The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-15

Rennes, August IA stirring scene
closed today's session of the Dreyfus
trial General Mercier had spoken near
ly four hours in ruthless denunciation
of Dreyfus. who had listened unmoved
until Mercier concluded by saying that
if he had not been convinced of the
guilt of Dreyfus and if the latter's con-
viction had not been fortified since
1894 he would admit ne had been mis-
taken. Dreyfus jumped to his feet as
though the words had galvanized him
into life and shouted in a voice which
resounded through the hall like a trum-
pet note: You ought to say so noW!"
The audience burst into a wild cheer,
whereupon the ushers called for silence.
But when Mercier replied that he would
admit Dreyfus was innocent if there
was any doubt, the prisoner shouted
again: why don't you, then!'
At this there was another outburst
of applause.
NJ. Casimer-Perier then rose and dra
matically demanded to be confronted
with General MERCER, in order to deny
some of his statements.
Colonel JOuauSt ordered the court to
be adjourned until Monday, at $50
O'Clock a. m. for the conformation, and
as Mercier turned to leave the court
the audience rose en- maSSe and Kissed
and cursed him, those at the back of
the court standing on chairs and
benche ), in order to better hound him
down. The gendarmes placed them
selves between the general and the au-
dienCe, who showed a strong DISPOSE
tion to maltreat the former minister of
war
General Mercier hurried out of the
court room through a side door, amid
fierce denunciatfonS from the audience.
On emerging into the street the crowd
outside cheered him and cried: "Vive
.IArmee!'
"Ah!" cried a spectator of the scene
in court. IF they had heard the inhu-
man monster speak they would not
cheer him now
The proceedings this morning opened
tamely and the hopes of a. sensational
sitting began to flag, but this was only
the calm before the storm, and when
the storm broke it carried every one in
court with it into a whirlpool of the
widest excitement.
THE PRISONER ENTERS.
Dreyfus, on entering the court today
saluted the president with the same
sOldierly mien as last Monday, and
the president, Colonel Jouaust, returned
the salute and said: sit down, Drey-
fus.'
The prisoner was first asked in re-
gard to a copy of the text of the ~bor
dereau. which was found in his pocket
when he was searched in prison. Drey-
fus stated that he had kept the docu =
ment as a souvenir.
NJ. de La ROcheVernet, secretary
attached to the French embassy a Ber-
lin and NJ. Paleologue, of the French
foreign office, were examined as to the
translation of a PaniZardi dispatch, and
while their evidence was conflicting at
certain points, the net result Of tn two
witnesses replies to MN. Labor and
Demange was that never, in any trans
lation, was there any question of rela-
tions on the part of Dreyfus with Ger
many.
BX-PRESIDENT CASIMIR-P -PERIER
EXAMINED.
Casimir- Perier formerly president of
France, was then called to the witness
T stand.
In response to the usual questions,
: he said: Il am 50 years old; no pro-
= fessfon. l was formerly president of
y the republic
Colonel Jouaust then asked: Did you
know the accused prior to the acts Of
which he is charged?"
NJ. Casimir- -Perier-No, Monsieur
TPresident.
Jouaust-You were president of the
republic at the time of the arrest of
Captain Dreyfus. In this position you
were able to have many particulars
upon the circumstances and causes of
his arrest. 1 beg you to kindly COM
municate them to the court.
N. CaSimir-P Perier, in a loud voice.
said: Monsieur PPresident, you ask
me to speak the truth and all the truth.
l have sworn to do it. ] will speak
without reticence, without reserve, in
it's entirety. Whatever I may have said
in the past, whatever the people may
believe and say, which unfortunately is
not always the same thing, that alone
am aware QSsincidents and facts which
might throw light, and that I have not
hitherto said all, justice ought to know
that 1t is false. I will not leave the
place without saying ALL
The former president in a loud and
distinct voice, repeated the evidence he
had given before the court of cessation.
The witness read the text of the dis
patch received by Count Won Munster
Lebenburg, the German ambassador at
Paris, from Prince Hohen1ohe, the Ger
man imperial chancellor which the for
mer communicated to NJ. Casimir-P -Perier
during a visit to the Elysee palace. 1t
ran:
His majesty, the emperor having
every confidence in the loyalty of the
president of the republic and the gov
ernment of the republic, begs your ex-
|, cellency to tell NJ. Casimir- Perier that
: it is proved the German embassy was
never implicated in the Dreyfus affair
His majesty hopes the government OF
the republic will not hesitate to declare
so. Without formal declaraton, the
legend which here continues to spread
regarding the German embassy would