Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-08-18
La Grande Theresa
AGAIN FACES
The French Court

~
PARIS. Aug. S.-The notorious Hum
trt family today faced a judge and jury
to meet the charge 81 having per
pctratcd what eXPremier Waldeck
Rousseau described as the greatest
s~indle OF the century" lnvestigat
ing Magistrate Leydct in May decided
10 commit Theresa Humbeit her hus-
band. frederick. and her brother. for
trial on the charges Of forgery, the use
CT forged documents and swindllng
lie dismissed the cases against Eva
Eumbcrt tThercsas daughterI and
Marie Duignac ther sister,.
Public curiosity, which has followed
the fortunes OF the family since the
days Of its social brIlliancy, is again
intensely wrought up, the chief inter
est centering In La Grande Theresa,
who has promised to produce at this
trial the mysterious American mil.
l!onaries, the brother Crawford. on
whom she based her story Of an in
heritance Of s20,0OO,0O which she put
forward as the security for the loans
she obtained, amounting TO $4,000.
900.
The Palais du Justice was early this
morning surrounded by large crowds
eager to gain admittancc to the couN
room. A heavy force OF Municipal
Guards preserved order. Many OK
cursionists came from distant points
the railroads treating the trial az they
would a national holiday. One OF the
excursions came from Molnn, which
vas the consistency that Frederick
llumbert represented in the Chamber
Of Deputies and In which was located
the famous Humbert Chateau with its
parks. lakes, yachts and heet OF
gonodolas. OF the thousands who
sought admission, only few hundred
OF the highly favored gained an en-
trance to the court. Coquelin. the
celebrated actor. was among the
throng of artists. actors aud authors
S, cking admission. and when he was
turned back he remarked that the
trial would be "one OF the greatest
dramas ever enacted The scene
within the courtroom recalled the
days OF the Dreyfus and lola trials.
The courtroom Is comparatively
small. the walls and ceiling. panelled
with mahogany, giving II a sombrc
hue. Inc judges bench formed a
high semi.circle at the further end
The presiding Judge, CASTOR Ronuct
occupied the center OF the semi.Circle
his associates being Judges Monler
Plantoau. Pignard and Du Dezort, Bon
net Is a man Of middle age and bears
al expression Of benlgnity. but has q
reputation OF inacxible sterness. The
judges wore red silk gowns and velvet
caps. which they removed as they
assembled the bench. Within "A re-
served enclosure were the leading
members Of the bench and bar in
black silk gowns and wearing stiii
white ncckcloths. To the rear va,
the small public area, each seat bear
ing the name Of It's distinguished oC
cupant. The audience included diplo
mats. acadomicians and members oil
the Legion OF Honor. Many ladi",
we're present. their rich gowns con
trasting with the gravity Of their sur
rCundings. Many OF the ladies' carried
dainty luncheon bags, evidently expect.
ing TO spend the day in court. To ths
right OF the judges was the prisoners
dock. raised four feet above the door
and bringing about the faces of tn.
prisoners against the dark back
ground They were brought in IRON
the prison OF the Concicrgerit
through subterrancan passage lead
Ing TO the court room. Az they enter
cd every eye was strained towards
them. Theresa Humbcrt came first
then her husband Frederick, followed
by her brothers Romano and Emile
d Aurignac. Madame Humbcrt's fac,
was pale from her long confinement
Ecr whole bearing as she surveyed th'
spectators indicated scorn and def
nnce. yhc wore becoming steel.grcy
gown and a dainty round hat, bear.
lug a cut steel ornament and cluster
vi white roses. Frederick Humber
WAS tue picture vi CIuSutN anu MIS-
cradle man. lie bore n haggard ex
preston, showing more despair thai
defiance. His scanty beard has be
come very grey Emile d'Aurigna'
has grown thin and cadayerous.looh
ing, but his brother Romano stll
still looks the type OF the sleek pro
mOter.
Madame Humbert had a Whispers
conference with her counsel, Maitr
Labor, who defended Dreyfus, at tn
Rennes court-martial, while the indic'
ment was being read. There was
large array OF counsel, representa-
the numerous interests on both sides
The early hours of the hearing wer
occupied by the reading OF the lndict
ment. the formal pleading and the 81
lection Of the jury from the regula
panel.
Madame IIumbort frequently inteI