side scattered houses
| with gap just opposite the spot
through which could be seen a green
meadow with a stream flowing through
it. and beyond that the backs of a row
of houses.
The road that NJ. Labori had followed
tapered away back from the scene of the
tragedy, with a row of trees along the
| border of the Vilaine, under whose
| leafy shelter NJ labor walked to per-
haps his death.
An ambulance which had been sum
moned arrived with four attendants
of the military hospital, bearing an ordi-
nary stretcher and mattress. On this,
NJ Labori was tendery laid, and the
stretcher was borne by friends of NJ
Labor and some newspaper men, with
Madame Labori walking beside 1t.
Accounts of the shooting related by
eye-witnesses differ considerably, espe-
cially respecting the appearance of the
would-b murderer, OF whom the follow
ing is the official description:
''Twenty-five to thirty years; fiat,
peaked hat. Dressed like workingman.
in blue blouse
A force Of gendarmes, headed by NJ.
Hennion, sub-chief Of the secret police,
is securing the country in search OF NJ.
Labori's assailant, and IA company of
infantry has been dispatched to surround
and beat the wood wherein the man is
supposed to be hiding.
An incredible side of the outrage is
the fact, ii is asserted, thar several
passers-by saw M. Labori shot. and
passed on indifferently, neither Offering
to help the victim nor joining in the pur-
suit of the assassin.
Still more incredible is the fact that
an individual who went TO the side of
NJ. Labori as he lay wounded on the
ground, is said to have searched the
pockets of the suffering man on the
preteXt of ascertaining his Identity and
stole their contents.
The assailant fled after the shooting
holding his revolver in his hand, with
his finger on the trigger, and threatened
several men who showed a disposition TO
block his way.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press at 1915 O'clock this morning, saw
one of the doctors at NJ. Labori's house,
which was guarded by four gendarmes.
The doctor said that NJ. Labor was
bearing the agony he was suffering with
marvellous fortitude.
He added:
I'VE have strong hopes that he will
mil 1oh 4 10 4
ever, before we can speak with certain
~ of his condition. We have to thank
the military surgeon for the prompt at
tention given to the sufferer. But de-
plorable length of time elapsed before
the ambulance arrived. NJ. Labor lay
on the ground half an hour, with the
sky menacing a storm, which came with
in n few minutes after he reached
home"
There We're several reports this after
noon that the assailant of NJ. Labor has
been captured, but they proved to be
unfounded. Detachments of troops and
gendarmes are beating the woods and
securing the country. They have been
engaged in this work all day long with
out success A great number Of people
saw the murderer fleeing, but he was
either too far distant from them or else
he succeeded in cowing them by threats
to use his revolver. A gardner named
Delahaye got near enough to the man
to clutch him by the shoulder, but the
fugitive shook himself free and turning
to his pursuer, exclaimed:
'sBe gone. or | will kill you. / still
have five shots left in my revolver and
they will be for YOU
Delahaye, being quite unarmed. re-
coiled and allowed the man to escape.
The attempt made upon the life of NJ.
Labor was evidently the result of plot.
A letter was sent to the Commissary
of Police this morning, warning nm
that it was intended to make an at
tempt upon the life of General MERCER.
Consequently the police and detectives
surrounded the General and left the
other principles of the drama unpro-
tected.
General Blot admitted that at times
he had entertained strong doubt of
Dreyfus' guilt, but declared that the
proofs Of his innocence had, never been
conclusive. AS Minister of War, his
first duty, he said, had been to protect
the country from treason.
M. Cavaignac, former Minister Of
War. was the next witness. He SAID
among the principal points upon which
he based his convictions was the confess
sion TO Captain Lebrun- Renault, in sup
port of which contention he quoted a
passage from an alleged letter Of Drey-
fus but which In reality was part OF
General Gonse's report of the Minister
of War on Colonel Du Patty De Clam $
report of the alleged confession.
The witness also said he found addl-
tional proofs of the prisoners guilt in
the technical character of the bordereau
and thought the bordereau alone estab-
lished the fact that treason had emana-
ted from the bureau of the General Staff
and from an officer who was able to Sc
cure all the information desired. He
maintained that Dreyfus was this man.
| 1t was impossible according to NJ.
| Cavaignac, to credit that Esterhazy was
traitor even admitting the bordereau
was written by him. Esterhazy, he in
sisted, could only have acted as ar
intermediary or an accomplice. The in
qury of the court Of Cessation proved
treason was really committed and be,
Mr.. Cavaignac had not based his con
/ viction of the culpability of Dreyfus
solely on the handwriting of the borde-