Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-14
EMILY cRAwFoRD,s CABLE.

Famous Woman Correspondent Com.
ments on Saturdays Session Of
Dreyfus Trial.
Copyright. 1s99 by Associated Press.)
Rennes, Aug. 14.-Saturday was d tre-
mendous day. Casimer- -Perier gave to
the court-martial a history of the Drey-
fus case. He spoke in an emphatic
manner and with strong emotion, often
with the strong tone Of indignation. He
| appeared to greater advantage than L
ever remember to have seen him be-
| fore. He was honest and truthful,
though not free from pose, unless when
his anger at the lies being told about
| him rendered him quite natural. NJ.
| lCasimer-Peri dsclare1 that he would
not leave the court room until the inn
! putations against him We're cleared up.
He has grown stouter since he resigned
| the presidency. He looks like an adept
1 at athletic sports His eyes were some
what staring, not at all observant of the
| expression of his feelings. unless of an
ger. but he looks like man who had u
grandfather who filled high situation
and who stands uncommonly we'll with
| his banker. Refinement and delicacy
are wanting. He is not high-born
gentleman, but son and grandson of
/ lPAS-StiiiASlitlS SuCCeSSIui DOuESeOlS,
whom he is proud. There is nothing
commonplace or insignificant about
him, but nothing that suggests a noble
nature.
| Gen. Mercier was allowed to sit while
giving his deposition. if his long wind
ed. fiat explanations and remarks can be
called deposition. He is of quite an
other type from Casimer-Perier. His
1 full dress 1lpjfOrrn fajlad to mo l., h; ~,
/ soldierly. His carriage and countenance
We're those of a trickster. Esterhazy is
like a brigand; MERCER IS like hishon-
est grocer who adulterates his wares.
His eyes are mere slits surrounded
with puffy flesh. They peer suspiciously
and reveal nothing. The instinct of self
preservation and the small, mean pas
sion that 1inister to it are alone ex-
| pressed in the withered countenance
He spoke for hours in a scarcely au-
/ dible voice. Once the tap was turned.
! the dribble, or the drivel. went on
Hardly anything was in the deposition
| beyond one capital admission that he
sent secret documents to Col. Maurel
with not strict order. but implied to
| show them to other judges of the 1894
| Icourt-martial Failing to demonstrate
the guilt of Dreyfus, Mercier turned to-
ward the prisoner at the conclusion of
the dullest speech 1 ever heard and
with a Pecksniffian softness said: "If 1
had the slightest doubt of the justice
of the 1894 sentence. / would now say to
the prisoner, Captain, have wronged
YOU
4 Dreyfus, for the first time. burst the
bounds of self control. The blood rushed
to his face, and starting to his feet. he
cried: But that is what you ought to
say" This brought down the house and
the bar, press and public applauded.
| Gen. Mercier's deposition was in such
contrast to the graphoc powerful story
of Casimer-Perier, which had through
out the ring of truth. that the general
was hooted as he left the stand. He
and Casimer-Perier will be confronted
on Monday. 1 pity him. Think of a
| sorry-spavined horse. only good for a
knacker, sent to fight lion. MONDAYS
| proceedings will be sensational today's
We're thrilling, sign that the tide is on
the turn. Jouaust, who was at first so
stiff with dignity and ignored Dreyfus'
salutes. today returned them. The 9th
er dispositions We're not sensational, but
important in covering the anti-Drey-
fustes with confusion by mailing their
| lies to the counter.
The military Judges look. as such.
contemplate beside the wearers of the
toga. They have each and all some
thing in them reminding one of Ester
hazy. The minds of all move in the
narrowest grooves, and are bandaged UP
in the notion of military authority and
convention. The tone of the military
bench is dull and unintellectual. I pre-
fer the treachery of the French civilian
judge to the blockheadism Of the mill
tary.
The officers who judge Dreyfus may
Tor decency's sake acquit him, but they
VIII do SO reluctantly and with hearts
hlled with gall. They are not to be
converted by evidence. but 1t may, and
believe 1t will, overbear them.
SSigned) EMILY CRAWFORD.