Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-13

Judges. lie ddOtu.. Il receiver NJ. Der
unon December llth and 18th. .at the In
stance OF tho Minister Of War. who
thought his demonstrations very curious,
interesting. and conclusive but | must
confess said NJ. Casimir-Perer. amid a
general litter in court. that / judged
them differently"
lie added: 'All that was done and said
among the ministers was done without
my knowledge"
NEVER RECEIVED DREYFUS.
The witness then related the facts in
connection with the futile efforts Of NJ.
dock-ROussCau to prevent the frst
court-martal from sitting behind closed
doors and said be. the witness. had
never received any member Of the prey
fus family
NEVER TALKED WITH DREYFUS.
NJ Casimir-Perier concluded this part
OF his statement by raising his voice ana
speaking very excitedly saying:
For the honor Of the chief Magis-
tracy, which ] occupied, FOR the honor OF
the republic, / will not allow il 10 be salo
that had exchanged a word with a cap
tain in the French army accused OF tred-
SON"
This statement caused applause In
court which Colonel Jouaust speedily sup
pressed threatening TO clear the hall If
there was any repetition of It.
HIS RESIGNATION.
The former President ended his state
mcnt by saying:
II affirm before this tribunal OF sol
dIers that my resignation was not con
uccted with the diplomatic incident con-
corning Germany. IL pains me not 20 be
able TO second the court in the work Of
irsticc cOniidcd 10 IL. for from this place
must emerge al last. for the sake of the
country. reconciliation and peace. | can
DO no more than tell the truth the whole
truth. and nothing but the truth. As
Chief Of state. or when citizen. I have
always. in my respect for France. re-
garded her as free 10 make q decision rs
she is herself revered." applause. which
was quickly suppressed)
LEBRUN-RENAUD.
Various questions were then asked NJ.
Casimir-Perier by the assistant judge and
VI. Demange on the subject of Captain
Lebrun- Renaud's statement that Dreyfus
had confessed t. him, and the witness sa d
emphatcaly that he never had from
Captain Lebrun-Renaud any communica-
ton such as a confession during the Cap
tain's visit 20 him. He added that ne
was not prepared TO deny that General
MERCER had told Captain Lebrun-Renaud
20 communicate this alleged confession,
but he affirmed that the Captain did not
speak Of it 10 him
ALLEGED DREYFUS LETTER.
NJ. Demange then introduced the ques-
ton Of the letter which the anti-Drey-
fusards asserted Drcyfus wrote to NJ.
Casimir-Perier and ina which. it was
claimed. he spoke of engagements entered
into by NJ Caslmir-Perier respecting him.
The witness emphatically replied that
he had never entered into such engage
ment. as alleged and he asked that the
letter, which was published by the Eclair
of Paris. be produced in court and the
whole matter cleared up.
Colonel Jouaust then asked Captain
Dreyfus If ne had anything TO say. There
upOn the prisoner rose and SAID
STATEMENT FROM DREYFuS.
"Nly words have certainly been distort-
ed, tor ] nave no recollection OF such d
letter. The words the former President
OF the republic has just uttered are exact.
have never, even in my own mind. sup
posed there was any engagement under
taken by him, and, that he had not held
thereto. l can We'll understand the IN
| dienation of NJ. Casimr-P erier, but such
| an idea never crossed my mind.
NJ. Demange had asked me at the time
OF the trial I'm conveying through NJ
| Waldeck- Rousseau my request for a pub
Ito trial that this publicity should only
| be on condition that the question OF the
! origin Of the documents remained secret
! / gave ny word of honor not to raise
this question, and In that | bow before
the superior interest Of my country III
my mind it was with the defence an
not with the President Of the repubh
that the word Of honor wa given. never
| had an idea that an engagement was made
| between the President and myself Never
never; never"
General Jouaust: Then you declare
! false these letters. in which il is said the
| President of the republic entered INTO Ger
! tain engagements with you?
! Dreyfus replied: In any case, the sense
has been completely distorted.
CASIMIR-PERIER N EARNEST.
| NJ. Casimir-Perier gave his evidence witf
a bianched face. but I'm the determined
tone of a man who maintains every wore
uttered. which inspired confidence In nj
words. The members Of the court-mar
| tal listened 10 him respectfully.
! When his testimony was ended NJ. cast
mir-Porier was conducted back 10 nj
seat by q non-commissioned officer, am
all eyes were directed towards a door L
the right. There was "a moment of pam
ful suspense, and then General Mercie
entered the courtroom and was conduct
ed to the witntss-stand 10y a soldier. III
lifted his right hand before the crucif,
and swOre 10 tell the whole truth. Thu
witness appeared to be i'm broken health
he spoke in a hoarse voice, c0ughed fre
quently, and asked TO be allowed 10 b
seated.
MERCER LOOKS SHIFTY.
MERCER was attired in the undress uni
| form of a general black tunic and re,
| trousers on a stranger his appearance
| and bearing produces a far from favor
| able effect. He gave the impression %
| stiffness. His forehead was wrinkled
| his eyebrows We're contracted and hi
eyes peered through Sits between hi
| puffy eyelds His cheeks were sallow
| and he spoke almost inaudibly, and in
| weak. mOnOtOnOus voice, which produces
| "a soporifc effect upon those who wer
| not able TO distinguish his words, on
were within hearing Of his voice. Th
| monologue, with hardly a break, eXcep
| when the clerk read the various docu
] ments which MERCER presented 20 tn
| court. lasted nearly four hours. with i
| minutes suspension at II o'clock. whel
| there was a general feeling that the wit
| ness was going to prove as the Drey
! fusards predicted, an utter iasco.
General MERCER wore ON his breast TN
decoration Of Grand officer Of the Lesioi
| Of Honor.
SCHWARZKOPPEN'S SPY SYSTEM
While he was under examination Gene
| raj MERCER asked Colonel JOuaust q
allow him to present a document show
! ing how an espionage system was organ
| lied in France by Colonel SchwarZkODpeu
| the former German military attachc a
| Paris The document referred TO tn
! f.rtffratfnp. of fI. RTa4fea