Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-15
NJ. Labor, the Attorney Upon
Whom Captain DreyfuS Relied.
WOUNDED IN THE BACK
Even should lie Recover flo May 10
ed Behind 10 Hodge, Shot Him
While Eli Hontc 10 Tho Court-A
Pathetic Picture The IIcnrtlcss
Conduct of Individual
tBy Telegraph to virginian-Ploto

(By Telegraph 10 Virginan-P ilot.)
Rennes. Aug. Ii-Anothcr tragedy
ma rked the rise OF the curtain on the
Drcyfus drama this morning. NJ. La
bori, counsel for the accused and the
man on whom the defense had relied
for the demolition of General Mcrcicr's
testimony, was shot from ambush on
his way to the court soon after six
o'clock.
His assailants. of whom there were
two. escaped and it is impossible yet TO
say whether NJ. Labori's name Will havs
to be added TO the list of strange deaths
that already punctuatc this mysterious
romance.
HE MAY LIVE.
1t was announced about the close OF
court to-day that NJ. Labori might live.
The wound in the lower part of the
back is serious. however, and even
ehould he recover, he may be partial
ly p;Eralyzcd.
Madame Labori. his Tife. is with him
constantly although almost prostrated
by the shock. The stalwart counsellor
has borne his intense suffering manful-
ly. His first word after being shot WAS
ting Of the court.
FIGHT IN COURT ROOM.
The excitement caused at the I.ycee
was into use, as might he we'll imagined
under the intense strain OF fractional
hatred, and IL was necessary at one
time for the gendarmes to interpose be-
tween the excited spectators VINO pres
cipitated Il fight In the court room.
HATRED BETWEEN FACTIONS.
The attack on Drcyfus through the
person of his most effective counsellor
was wholly unexpected. is was shown
by the lack Of precautions against il.
How seriously it may affect the prison.
er's chance before the court is yet
doubtful but it is sure to renew the
high tension between the opposing fac
tions both at Rcnncs and Paris What
added factor Of sympathy il may arouse
for the defense is also uncertain, but
so deep is the hatred on both sides
that the factions will not be prone to
weigh the means by which their enda
are attained.
HOW LAEORI WAS SHOT.
NJ Labori and his wife left his house
for the court at about 6 o'clock this
morning. Ills residence is situated in
the suburbs of the town about II quar-
ter of an hours walk from tho Lycce.
the route being along IL solitary road
beside the river Nlaine.
Just before the outrage his wife
turned back. having forgotten her card
of admission to the court. While she
was gone NJ. Labor met Colonel Pic
quart and NJ Cast. Immediately after
ward. while passing Il narrow lane, TWO
men sprang from behind the hedge and
one. placing Il pistol close to his vic
TINS back fired. turned and fed down
the lane and across the fields. The
murderer. or murderers. for accounts
differ as To whether there was one man
or two. was pressed by NJ. Cast and
Colonel Picquar. They were both too
old and heavy tn Ovcrtakc him and soon
returned. leaving the chase To the crowd
that had been attracted.
MESSAGE TO THE COURT.
His wife arrived while NJ. Lahori was
lying on the ground and Colonel Pic
quart and NJ. Cast We're pursuing the
murderer. NJ. Labori said 10 his wife:
sitting
Madame Lahori ran into the court.
gave the news that her husband had
been shot and ran back to him. She
sat down on the ground beside hor hus-
band and took his head In her Ian
The shot had been heard two hundred
yards away from the Avenue de La
care. where crowd had gathered as
usual to witness the arrival of the
principal personases connected with
the court martial. These spectators
ran III the direction of the spot where
the shooting had occurred followed by
sendarmes on horseback
AN AFFECTING SCENE.
When Doctor Rcclus arrived. he knelt
beside NJ Labori. putting a bottle of
smelling salts to his nos.rlls. Aroind
these central figures were grouped the
spectators. all deeply affected. some.
indeed, crying like children ~ a uttl,.
distance was gathered another group.
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
dusty high road, the dark. green.
slow waters Of the river Vilaine on one
side and on the other side scattered
houses. wiki a gap just opposite the
spot. through which could be seen u
green meadow with =, stream lowing
through it, and beyond that the backs
OF a row Of houses
The road that NJ. Labori had follow
cd tapered away hack from the scene
Of the tragedy. with a row of trees
along the border of the Whine. under
whose leafy shelter NJ Labori walked
TO. perhaps. his death.
An ambulance. which had been sum-
moned. arrived with four attendants OF
the military hospital. bearing an ordl-
nary stretchcr and mattress. on this
was tenderly laid and the stretcher