The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-15
WHO ESCAPES CHEAPLY
NJ. CASIMIR PERIER AND MER-
CIER CONFRONTED.
pERtR CLAIMS MERCER FxAsGERATfs
Gen. BiIIot With Little Reason Still Believes
Dreyfus Guilty. CaVaignac Argues
to Prove His Guilt Dreyfus
Creates Spnsalion.
Creates Sensation.


Rennes, Aug. 1.-THE shooting of
Labori, leading counsel for Captain Al,
fred Dreyfus, robbed the morning ses-
sion of the Dreyfus court martial of its
paramount interest
The murderer apparently chose today
for the attempt, because it was antic.pat-
ed that NJ. Labori would crush General
Mercier, the former Minister of War,
with his cross questioning.
The news Of the shooting of NJ. Labor
caused an immediate sensation in the
court room, where the usual audience
had assembled, awaiting the entrance of
the judges. NJ Labori's absence had
just been announced when suddenly NJ.
Jaumay, Syndic of the judiciary Press
rushed into the room and shouted:
M LabOri has been shot"
All present gave Il gasp of horror and
surprise and then every man jumped to
his feet and a vOlley Of question was
hurled at NJ Jaunay's head, who crying
''rhat is all / know rushed out OF
court again, followed by a number of
his hearers. Those who remained excited
Iy discussed the crime and vigorously de-
nounced the authors
Colonel Jouaust, President of the
Court, when the news reached him, slls-
pended the sitting of the court martial
until 7:15 a. IN.
!, zen the court martial was resumed
General MercieF was confronted with NJ
Casimir- Perier, the former President of
France. The latter declared that Mer-
cier's story, told on the witness stand
Saturday, of the immnence Of war be-
tween Germany and France in 1894,
was grossly exaggerated and complained
of the action of the then Minister OF
War (Mercier) in moving 10000 troops
to the frontier without consulting him.
AS it was NJ Labori's task to take
General Mercier in hand. NJ. Demange.
associate counsel, was quite unprepared
for the task, the few questions the lat
ter put were practically of little effect,
and General Mercier escaped cheaply
Moreover. NJ. Demamge was deeply
affected by the attempt to assassinate
his colleague, and was quite unable to
do himself justice.
When General MERCER was recalled, in
reply to the President of the Court he
reiterated his belief that Major Count
Esterhazy, in spite of the latter's own
declaration, was not the author of the
Bordereau, which the witness claimed
was written ON tracing paper and was
found in an embassy.
The President asked NJ. Casimir-Perier
to explain the circumstances of the CON
fession Dreyfus is alleged to have made
to Captain Lebrun7Renault.
M Casimir-Perier persisted in his
statement Of Saturday that he had
never received any condolences of this
character from Captain Lebrun- Renault.
Nj. Casimir-Perier, resuming his testi-
mony, said he did not desire to reply
to certain of General Mercier's insinua-
tions.
81 do not wish to answer Them" said
the former President. ''The circum-
stances are too sad nd too tragic for
me to desire TO envenom the discussion.
| am master Of myself and of my con-
science. | would only state that Gen
eral Mercier has made every effort to
mix me as deeply as possible in this
affair. But | have remained aloof,
affirm, during the progress of the inves-
tigatiOn."
The former President then complained
of the incorrect behavior of his Subor-
dinates toward the Chief of the State.
NJ. Demange asked M. Casimir-Perier
if, on the sixth, an understanding had
not been reached between France and
Germany on the subject of Dreyfus.
Nj. Casimir-Perier replied that before
his interview with the Minister 4n the
sixth the question of Dreyfus had never
been raised between them and Germany.
Counsel next asked General Mercier
why the explanation of the secret dossier
were not included in the dossier relating
to the revision.
The General replied that he considered
these explanations were given for his per-
sonal use and that was why he had
destroyed the document At this Mr.
Demange expressed a sense of astonish- |
ment and asked General Mercier if he
did not have reasons for suppressing the
document
The witness repudiated the sugges-
tion.
Dreyfus, at this point, rose from his |
seat and asked leave to explain in regard |
to the assertion that he had traced ON |
a card the itinerary of a certain journey
of the General staff Both the itinerary
and journey, he asserted, were purely |
fictitious.
General Billot, FORMER Minister War,
was the next witness. He was in uni |
form, sat with crossed legs and gave his
evidence in a conversational manner.
He said he would be seventy years of |
age tomorrow Like everybody else, he |