Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
HUMBERTS ON TRIAL
Alleged Swindlers Arraigned
in Paris.
GREAT CROWDS ATTEND
SOCIETY IN FRENCH CAPITAL
ALL AGOG.
Case Attracts Almost as Much Atten-
ton in France as the Drey-
fus Trial Did.
GREAT CROWDS ATTEND

meet the OF ndNlHB peIpttiaeOo
what ex-Premier Waldeck- Rousseau de-
scribed as "the greatest swindle of the CEN
fury" Investigating Magistrate Leydet in
May decided to commit Therese Humbert,
her husband, Frederic and her brother, for
trial on the charges of forgery the use Of
forged documents and swindling He dis
missed the cases against Eve Humbert
(Therese's daughter) and Marie Daurignac
(her sister,
Public curiosity which has followed the
fortunes of the family since the days of its
social brilliance is again intensely wrought
up, the chief interest centering in La
Grande Therese." who has promised to pro-
duce at this trial the mysterious American
millionaires. the brothers Crawford, on
whom she based her story of an inheritance
of $40. 600, which she put forward as the
security for the loans she obtained, amount
ing to about $1O,OOO.OOO.
The palais de justice was early this morn
ing surrounded by large crowds eager to
gain admittance to the court room. A
heavy force Of municipal guards preserved
order. Many excursions 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 Frederic Humbert
represented in the chamber OF deputies ana and
chateau. with its parks, lakes, yachts and
q fleet of gondolas.
But Few Gained Admittance.
OF the thousands who sought admission
only a few hundred of the highly favored
gained an entrance to the court. Coquelin
the celebrated actor, was among the
throng of artists, actors and authors SEEK
ing admission, and when he was turned
back he remarked that the trial would be
zone Of the greatest dramas ever enacted
The scene within the court room recalled
the tense days of the Dreyfus and lola
trials
The court room is comparatively small.
the walls and ceiling paneled with mahog-
any, giving 1t a somber hue. The judges
bench formed high semi-circle at the fur
ther end. The presiding judge. CASTOR
Bonnet occupied the center of the SEMI
circle, his associates being Judges Monler,
Planteau, Pignard and Du DeZert. Bonnet
is a man of middle age and bears an eX-
preston of benignity. but has a reputation
of infexible sternness. The Judges wore
red silk gowns and velvet caps. which they
removed as they ascended the bench. With
in reserved incloSure were the leading
members of the bench and bar in black silk
gowns and wearing stiff white neckcloths.
To the rear was the small public area. each
seat bearing the name of its distinguished
occupant. The audience included diplo-
mats. academicians and members of the
legion of honor. Many ladies were present,
their rich, gay gowns contrasting with the
gravity of their surroundings. Many of the
ladies carried dainty luncheon bags, evil
IDENTIFY expecting to spend the day in court.
Arrival of the Prisoners.
To the right of the judges was the prs-
oners dock raised four feet above the level
of the room and bringing out the faces of
the prisoners against the dark background.
in n
the Conciergerie, through subterranean
passage leading to the court room.
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 whole bearing as
she coldly surveyed the spectators indicated
scorn and defiance. She wore a becoming
steel-blue gown, and a dainty round hat,
bearing a cut-Steel ornament and a cluster
of white roses. Frederic Humbert was the
picture of crushed and miserable man.
He bore haggard expression, showing
more despair than defiance. His scanty
beard has become very gray. Emile d'Au-
rignac has grown thin and cadaverous-l Hook
ing. but his brother Roman still looks the
type of the sleek promoter.
Conference With Counsel.
Madame Humbert held a whispered con-
ference with her counsel, Maitre Labori
who defended Dreyfus at the Rennes court
martial while the indictment was being
read There was a large array of coun-
sci, representing the numerous interests
on both sides The early hours of the
hearing were occupied by the reading of
the Indictment. the formal pleading and the
selecting of the jury from the regular
panel.
Madame Humbert frequently interrupted
the reading of the indictment with scorn-
full exclamations. which could be heard
throughout the court room. When asked
where she lived she answered.:
I'm prison
The Interrogation of Madame Humbert
furnished the chief incident of the day. but
failed to develop any surprises or bring out
the whereabouts of the mysterious Craw-
ford brothers. her statement consisting
mainly Of vague declarations Of her hon
esty.
AS the Judge read extracts from the dos
sier. reviewing her family antecedents she
waved Maitre Labor aside. and. rising with
notes in her hand. insisted on directing her
own case.
Judge Bonnet inquired about her eccentric
father. who assumed the title of count"
Madame Humbert emphatically upheld the
family character. When the Judge stated
that Roman Daurisnac had followed his
fathers example in assuming the title of
Count Daurignac." Roman half rose and
exclaimed: 1T Is false! 1t is false!" Ques-
which she claimed to have received Therese
answered with apparent frankness. saying
she had received large presents
When the court demanded the exact de-
tails regarding the presents she replied:
"All will be explained" and she firmly
maintained that the details would be sup
Piled at the opportune time.
Manner Excites Laughter.
Later her calmness in putting off her dis
closures excited outbursts of laughter II,
which judges and spectators Joined Ques-
toned as to the Crawford brothers. she ex-
claimed: Il repeat that the Crawfords ex-
ist."
'Then where are they?" inquire the Judge.
Their presence will be made known in
due time she replied, amid another out
burst of laughter
Judge Bonnet remarked that She had
given the same answer before and now was
the time to produce the Crawfords.