The Judge.--“Of the Dreyfus case let us say nothing.”
M. Labori.--“But, _Monsieur le Président_, I do not wish to speak of
the Dreyfus case.”
The Judge.--“Pardon me, you wish to speak of it indirectly.”
M. Clemenceau.--“Will _Monsieur le Président_ allow me to put the
following question? Was the witness told by one of the members of the
council of war of 1894 that a secret document was communicated to the
judges in the council-chamber,--a document which had been communicated
neither to the accused or to his counsel?”
The Judge.--“I have told you that that question would not be put.”
M. Clemenceau.--“Then I ask a legal declaration to that effect from the
court.”
The Judge.--“The court grants you a legal declaration of anything you
like.”
M. Clemenceau.--“Oh! _Monsieur le Président_, it seems to me that
you are going a little fast. My question to the witness involves the
principal point in this case. The court will not put it. Under these
circumstances I must offer a motion asking acknowledgment that in the
presence of the accusation against M. Zola” ...
The Judge.--“The accusation concerning the Esterhazy case.”
M. Labori.--“I did not say that. I asked the court to put to M. Salle
the following question: Does M. Salle know of a serious fact concerning
the accusation against M. Zola that may be useful to him from the
standpoint of morality and good faith?”
The Judge [to the witness].--“Do you know of anything in the Esterhazy
case which” ...
M. Labori.--“I ask that the question be put in the terms in which I
framed it.”
The Judge.--“You have no right to ask indirect questions in order to
reach an end which you should not reach.”