Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22
MADAME HUMBERT
Noted Female Prisoner States
Her Case.
GREAT DAY IN COURT
MANY AMERICANS PRESENT AT
THE HEARING.
Claims Millions Exist-The Days Pro-
ceedings in Sensational Trial
at Paris.
GREAT DAY IN COURT

at Paris.
PARIS August 22.-The expectation that
today would bring the conclusion or the
Humbert trial renewed the intense pubHc
interest in the case. The court room was
again crowded. Among the throng were
number of American lawyers and tourists
who secured favored places through the er-
forts of the United States embassy,
| The prisoners maintained the same out
ward aspect of calm. Nine. Humbert walk
ed in haughtily and surveyed the crowd
! with scornful air. DR.. Floquet, VINO eA-
amined the prisoner before she came into
| court, found her to be in good health ana
| showing no signs of nervous breakdown
under the strain of the elimination of the
| trial
M Patenotre Attacked.
Advocate Hesse addressed the court at
| length in defense of Roman d Aurignac.
pointing out his brotherly devotion through
out the trials to his sister. Madame Hum
bert He severely criticised the declaration
of NJ Patenotre the former French ambas-
sador at Washington that he did not know
Madame Humbert and invited the jury to
request the presiding judge to give them
certain private letters, in one OF winch NJ.
Madame Humbert for adornments which she
had sent him for his salon.
Outside the court room the public every
where awaited the verdict and discussed
the prospects.
Madame Humbert's Statement.
At the conclusion of the pleading Madame
Humbert arose, amid an intense hush
throughout the court room, to make her
promised developments. She seemed to be
laboring under great effort and paused
after her first emphatic statement that the
Crawfords and the millions existed. Then
she began formally:
'.Gentlemen of the jury: When L wanted
the address of M. Crawford he answer
ed: You cannot know me. am not called
Crawford. l am not known by that name.
Then what name? l asked. He replied:
My fortune was made during the war OF
1870 by refnvestments of rents. which were
then very low, and a large quantity was
bought here.
Madame Humbert paused a long while,
and then continued: His name is Regner,
the intermediary between Marshal Bazine
and the Germans. l had already trans
acted bus.ne with one Regnier, who ap-
peared to me to be mysterious parsonage.
and who said to me: BE careful, madame,
not to confuse me with the notorious Reg
nier.' That is how l suddenly learned
Crawfords name. / never told my hus-
band. l swear on my daughters head.
This is the first time he hears the name"
Addressing the presiding judge. Madame
Humbert went on. exclaimng: What say
is true. The Crawfords exist the fortune
exists, and l. Madame Humbert, will bring
actions against the Crawfords."
Turning to the jury again, Madame Hum
bert said: Gentlemen. l will not say any
more 1t Is enough to tell you that the for
tune exists, and that l never cheated any
one Now you have the whole Humbert
case and the whole Crawford case"
Madame Humbert continued making a
indefinite tat
M. Vale the minister of justice in connec-
uon with the Cattaui case asserting her
truthfulness and declaring that when ac-
quilted her creditors would be able To fnd
her. She would do her duty. she said and
II any one offered her money she would
shows~ilim the door She concluded:
nave fun, complete confidence and
now ! await my fate"
a prolonged movement among the snecta
tors followed the statement which causeJ
a general feeling of disapp ointment owing
to the inconclusive nature of Madame Hum
berts declarations.
Maitre Labori addressing the iurv saia.
Now You Have the Secret"
Now you have the secret of Madame
Humbert. She has told you the same as
she told me"
Counsel, continuing. read a sketch of a
considerable length outlinging the secret
part OF the war of 1870 and showing that
hesHef dCted as intermediary between
Prince Bismarck and Marshal Bazaine.
Maitre Labor said he had been unable
10 learn what eventually became of Reg
nier. After being condemned to death by
court-martial Regnier disappeared The
minister of war should be able to furnish
information as to what became of him
Counsel concluded with an eloquent plea
to the jury not to condemn the prisoners.
which aroused loud applause
Ihe president of the court then declared
the arguments closed and read the 28U
questions submitted to the jury.
The jury retired at 2:3o pm and the
prisoners withdrew NJ Humbert and
Emile d 'Aurignac looked greatly depressed.
Madame Humbert and Roman dAurignac
maintained their defiant attitude
The spectators remained anxiouslv await
ing the verdict
The general feeling was one of stune
fication at the utter futility of Madame
Humberts revelations.
The Judgment of Parts.
The Mathis latest poll of public opinion
shows that ., 462 persons are expecting
condemnation and that $40 anticipate the
acquittal of Madame Humbert This fairly
reflects the general sentiment, which lis
about three to one In favor of conviction
The chances of Frederic Humbert. the
husband of Madame Humbert are looked
upon as being slightly better than those
of his wife. Roman, it Is believed will
fare about the same Madame Humbert.
and Emile Daurignac. brother of Romaiu.
is expected to get the worst treatment of
all, as 1t Is the general belief that he
planned the operations.
All Found Guilty.
PARIS. August 22-All the members of
the Humbert family were found guilty.
~