The Washburn leader., 1899-08-19
TIT GROWS TRAGICAL
VIOLENT PASSION sTIRs THE TOWN
OF RENNEs.
rhe Well-Nigh successful Attempt
to Assassinate NJ. Labori, Drey-
fus' Chief Counsel, Causes q Great
Sensation - WOuld-Be Murderer
Escapes-Gen. Mercier and M.
Casimir-Perier Indulge i'm a Cat
and-Dog Fight Gen. Blot still
Believes Dreyfus Guilty.


Rennes grows tragical. That long be-
calmed town is being stirred into a
more violent passion than Paris. The
Parisians are laborious. The BretOns
are silent and possessed by their be-
lief or idea, whatever it may be.
Yesterday morning at 6 o'clock a
well nigh successful attempt was made
to kill NJ. Labori, who defended Zola
last year and who came here to de-
fend Drcyfus with NJ. Demange. The
would-be assassin was evidently a
crank and looked a workman. His
weapon was a revolver, the theater of
the crime the Quay Iiichmont. 1t was
while Labori was going to the court
with Col. Picqu.It and his cousin, NJ.
Cast. When Nine. Labori came up
she was sent to fetch doctor, but not
knowing the town she lost good deal
of time. At last she thought of going
to the court and asking for a military
surgeon. Doctors Vidal and Recleus
We're at hand and at once accompa-
MED her. They had the presence of
mind to send geniarmes to the bar
racks for an ambulance with stretch
er and bearers. With deep thankful
ness they found that NJ. Labcr could
move his limbs at will. The spine,
therefore, was not injured. The ball
had entered at the sixth vertebrae. be-
hind the thorax. 1t might be imbed-
ded in the muscle of the back or have
penetrated deeper, injuring the lungs.
However, the thing was to bear the
wounded advocate to the pretty and
gay looking villa he had hired for use
during the trial, villa adorned with
green slabs Of faice, bright with aow-
ers and in the airy part of Rennes.
Col. Picquart describes the would-be
murderer as swarthy and thick-set,
thinks the man might be Southr0n.
II so he must have known the country
around Rennes. 1t is country Of
small, patchy fields, separated by
hedges, which he was evidently IA
miliar with. Apparently he knew
places in the thicket into which he
could dive and in doing so remain con-
cealed for some time from pursuer.
The gendarmes that Col. Picquart met
joined in the pursuit, but feet running
and knowledge of the locality enabled
the would-be murderer to escape.
I.abori, not long convalescent from
typhoid, is in a bad state to resist a
ball entering the throax through the
back. He is now in a high fever and
there may be dangerous complications
later.
The announcement of the attempted
assassination caused deep impress
sion in the. court room. Silence reigned
for three or four minutes. Possibly it
WAS the silence Of stupor, for all
seemed stunned. At length the Ma
tionalists and Dreyfusites declared
their horror at the crime and sympathy
for the victim. The sitting was ad-
journed for short time to enable NJ.
Demange to inquire after NJ. Labori's
condition. During the proceedings
pending the inquiry the ladies grew
excited and communicated their ner-
vousness to the gentlemen. AS pre-
caution against canes and parasols be-
ing used in factional ,feud
gendarme was sent around to take
care of them. This led to masculine
protests and feminine cackle, but the
gendarme insisted. The court then
entered. Col. Jouaust, the president
of the tribunal, alluding to some mani
festation of opinion last Saturday in
tlte press tribune, threatened to clear
it if either approval or disapproval Of
any witness was expressed there. He
then ordered the conformation Of NJ.
Casimir-P Perier and Gen. MERCER.
These witnesses were more cat and
q dog than before. Casimir- Perier
seemed more like one of those fussy
mongrels that one sees on the box of
a French peasants market cart. The
dog sits by the driver, looking forward
ard ready to pick quarrel with no
matter whom. He seems to think he
represents the whole concern. NJ.
Casiulir-P Perier spoke of himself only
of what he did and said when presi-
dent. He snubbed Mercier verbally
and by almost turning his back upon
him. He had little to say of the Drey-
fns affair.
Gen. Mercier paid him back in
scratches that almost drew blood.
Gen. Billot sat while making his own
deposition. He still believes Dreyfus
guilty; but gave no strong reason. He
said that Col. Picquart. systematically,
as head of the intelligence department.
kept back all new facts favorable to,
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