New-York tribune., 1903-02-12
PRISONERS PROMISE REVELATIONS.
Scenes in Court at the Trial Of the
HumbeTts.
rRr The Associated Press.l

Paris Feb 1.-THE Humbert family made
their first appearance IN the cTlIhlha courts
4o-dav when the case of NJ Cattau1. the bah<eI'
was taken uT IN the Ninth Correctional Chah-
her There was great public interest mani
tested in the proceedings. and the courtroom
was hacked with people All the previous eN-
auinations Of the Humherts had been held in
secret. and this was the first opportunity the
Tarisiaps had to see and hear the prisoners
who attained so much notoriety as a result OF
The many millions which they are said TO nave
Inherited from American named Crawford
The FJumberts We're brought in like any ordl-
nary prisoners and took seats in the prisoners
iox Nine. Th6rese Humbert displayed her
usual bravado ana Coolness: her sister, Marie
Isurignac. was apparently much unnerVeo' ana
The latters brothers. Roman and Emile Dauri-
r.nac. maintained an attitude OF calm defiance
The case does not involve the main question
concerning the Crawford millions, but Nj. Cat
tauf-s charge that they libelled him in referring
10 the banker as a usurer indirectly affects the
entire transaction.
The early stages OF the trial to-day did not
produce any sensations. Nine Humbert gave a
long. rambling statement Of her dealings Wlth
NJ Cattaui. and alleged that his demands Tor
,.xcessi,.a interest and her borrowings from him
amounted 10 about S6o0oe0 When NJ Cattaul
was heard and he repudiated the charge Of usury
Nine FIun1bert spranG from her seat and asked
for the privilege Of interrogating the banker,
lint the ,oresiding ma gistrate sternly repressed
her
The estinlony furnished by Marie Daurignac
today showed evidence Of an intention TO leave
to AlIne. Humbert the direction Of the plans for
the prisoners defence.
while Frederic Humbert was testifying he
sought TO incriminate a number of prominent
rolittcal personages, including l. Vale. the
rH-1p
,aiIz stopped him from bringing in the names
Of reople who were not parties 10 the case
Thoreupon Nine. Humbert dramatically eN-
claimed:
Other interesting facts viii be disclosed when
the main case is heard;'
The Judge again stopped NJ Huinperl "lcn
he asserted that persons occupying high posi-
lions were aware of the fact That the ituili'Si :
family Madrid
Roman d'Aurignac confirmed his sister s AH-
count OF the dealings with Cattaui whose char-
scter he painted in the backest colors- Altel
several other witnesses ha. been heard the co'r l
adjourned until tomorrow.
The impression formed by those who have fol
lowed to-day's proceedings is that Nine Iherese
FIu1nbert has all her wits about her. ana Is
what I. French call a woman Of strong char
acter. Her testimony was q mixture ol an at
tack on usurers as the cause Of her ruin, lanen-
,stious over her sufferings and half yelled
threats. all delivered in iasinuating tone
rendered more striking by her Southern accent
and a slight lisp She once broke in with a &c
n,and that the Minister Of Justice, formerly
NJ Cattaui's lawyer. he called as a witness
Il yrart 10 see Minister Vale" she said. His
1,resenee Will sootbe n -~elngs. and also bene-
iii nv creditors I have photographs Aou >-i
see Yes, / viii tell the whole truth
Several times she expressed confidence III lhe
Justice Of her country when the story she IN
tended TO tell before the Assize Court was
heard once addressing NJ Cattaui' she eN-
claimed in dramatic way; prefer 70 De Will
IN the four Is OF a prison cell with my
conscience than in your place