Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1899 — TRY TO SLAY LABORI. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRY TO SLAY LABORI.

Dreyfus’ Counsel Shot in the Back by Hidden Assassin*. At Rennes, France, two men ambushed Attorney Labori, counsel for Dreyfus, and one shot was fired, hitting Labori in

the back. After the attack he was able to walk to a doctor’s house, and climbed the stairs to his office. The physician found the wound was under the left shoulderblade and had been made by a small ball. The wound is not deep. When M. Demange, Labori’s colleague in the defense, arriv-

ed at his side the victim cried cheerfully: “Not a tragedy this time.” He told Demange to proceed with the trial, and that he hoped to be present and assist him in a week. M. Labori left his home accompanied by his wife at 6:25 o’clock on Monday morning and started on foot for the Lycee to attend the day’s session of the court-martial. The lawyer and his wife had reached the Quay on the edge of the city, when a man who had been concealed near by leaped out and fired a revolver at Labori. The lawyer staggered, but soon regained control of himself. His wife screamed for help. The shooting caused tremendous excitement. The spot chosen for assassination was suitable for such a deed. The wouldbe murderer could not be seen by the victim until close upon him. Fernand Laboxi, the wounded attorney, is 40 years of age. He has attained fame as a> brilliant lawyer, and has been prominent in the Dreyfus case, seeking for information in behalf of the prisoner. Excitement scarcely equaled sinfce the assassination of President Carnot reigned in Paris on the announcement of the attempted assassination of M. Labori. Crowds gathered in the hotels and.cafes and on the street corners. The latter were dispersed by the police. The very' calmness of the people seemed ominous. Men seem to feel the matter too grave for anything as trivial as denunciation.

Honest supporters of the military party were speechless. They have stood by the army in crisis after crisis in public sentiment. Through scandal, blackmail, dishonor and astounding tales of prison malfeasance, they have bravely stood their ground. But they were not prepared to defend a cowardly and brutal assassination. Saturday’s session of the Dreyfus trial was extremely dramatic. The chief interest centered in the testimoiiy of Gen. Mercier, former Minister of War. His evidence was expected by the antiDreyfusards to prove conclusively the guilt of the prisoner. In this it failed. Gen. Mercier in concluding his statement said that if he had not been convinced of the guilt of Dreyfus he would admit that he had been mistaken. Then the most senastional event* of the day took place. Dreyfus, stung to the quick, sprang to his feet and shouted, “You ought to say so now.” The courtroom was in an uproar. Cheer after cheer rang out for Dreyfus, while Mercier was cursed and hissed. Mr. Casimir - Perier, former President of France, told of his connection with the case and demanded the right to confront and refute the assertions of Mercier. The testimony given by the other witnesses was in the main favorable to Dreyfus. Upon the arrival of M. Labor! with his family in Rennes, just prior to the opening of the Dreyfus trial, he was forced to pay exorbitant prices for apartments, so strong were the sentiments in Rennes against the prisoner. He had been warned that it was dangerous to have his family there, as they might be sabject to attack, bnt he said he was of. tte opinion ®ore care man ordinary, unuer vac oD*

FERNAND LABORI.