The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-08-18
ASSASSINS AT WORK.

[AS''sA 4. AT WORK.
NJ. Labor Counsel for Dreyfus,
Shot Down at Rennes.
Attacked While on His Way to the
Coartroom-Physicia Say He
Will Die Exciting Day
u the Trial.
Rennes, Aug. 1.-two men am
pushed Maitre Lah@ri, counsel for
Dreyfus, and one shot was fired. hitting
Labori in the back. M. Labori fell in
the roadway. He is sti1Q alive. Maitre
Labor left his house alone for the court
at about six O'clock Monday morning.
His residence is situated in the suburbs
OF the town. about quarter of an
hours walk from the Lycee, the route
being along solitary road beside the
river Vitaine. He had reached a point
half way on his journey when two men
who had evidently been lying in wait
for him rushed out of narrow lane,
and one OF them fired a single shot from
revolver. The murderers were only
couple OF yards behind their victim,
and the bullet struck Maitre Labor in
the back. The wounded man uttered
an agonized cry and fell fiat on his face.
The murderers Immediately fed
thre ugh the lane from which they had
emerged, and both escaped.
At 1880 o'clock it was announced that
the bullet had entered the stomach;
that there was no outward bleeding.
and that the physicians believe that NJ.
Labor will die from the wound. A
later story has it that NJ. Labor was
shot in the temple by man who fired
revolver at him outside the court,
and that the miscreant was arrested.
Only two or three laborers going to
work witnessed the shooting of Maitre
Labor. The spot was well chosen, as
the murderers could not be seen by NJ.
Labor until they rushed out upon
their victim, the entrance to the lane
being hidden by bushes. Moreover,
they were afforded an easy means of
escape by passing back through the
lane. which led to the country.
One of the laborers, named Patoux,
who witnessed the shooting, said:
| "As I was passing along the road 7 saw
! a tall man walking quickly in the direc-
| ton of Rennes. He was on the towing
path of the Valaine He was attired in a
dark lounge suit and wore bowler hat.
It was just as he reached the bridge cross
l {~~ en-
| men, about medium height and wearing
| dark suits and round, soft felt hats,
emerged from rural path entering the
| main road. One of them carried a heavy
/ stick. They approached M. Labori from
| behind. Suddenly one drew revolver and
| fired point blank at Labori. He was so
near that it was quite impossible for him to
| miss. A sharp report was heard and M
| Labori threw up his arms and cried: 'Ho
| la la "a common French exclamation) and
| fell fiat upon his face. I and one or two
| others who saw the deed ran up but the
| murderers had vanished down the lane
| Help was Immediately sent for and the gen.
darmes quickly arrived. and soon after
Nine. Labori''
| Rennes, Aug. 1.-THE red and white
facade of the Lycee was bathed in sun
shine at $40 o'clock Saturday morning
when Capt. Dreyfus crossed the Avenue
de la Care and entered the building for
the second public session of his trial bv
court-martial. The same stringent DO
| lice precautions were taken, but bare
ly 20 persons had gathered to witness
his crossing.
| Gen. MERCER was on the stand for
four hours. His evidence was repeti-
ton of the old charges and accusa-
tons against Dreyfus. He repeated
again his war-scare story to the effect
that the Dreyfus affair had brought
Germany and France to the brink of
conflict.
| At the end of his evidence Gen. Mer-
cier said he believed that the only mo.
tive of Dreyfus' treason was that Drey-
fus had no feeling of patriotism. This
cruel utterance brought forth Kisses
from the audience, whose blood had
been sent up to fever heat by the wit
ness savage attacks on Dreyfus.
Gen. Mercier, not needing the Kisses,
terminated with remarking: IF the
least doubt crossed my mind, gentle
men, would be the first to declare it to
you, and say before you, to Capt. Drey-
fus, [ am mistaken, but in good faith.''
Then Dreyfus electrified his hearers
He jumped to his feet, as though the
words had galvanized him into new life.
and shouted with voice which rang
throughout the hall like a trumpet
note: 'That is what you ought to say
| The audience burst into n wild cheer,
whereupon the ushers called for silence,
| Gen. MERCER then stammered:
II would come and say: Capt. Drey-
fus. I was mistaken in good faith, and I
come with the same good faith to admit
it, and will do all in human power to
repair the frightful error"
The prisoner then shouted: "Why
don't you, then. That is your Duty
At this there was another outburst
ofapplause. Gen. MERCER, after pause.
when the excitement had partially
calmed,o said: swell, no. Ny c6nvic-
ton since 1894 has not suffered the
slightest weakening. 1t is fortified by
the deepest study of the dossier and also
by the inanity of the means resorted
to for the purpose of proving the limo
cence of the condemned man of 1894, in
spite of the evidence accumulated and
in%spite of the millions of money ex-
pended
Col. Jouaust then said: "Have you
finished?''
Gen. MERCER replied: Eyes,
| Col. Jouaust then announced that the
sessions of the court-martial would be
resumed Monday morning.
| Denies 1T.