New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-13
THE GREGORI VERDICT
Failure OF F4N41ICS.
Jury Regarded Shooting as Political
Protest Rather than Crime.
Especial by French Cable TO The Tribune
DOWNRIGHT 1905. by The Tribune Association

Paris. Sept 1.-THE acquittal by Partisan
jury Of the i'll balanced journalist Gregori may
appear incomprehensible to observers OUTSIDE
the influence OF tho atmosphere OF the boule-
Yards II would be mistake to regard nc
verdict as a setback to the generous moVepleh'
that did Justice to Dreyfus. In fact the lsho-
rninfous failure of n handful Of fanstica adher-
ents to lost cause to put France In a Dia2e
by an attempt to revive the animosities of the
affair is convincing proof of the revolution OF
public opinion in France since the dark days OF
the first Dreyfus court martial.
It is true that certain aspects of the Gresorl
trial appeared to be a ghostlfke continuation oil
the Rennes court martial. but the actors nave
all visibly aged. Dreyfus seemed much more
careworn more wrnkled. and whittier than nine
years ago. Du Patty de Clam, although erect ana
alert as before. kissing vigorous remarks with
extreme voIubity was shriveIled, yellow and
tragic. Henri Rochefort had become shaky and
infirin The famous dame blanche who had
never failed to be picturesque figure at all
the Dreyfus trials, was spectator at the Gre
gori trial but much less white, for she had for
saken her memorable snow white toilets for a
simple. neatly cut gown OF dark blue, and wore
a discreet and becoming veil
MaTtre Menard counsel for Gregori, showed
remarkable tact, and to his brilliant eloquence
is largely due the acquttal of his client. Menard
began at once by declaring that he did not for
a moment pretend to assert that Dreyfus was
guilty, but that his client, Gregori. felt con-
WINGED that he Gliding lightly over the
criminal side of Gregoris assault, MaItre Me-
nard made every effort to show that Gregorl
had no intention OF killing Dreyfus but was
impelled by an irresistible passion to put on
record his protest against the burial of lola
in the Pantheon. The adroit advocate concen-
trated all his fire this point. He pro-
nounced a drastic literary criticism on the
works of lola, cited the opinion of Barley
Danevillv in regard to the author of 'L'Assor1-
noir" repeated passages from La Debacle.
and cast sort of spell upon the impressionable
jurymen, who followed every word with inn
plicit attention.
Under these conditions all who know Paris
have no hesitation as 70 the real meaning of
the acquttal The jury felt that the political
passion that impeed Gregori to commit the act
criminals and was an excuse for it. The jury
practically said:
You were doubt sincere in your personal
convictions and your revolver shots, with noisy
but insignificant cartridges. merely your
own particular way of putting record your
protest against the burial of Cola in the Pan
theon. Consequently you not real Grim
inal, so we set you at liberty"
This verdict, illogical and sentimental as it
may be. the outcome OF the peculiar atnos-
phere of the bouevards, and in no way indicates
anything like reaction of public opinion so
far as Dreyfus is concerned. c. b.