The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-18
THE HUMBERTS
Have Been Placed On Trial
For Their Mammoth
SWindle.

Paris. August S.-The notorious Hum
bert family today faced a judge and
Jury to meet the charge of having per-
petrated What eX-Premier Waldeck-
Rosseau described as the greatest
sWindle of the century,
Public curiosity which has followed
the fortunes of the family since the
days of it's social brilliance is again
intensely wrought up, the chief inter-
es centering in La Grand Therese,"
who has promised to produce at this |
trial the mysterious American million
aires, the brothers Crawford. on whom
she based her story of the inheritance
of $50, 900. 600. which she put forward as
the security for the loans she obtain
ed. amounting to about $40, 900, 900,
The Palais De Justice, was early this |
morning surrounded by large crowds
eager to gain admittance to the court
room. OF the thousands who sought
admission My a few hundred of the
highly favored gained an entrance TO
the cOUEt. COquelin. the celebrated ac- |
tor. was among the thrOng Of artists. |
actors and authors seeking admission. |
and when he was turned back he re-
marked that the trial Would be one
Of the greatest dramas ever enacted"
The scene within the court room re-
called the tense days of the DreyfuS
and lola trials.
The prisoners were brought in from
the prison of the conciergeries, through
a subterranean passage leading to The
court room.
AS they entered every eye was strain
ed towards them. Therese Humbert
came first, when her husband Frederic.
followed by her brothers Emile and
Roman DAurignaC. Nine. Humbert'S
face was pale from her lOng confine-
ment. Her whole bearing, as she cold
ly surveyed the spectators indicated
scorn and defiance.
Madame Humbert held Il whispered
conference with her counsel. Maitre
Labor, who defended Dreyfus at the
Bennes court-martial. while the indict-
ment was being read.
Madame Humbert frequently inter-
rupted the reading of the Indictment
with scornful EXPLANATIONS which
could be heard throughout the court
room. When asked where she lived,
she answered.:
In prison. The Interrogation of
Madame Humhert furnished the chief
incident of the day, but failed to de-
velOp any surprises or brine out the
where aboutS of the mysterious CraW-
ford brothers, her statement consist
Ing mainly of vague declarations of her
honesty. AS the judge read extracts
from the DOSsier. reviewing her fam
lily antecedants. she waived Maitre La
bori aside and rising with notes in her
hand, insisted on directing her own
! case.
| Judge Bennett inquired about her
| eccentric father. who assumed the title
OF Count" Madame Humbert en-
phatically upheld the family character.
When the JUDGE stated that Romain
D'Aurignac had followed his fathers
example in assuming the title of
Count DAurignac' Roman half rose
and exclaimed. 1T is false. It is
falseI'
Later, her calmness in quitting off
her disclosures excited o~utbursts of
laughter. in which judges and Specta-
tors joined. Questioned as to the
Crawford brothers,. she exclaimed:
Il repeat that the Crawford brothers
exist"
Then. where are they?' inquired the
judge.
Their presence will be made known
in due time she replied. amid an
other outburst of laughter.
Judge Monnett remarked that she
had given the same ansWe before and
now was the time to produce the
CraWfords.
Each question put to Madame Hum
bert brought forth lengthy declara-
lions of her honesty, in the course of
WHICH, size dSStI leu lIltl IlCl IdIIlIlN "1~
one of the most upright in France and
said that it was the victim of a far
reaching conspiracy. Despite the ac-
cusations. she insisted her family neV-
er ~WrongfulIy took a penny
At the afternoon session. while Judge
Bonnet reviewing the story of the
Crawford inheritance. Madame Hum
bert complained of being suddenly
taken with a violent illness. The judge.
however. insisted on proceeding with
the case. i~ntimating his belief that her
sickness was feigned. He then went
into the details of the alleged Craw-
ford operations and their fleeting resi-
dence at New York. whereupon Nine.
Hunbert revived sufficiently to ex-
claim:
I will prove everything. I will show
my good faith. but not today not while
1 am sick"
The examination of Frederick Hum
bert Therese's husband followed. He
made ~insinuations against the minis
ter of Justice. NJ. Vale and eX-Premier
Waldeck-Bosseau. Questions as to
whereabouts of the Crawford millions.
h replied that he knew nothing about
them.
But I know about them exclaim-
ed Madam Therese. rousine herself
from her supposed sick condition
The hearing was then adjourned to
Monday.