Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-07-14
DEPUTIES in
BIC TUMULT
Government Official Wounded in
Duel Over DreytuS- FistiCuffS
in French Assembly.

bloody duel last night In which Under
secretary Of State Sarraut was danger.
ously wounded by the sword of NJ.
Pugliesi- Cont.
The duel assumed the aspect of Il
veritable combat betwreh, the govern
ment and the opposition. as NJ. Sar-
raut's seconds were Ministers Clemen-
ceau and Thomson, while NJ. Pugliesi-
Conti's We're NJ. Milleyoye and General
Jacquet, who were drawn from the ele-
ments which bitterly resist the govern
ment's rehabilitation of Dreyfus.
The meeting followed a fight on the
floor of the chamber of deputies. in
which NJ. Sarraut sprang from beside
Minister of the Interior Clemenceau.
sitting on the ministerial benches, on
NJ. Pugliesi-C Cont, who had been heap
ing denunciation on the members Of the
velnme as scoundrels. Sarraut
struck Pugliesi-Co a stunning blow
in the face. A scene of the widest up
roar ensued. compelling the suspension
of the session. 1t was after the close
of the session that the duel occurred.
Late reports show that NJ. Sarraut is
suffering from a deep wound in the
right breast. penetrating the lung,
While the wound is considered to be
serious, it is not necessarily dangerous.
Despite this sanguinary conflict, laws
were finally enacted by the chamber of
deputies reinstating Dreyfus. who OBJ
tains the rank of a chief of squadron
of artillery, and Picquart. who is made
a brigadier general. Both houses were
overwhelmingly favorable to Dreyfls
and Picquart. Throughout the day feel
ing was stirred intensely between the
Dreyfus and anti reyfus elements.
This was heightened by fierce attacks
by Dreyfusists against General Mer-
cier and other prominent officers who
were responsible for Dreyfus' condem-
nation. Early in the day Minister of
War Etienne presented the government
bills restoring Dreyfus and Picquart
to the army.
Minister Etienne's explanatory pre-
amble to the Dreyfus bill said: "a de-
cision has judicially and definitely es-
tabIished the innocence of the accused,
involving ipso- facto his reinstatement
in the army and expunging his con-
demnation. The government, power
less to repair the immense material and
moral injury sustained by the victim
of a deplorable judicial error, desires
to place Dreyfus in the situation he
would have occupied If his normal ca
reer had not been interrupted"
The preamble to the Picquart bill
said: 3
.'Preclamation of the innocence of
Dreyfus demonstrates the legitimacy
of Picquart's loyal and courageous eff
forts for the triumph of truth Mt the
risk Of definitely breaking his career.
We demand that parliament expunge
the effects of his action by the confer
ment of the rank of brigadier, with
priority over other ~brigadiers."
The army committee quickly and
unanimously reported the bill, and the
debate in the chamber of deputies was
decisive, Dreyfus securing 473 votes
against AZ and Picquart 467 votes
against 81.
The feeling had then become very
strong. The storm broke when NJ.
mentary proposition for the punishment
of the officers who had accused Drey-
fus and Picquart and whom he desig-
mated as a gang of m%alefactors and
forgers who deserved branding with
red hot irons.
II MA nf fhic n1ptna1f thnt tho Snr-
raut- Pugliesi-Co encounter occurred.
NJ. Pugliesi-Conti aroused by NJ. Pres
senses d~enunciation, shouted at the
ministerial benches, You are scoun
drels for permitting these insults to
ofiicers!'
Immediately from the ministerial
benches there sprang the 1.-THE, wiry
figure of Undersecretary Sarraut. He
made straight for PugliestC Cont, seiz-
ed him by the throat and planted his
right fist squarely in his face. Pu-
! gliesi-C Cont. dazed by the blow, was
caught by his friends. while Ministers
Clemenceau and Thomson grasped
Sarraut's coat tail and dragged him
back to his seat.
Pandemonium Immediately broke
loose. Deputies gathered in groups in
the center of the house, fighting, then
blows raining indiscriminately.
The bill was passed by the senate by
1875 to 20.
General MERCER in the midst of con
slant disorder attempted TO vindicatt
the Rennes court martial. He declar'
ed that proofs were then shown which
were suppressed in the supreme court
Senator Delpech then replied that Gen
eral MERCER deserved to be sent &c
Devils island in place of Dreyfus.
The bill for the transfcrrence OF
Zola's body to the Pantheon also was
enacted by the senate.
President Fallieres last night signed
the enactments for the rehabilitation OF
Dreyfus and Picquart, and the DEGREES
of PRONUNCIATION appears in the OF
fetal Journal this morning and also the
nomination Of I9rcyfus to be n chief OF
squadron and Picquart to be brigadiel
gener;' the time elapsed since boil
men were dismissed from the army tC
count as full service. The Official
To,,-,nl oisn contains tha incoriutiOn 81