The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-08
On Charge of Forgery and Using
Forged Documents.
MADE 1T A HOLIDAY.
The Railroads Ran Excursion
Trains Into the City.
Thousands Besiege Palace of
Justice for Admittance.

Jury to meet the charge of having per-
petrated what ex-Premier Waldeck-
Rousseau described as the greatest
swindle of the century" Investigating
Magistrate Leydet in May decided to
commit Therese Humbert her husband,
Frederick and her brother Tor trial on
the charges of forgery, the Use of
forged documents. and swindling. He
dismissed the cases against Eva Hum
bert Crherese's daughter) and Marie
Daurignac cher sister,. Public curl
osity. which has followed the fortunes
of the family since the days of its So
icial brilliancy, is again intensely
wrought up. the chief interest center
ing 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 s2O.00O.-
goo, which she put forward as security
for the loans she obtained amounting
ito about $4,000 600.
The Palais de Justice was early this
morning surrounded by large crowds
eager to gain admittance to the court
room. A heavy force of municipal
guards preserved order. Many eXcur-
siOns came from distant points, the
railroads treating the trial as they
would national holiday. one of the
excursions came from Melun which was
the constituency that Frederick Hum
bert represented in the chamber of dep
tuties and where. was located the fam
Dus Herbert chateau. with its parks,
lakes, yachts and a fleet of gOndolas OF
the thousands who sought admission
only few hundred Of the highly favor
ed gained an entrance to the court
Coquelin. the celebrated actor, was
among the throng of artists. actors and
authors seeking admission and when he
was turned back he remarked that the
trial would be '-one of the greatest
ted f1ta
the court room recalled the tense days
of the Dreyfus and Zola trials
y The court room is comparatively
small The walls and ceiling panelled
with mahogany, giving it sombre
hue. The judges bench formed a
high semi-cirele at further end The
presiding judge, CASTOR Bennett, occu-
pied the center of the semicircle. Bon
nett is a man of middle age and bears
an expression of benignity, but has a
reputation of infleXible sternness. The
Judges wore red silk gowns and velvet
capes which they removed as they as
tcended the bench. Within a reserve en-
closure were the leading members of the
bench and bar in black silk gowns and
wearing stiff white neckclothes. To the
rear was the small public area, eacf
seat bearing the name Of its dlstln
guished occupant. The audience in
cluded diplomats. academicianS anC
members of the Legion of Honor. Many
ladies were present their rich. gay
gowns contrasting with the gravity o
dies carried dainty luncheon baskets
evidently expecting to spend the day il
court.
To the right of the judges was the
prisoners dock, raised four feet above
the level of the room and bringing ou
the faces Of the prisOners against th'
dark back ground. They were brouGh
In from the prison of the COnciergeri
through a subterranean passage. lead
ing to the court room. As they entered
= every eye was strained toward them
Therese Humbert came first then hei
husband Frederick followed by he
brothers. Emile and Romain D'Aurig
nae. Nine. Humbert's face was pal'
from her long Incarceration. Her who'll
bearing as she coldly surveyed the spec
tators indicated scorn and defiance. Sh
wore a becoming gown and dainty
round hat. hearing a cut steel Ornamen
and cluster of white roses. Frederic
Humbert was the picture of n crushed
and miserable man. He bore haggar'
expression, showing more despair thai
defiance His scanty beard has becOm
very grey. Emile D'Aurignac has grow
thin and cadaverous looking; his brothe
Roman still looks the type of the sleel
promoter.
; Mime. Humbert hada whispered confer
ence with her counsel. Maitre Labor
who defended Dreyfus at the Renne
court martial. while the indictment va
being read. There was a large ARA,
of counsel representing the numerou
interests on both sides The early hour
Of the hearing were occupied by tn
reading of the indictment, the forma
pleading and the selection of the jur,
from the regular panel
Nine. Humbert frequently interrupte
the reading of the Indictment wit
scornful exclamations. which could b
heard throughout the court room. Whel
asked where she lived she answered
'In prison"
The Interrogation of Nine. Humber
furnished the chief incident of the daS
but failed to develop any surprises o
bring out the whereabouts of the mys
terious Crawford Brothers, her state
nent consisting mainly of vague declar
afions of her honesty. As the judge rea
= extra cts from the dossier. reviewing he
J family antecedents. she waved Maitr
Iabori aside and rising with notes i
her hand, insisted on directing her ow
case.
Judge Bonnet inquired about her &C
centric father. who assumed the It'll
of Count" Nine. Humbert emphatical
" upheld the family character Whe
the Judge stated that Roman D D'AuT
ARanac had followed his fathers exam
Nple in assuming the title of count.
Roman arose and exclaimed: 1T
false. it is false"
Questioned about various early inner
ftances. which she claimed to have re
ceived Therese answered with apparer
frankness saying she had received larg
presents. When the court demanded tn
exact details regarding the presents sh
replied:
IAN will be explained and she warm
sIy maintained that the details would b
kupplied at the oDnOrtune time.
Later her calmness in putting off he
disclosures excited outbursts of laugh