The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-07-14
TUMOLT
IN CHAMBER
Government Official Fought
Duel over DrCyfus.
FISTICUFFS IN ASSEMBLY
Scene OF widest Uproar Caused by
Enactment of Laws ReinstRtinG
Dreyfus aAd Colonel Picauart.
ZOIa's body 10 Pantheon.

zoIa's body TO Pantheon.
PARIS, July IA scene OF tumultu-
Gus disorder which marked the enact
ment OF the law restoring Alfred ORGY
fus to the army was followed by n
bloody duel last night, Ia which Under
secretary Of State Sarraut was danger
ously wounded by the sword Of NJ
Pugliosl- Cont.
The duel assumed the aspect OF a
yerltablo combat between the govern
ment and the opposition, as NJ. Sar-
rauts seconds were Ministers Clemen-
ceau and Thomson. while NJ. Pugllesl-
Conti's were NJ. Millovoye and General
Jacquet, who were drawn from the ele-
ments which bitterly resist the govern.
ment's rehabilitation OF Dreyfus.
The meeting followed 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 Pugliesl-Contl, who had been heap
government as scouudrels Sarraut
struck Pugliesi- Cont stunning blow
In the face. scene OF the widest up
roar ensucd. compelling the suspension
Of the session. II was after the close
OF the session that the duel occurred
Late reports show that NJ. Sarraut is
suffering from deep wound In the
right breast, penetrating the lung
While the wound Is considered to be
serious, II is not necessarily dangerous
Despite this sangulnary conflict, laws
were finally enacted by the chamber Of
deputies reinstating Dreyfus. who OBJ
talns the rank Of chief of squadron
Of artillery, and Plcquart, who Is made
a brlgader general Both houses were
Overwhelmingly favorable to Dreyfus
and Picquart. Throughout the day feel
ing was stirred intensely between the
Dreyfus and antlDreyfus elements.
This was heightened by fierce attacks
by Dreyfusists against General Mer-
clcr aud other prominent officers who
We're responsible FOR Dreyfus condem-
nation Early In the day Minister OF
War Etlenne presented the government
bills restoring Dreyfus and PIcquari
10 the army.
Minister Etiennes explanatory pre-
amble 10 the Dreyfus bill said: "a de-
clslon has judicially and definitely es-
tablished the innocence OF the accused.
involving ipso facto his reinstatement
in the army and expunglng his con.
domination. The government, power
less TO repair the immense material and
moral injury sustained by the victim
Of deplorable judicial error. desires
to place Dreyfus In the situation he
would have occupied III his normal ca
reer had not been interrupted"
The preamble TO the Picquart bin
said:
proclamation OF the innocence OF
Dreyfus demonstrates the legitimacy
Of Picquart's loyal and courageous eff
forts for the triumph Of truth at 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 brlgadier. 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 ~ and Picquart 4G7 votes
against 81
The feeling had then become very
strong The storm broke when NJ
Pressense, Socialist, urged supple
nentary proposition for the punishment
Of the officers who had accused Drey-
tus and Picquart and whom he desig-
mated as a gang of nalefactors and
forgers who deserved branding with
red hot irons.
Ii was at this moment that the Sar-
,aut- PuglIesi-C encounter occurred.
NJ. Pugliesi- Cont, aroused by NJ Pres
senses denunclation, shouted Mt the
ministerial benches, You are scoun-
lrels for permitting these insults To
oflcersw
Immediately from the ministerial
benches there sprang the 1.-the, wiry
figure of Undersecretary Sarraut. He
made straight for Puglesl-C Cont, SELF
ed him by the throat and planted his
right fist squarely in his face. Pu-
gliesi-Cont, dazed by the blow, was
caught by his friends, while Ministers
Clemenceau and Thomson grasped