The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-09
HUMBERTS'
 FAKE FORTUNE Famous Case on Trial
 in Paris. THERESE VERY CONFIDENT Says She Can Prove Her Story to the Court. Great Interest Taken in the Hearing. waldeck- Rousseau Calls It the
 Biggest swindle of
 the Century.
THERESE VERY CONFIDENT

Paris Aug. s.-The notorious Humbert family today faced a judge and jury to meet the charge of having perpetrated what Former Premier waldeck- Rousseau described as the greatest swindle of the century"
 Investigating Magistrate Leydet in May decided to commit Therese Humbert. her husband. Frederic. and her brothers, Elm He and Romaine fAurignac. for trial on the charges of forgery. the use of forged documents and swindling. He dismissed the cases against Eve Humbert. Therese's 2 daughter. and Marie dAurignac. her sis- ter.
 Public curiosity, which has followed the fortunes of the family since the days of its social briliance, is again intensely wrought up, the chief interest centering in La Grande Therese," who has prom ised to produce at this trial the myste- rious American millionaires, the brothers Crawford, on whom she based her story of an inheritance of S20,000.O00, which she put forward as the security for the loans she obtained, amounting to about $10.- 000000.
 Court Was Surrounded.
 The Palais de Justice was early this morning surrounded by large crowds
 
 room. A heavy force of municipal guards preserved order
 Many excursions came from distant points, the railroads treating the trial as they would d national holiday. One of the excursions came from Melun, which was the constituent that Frederic Hum bert represented in the Chamber of Depu- ties and where was located the famous Humbert chateau, with its parks, lakes, yachts and gondolas. Of the thousands who sought admission, only a few hum dred of the highly favored gained an entrance to the court. e4 fs Coquelin, the celebrated actor, vas among the throng of artists, actors and authors seeking admission and when he was turned back he resnarlSe3 That fhe trial would be "one of the greatest dra- mas ever enacted" The scene within the court room recalled the tense days of the Dreyfus and Zola trials
 The court room Is comparatively small. the walls and ceiling panelled with ma" hogany giving it a sombre hue. The judges bench formed a high semi-circle at the further end.
 Bonnet on the Bench.
 The presiding judge. Gaston Bonnet oc- cupied the center of the semi-circle. his associates being Judges MonieT, Planteau. Pignard. and du deZert. Bonnet is a man of middle age and bears an expression of 
 ible sternness. The judges wore red silk gowns and velvet caps which they re- moved as they ascended the bench. With in a reserved enclosure were the leading members of the bench and bar In black silk gowns and wearing stiff white neck cloths.
 To the rear was the small public area, each seat bearing the name of it's dlstin- guished occupant. The audience included diplomats. 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, evidently expecting to spend the day in court.
 To the right of the judges was the pris- oners' dock, raised four feet above the level of the room and bringing out the faces of the prisoners against the dark background. They were brought in from the prison of the Conciergerie, through a subterranean passage leading to the court room.
 Cyosure for All Eyes.
 As they entered every eye was strained towards them. Therese Humbert came first. then her husband, Frederic, followed by her brothers. Emile and Romain d'Au- rignac. Mime. Humbert's face was pale from her long confinement.
 Her whole bearing. as she coldly sur veyed the spectators, indicated ecorn and defance. Sne wore becoming steel gown and a dainty round hat, bearing a cut steel ornament and a clustor of white roses. Frederic Humbert was the picture of a crushed and miserable man. He bore haggard expression, showing more despair than defiance.
 His scanty beard has become very gray Emile dAutignac has grown thin and cadiverous looking, but his brother, Ro- main. still looks the type of the sleek promoter.
 Mime. Humbert had whispered con- ference with her counsel. Maitre LSbori who defended Drsyfus at the Rennes courtmartial. while the indictment was being read.
 There was a large array of counsel rep resenttng the numerous interests on both sides The early hours of the hearing were occupied by the reading of the in- dictment, the formal pleading and the se- lecting of the jury from the regular panel Mme Humbert frequently interrupted the reading of the iI 4ictmept with scorn- full exclamations, which could be heard throughout the court room. When asked where she lived, she answered; 'In prison"
 Mime. Humbert Testifes.
 The interrogation of Mime. Humbert furnished the chief incident of the day nut failed to develop any surprises or bring out the whereabouts of the mysteri- ous Crawford brothers. her statement consisting mainly of vague declarations of her honesty. As the judge read ex- tracts from the Dossler. reviewing her family antecedents. she waived Maitre Iabori aside and rising with notes in her hand insisted on directing her own case.
 Judge Bonnet inquired about her eccen- tric father, who assumed the title of ''count" Mime. Humbert enphatically upheld the family character. When the fudge stated that Roman d'Aurignac had followed his fathers example in assuming the title of Count dAurisnac," Romain half arose and exclaimed: ''It is false, 1t is false.'
 "All will be Explained.
 Questioned about various early inheri- tances, which she claimed to have re- eeIved, Therese answered with apparent frankness saying she had received large presents When the court demanded the