Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-17
MENTION HEARST
IN HUMBERT CASE
4 1kccused French Senator
Had Relations With Amer.
lean, 1t Is Alleged
NEW CHARGES BROUGHT
Paris Journal Editor Said to
Have Communicated Intelli-
gence to the Enemy
NEW CHARGES BROUGHT
Special Gable to Evening Public Ledger


Copvrioht. 1918. BIZ Nctc York Times Co.
Paris. Aug. II.
A sensation has been caused here by
the publication of a statement that. in
consequence of the discovery of entirely
fresh evidence, the charge of commerce
Charles Humbert has been for some
months awaiting trial by court-mar-
tial. will be increased to the much more
serious accusation of communicating in
telligence to the enemy. The gravity
Of the modification is evident from the
fact that the penalty of commerce with
the enemy is imprisonment whereas
proof of communicating intelligence to
the enemy under the French code. in
wolves the punishment of death.
The case of Humbert forms part of
the long series of treason trials which
began with Bolo Pasha. include the
Bonnet Rouge gang and Malvy. and will
end with Caillaux. Humbert was editor
of a great Paris newspaper. lie Journal.
and early in the war played in France
o similar role to that Of Lloyd George
in England, as II was admittedly
through the campaign he carried on in
the Journal, calling for an enormously
greater output of guns and munitions
that France was stimulated to realiza-
tion of the gravity of the German men
ace.
Bought Paper With German Cash
/. The Journal belonged to Henri Letel-
lier, and Humbert desired to buy 1t.
The charges against him are that in
order to satisfy this ambition he first
accepted money for the purchase from
sources alleged to be German through
the medium of Lenoire, Desouches and
others, who are asserted to have been
German agents, and who are now ac-
cused with him. Subsequently Humbert
replaced the capital derived from THESE
sources with money derived from Bolo.
Revelations during the inquiry into
Bolo's case led to the arrest of Hum
bert.
The name of William Randolph
Hearst, which ran all through the Boio
trial. has been mentioned many times IN
connection with the purchase OF the
Journal by Humbert, and point which
iss receiving close attention in the pres
eit Investigation is as to what were the
exact relations between Humbert and
Hearst. The fact is recalled that some
two years or more ago an article in ful-
some praise Of Hearst as devoted
friend of France appeared in the Journal
under Humbert's editorship. AS Hearsts
papers were then known to the man in
the street here as well as to the Gov
hai
pearance of the article occasoned in
tense surprise on the part of the French
public and excited perhaps the first sus
Melons against Humbert.
The Senator during the trial of Bolo.
Explained that he had inserted the ar
ttcle much against his own personal in
ciination because of the pressure brought
tp bear on him by Bolo, who had put
So 100000 into the paper. This money
vas proved at Bolo's trial to have come
from the German Foreign Office through
German banking houses in New York.
It is general ybelieved here that 1t
was largely through inforpation supplied
BY the American Government that evil
dence was obtained which eventually
sent BoIo to the execution post.
Humbert Was In Ul< "a States
Humbert is known 20 have been in
America about the time of these trans
sections. During his visit he was en-
ployed in negotiating certain contracts
FOR blankets and harness on behalf OF
the French Government and among the
charges against him. quite apart from
those of treason. are accusations that
he received enormous sums in Illegal
commissions in connection with these
cpntracts. Investigation into the cir
cumstances on which these charges are
10 In
bShalf of the French Government.
1T was widely believed here until
Thursday to be probable that Humbert
would escape altogether or get OF very
lightly on the charge of commerce with
the enemy. but that his ruin as a poli-
tictan and publicist was certain. His
position has now become much more
serious
The new charge of communicating in
telligence to the enemy has arisen under
dramatic circumstances. The trial of
Humbert and his alleged accomplice Le-
noir Desouches, had been virtually fixed
to come before the court-martial On the
2eth of this month. Almost at the last
moment. however, a startling statement
was made by a former clerk of De.
souches, who is debarred lawyer. As
a result the pending trial OF the accused
was abruptly postponed indefinitely tc
tifely different directions.
Bringing Back Convict Witness
.Questions that have since been put tc
Humbert appear to confirm certain eyi
dence already given which hitherto hac
been believed to be Of a secondary char
aeter.
.Among the depositions in the case was
that OF a former army captain named
Berton, who was arrested in October
1907. and subsequently sentenced t,
transportation for life for having sole
certain confidential documents to Ger
many. Last April Berton wrote to Cap
tain Bouchardon. the investigating mag
istrate. stating that he had importan
< statements to make concerning Humbert
Z Al statement made under oath by Berto,
at the penal settlement overseas wher
he II serving his sentence proved to b.
Of sufficient Importance to cause tn
judicial authorities to send for the con
vict, and he Is now on his way 4
France to give evidence at the court
martial
Not a word has yet been allowed L
( leak as to the details of the ney
charges. As II will be necessary to oh
tain the formal permission OF the Senat
for the prosecution OF Humbert, a mem
ber OF that body. on these new charge.
and as the Senate is now in recess, n
Z further developments in the case ar
Il. likely until the upper house meets agai
September IT.
~AISAcE 0IJESTI0N SETTLE