New-York tribune., 1903-08-09
THE HUMBERTS ON TRIAL.
INNOCENCE PROTESTED.
Remarkable Demeanor of Leader IN
the Great SzCindLe.

gazing magistrate IN may decided 10 cOLlillb
Therese Humbert, her husband Frederic. and
| her brothers Roman and Emile Daurignac, for
trial the charges of forgery, the use of forged
documents and swindling He dismissed the
| cases against Eve Humbert, Therese's daughter
and Marie Durignac, her sister
Public curiosity which has followed the fort
| unes of the family since the days of its social
brilliance, is again intensely wrought up, the
chief interest centring in La Grande Therese'
who has promised to produce at this trial the
mysterious American millionaires. the brothers
Crawford, on whom she based her story of an
| inheritance of $2O,OOO,OOO, which she put for
ward the security for the loans she obtained
amounting to about $10,OOO,OO0.
The Palais de Justice early this morning
surrounded by large crowds eager to gain ad-
mittance to the courtroom. A large force OF
Municipal Guards preserved ordef. Many ex-
cursions came from distant points, the railroads
treating the trial as they would a national hoh-
day. One of the excursions came from Melun'
which the constituency that Frederic Hum
bert represented in the Chamber of Deputies
and where the famous Humbert chateau
with its parks lakes. yachts and feet of gon-
doIas.
OF the thousands who sought admission only
a few hundred of those highly favored gained
entrance to the court Coquelin, the celebrated
actor, among the throng Of artists actors
and authors seeking admission. and when ne
turned back he remarked that the trial
would be 'one of the greatest dramas ever en-
acted" The scene within the courtroom re-
called the tense days of the Dreyfus and zoia
trials.
THE JUDGES AND SPECTATORS
The courtroom IS comparatively small. The
judges bench formed high semicircIe at the
further end. The presiding judge, CASTOR Bon
net-Beaupre, occupied the centre of the semi
circle, his associates being judges Monier' Plah-
teau, Pignard and du Dezert They wore red
silk gowns and velvet caps, which they removed
as they ascended the bench. Within a reserved
inclosure were the leading members of the oench
and bar in black silk gowns and wearing stin
white neckcloths. To the rear was the small
public area, each seat bearing the name of its
occupant. The audience included diplomats
academicans and members of the Legion OF
Honor. Many were present
To the right of the judges was the prisoners
dock raised four feet above the level OF the
room. They were brought in from the prison OF
the Conciergerie, through a subterranean pas
sage leading to the courtroom. AS they entered
every eye was strained toward them. Therese
Humbert came first, then her husband Frederic
followed by her brothers Emile and Roman
Daurignac Nine Humberts face was pale
from her long confinement. Her bearing as she
coIdly surveyed the spectators indicated scorn
and defiance. She wore a becoming steel plue
gown and dainty round hat bearing cut
steel ornament and cluster of white roses
Frederic Humbert the picture OF crushed
and misera BILE man. He bore a haggard eX-
preston. showing more despair than defiance.
His scanty beard has become gray. Emile
Daurignac has grown thin and cadaverous look
ing but his brother Roman still looks the type
of the sleek promoter.
READING THE INDICTMENT.
Nine Humbert held whispered conference
with her counsel, Maftre Labori, who defended
Dreyfus at the Rennes court martial while the
Indictment was being read. There large
array of counsel, representing numerous inter
ests on both sides The early hours of the hear
ing were occupied by the reading of the in
dictment, the formal pleading and the selecting
of the jury from the regular panel.
Mime. Humbert frequently interrupted the
reading of the indictment with scornful ex-
clamations which could be heard through the
courtroom When asked where she lived she
answered, In prison" Her Interrogation fur
nished the chief incident of the day, but failed
to develop any surprises bring out the loca-
ton of the mysterious Crawford brothers, her
statement consisting mainly of vague declara-
tions of her honesty. AS the judge read ex-
tracts from the dossier, reviewing her family
antecedents, she waved Maitre Labor aside
and, rising with notes in her hand' lIlslsIeu On
directing her case.
Judge Bonnet inquired about her eccentric
father who assumed the title of count" Nine.
Humbert enphaticalIy upheld the family char
acter. When the judge stated that Roman
Daurignac had followed his fathers example
in assuming the title Of Count Daurignac'
Roman half rose and exclaimed: 1T is false!
1t is false!" Asked about various early in
heritances which she said she had received,
Therese answered with apparent frankness, say
! ing she had received large presents When the
Court demanded the exact details regarding the
presents she replied: "All will be explained,
and she firmly maintained that the details
would be supplied at the opportune time.
THEREsE'S ASSERTIONS DERIDED.
Her calmness in putting off her disclosures
excited outbursts of laughter, in which judges
and spectators joined Questioned as to the
Crawford brothers. she exclaimed:
Il repeat that the Crawfords exist"
Then, where are they?" inquired the judge.
Their presence will be made known in due
time" she replied amid another outburst of
laughter.
The judge remarked that she had given the
same answer before. and now was the time TO
produce the CrawfoTds
Each question put to Nine Humbert brought
forth long declarations Of her honesty in the
course of which she asserted that her family
of the most upright in France, and that
it the victim of a far reaching conspiracy.
In spite of the accusations she insisted her
family never wrongfully took a penny
At the afternoon session. While Judge Bonnet
was critically reviewing the story of the Craw-
ford inheritance. Nine. Humbert complained Of
being suddenly taken with a violent illness. The
ind on