Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-13

and will do all in human power to repair
the frightful error"
The prisoner then shouted: "Why don't
you then? That is your duty"
Still Believes Dreyfus Guilty.
At this there was another outburst of
applause. General Mercier, after a pause,
when the excitement had partially calmed,
said:
well, my conviction since 1894 has not
suffered the slightest weakening. 1t is
fortified by the deepest study of the dossier
| and also by the means resorted to for the
purpose of proving the innocence of the
condemned man in 1894, in spite of the evil
dence accumulated and in spite of the mil
| lions of money expended
Colonel Jouaust then said: Have you
| fnished?"- q .f
General Mercier replied: Yes"
Colonel Jouaust then announced that the
sessions of the court-martial would be re-
| sumed Mond@y morning.
NJ. Casimir-Perier thereupon rose and
| said: After the deposition of General
Mercier, 1 shall ask the court to hear me,
| and l would prefer it to be in confronta-
| ton with him..
| This announcement caused a sensation.
| Then followed a thrilling demonstration
| against General Mercier. AS he turned to
| leave the court, the audience rose en- masse
| and Kissed and cursed him, those at the
| back of the caurt standing on chairs and
| benches in order better to hound him.
| The gendarmes placed themselves be-
| tween the general and the audience, which
showed strong disposition to maltreat
| the former minister of war.
| General Mercier hurried out or the court
room through a side door. On emerging
| into the street the crowd outside cheered
md oria1
| "Ah," cried spectator of the scene in
| court, eff they had heard the human mon
ster speak, they would not cheer him
| now"
One newspaper man in court was arrest
ed for calling General Mercier, as he
| passed by him, murderer, but later ON
| the man was released.
| Dreyfus was hurried out by gendarmes
who Immediately cleared the court room.
| Mercier Played the War Scare.
! Mercier played the now well worn war
scare to-day, but the effect must be very
discouraging to him. as his hearers listen
ed without stirring muscle to his story
of how France was on the threshold of a
war. war with WITH Germany The anti-Dreyfusards
At the outset of General Mercier's testi-
| mony, he prepared the court for a war
scare by declaring that Emperor William
|
| in organizing espionage, and then later
| when he defended his action in commune
| eating the secret dossier to the court-mar-
| tial of 1894, he said:
| Il no longer have reason to keep silent
and 1 am going to accomplish what con-
slider my duty. In 1894 the diplomatic stu
| alton was perilous. NJ. Hanotaux, then
minister of foreign affairs, has indicated
| this. NJ Casimir-Perier has spoken before
the criminal chamber about the unusual
| step taken by Count Won Munster. He also
exposed the somewhat unusual way by
which he could double himself into an of.
| fetal parsonage and private parsonage
later giving Count Won Munster informa-
tion which was at first refused him.
But NJ Casimir-Perier amended his dep
osition. saying he had not said that the
same day he, NJ. Dupuy and myself, re.
mained from in the evening until 1873
in his private Office at the Elysee awaiting
the result of telegraphic communications
Count Yon Munster. We remained foul
hours and a half waiting to see If any
thing would result from this exchange Of
telegramS.'
Here NJ Casimir-Perier shook his heat
and hand in emphatic denial of Genera
Merciers statement.
The latter continued: 81 had been in.
formed in the afternoon that the situation
an order from his sovereign to ask for hi:
passports If his demands were not con.
ceded. I was prepared to give the order
for mobilization. You see we were withir
an ace of war. 1t was only at 1880 that NJ
Casimir-Perier notified me that Count Vor
Munster had accepted the insertion of q
/ somewhat vague note declaring the am.
bassador was not involved"
NJ; Casimir-Perier here again made re-
pudiating gesture.
General Mercier continued to explain thai
this was the reason for his action regard.
ing the secret dossier.