The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-13
DREYFUS' RETORT TO MERCER
APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWD AS
HE GREW DEFIANT.

WINGED of Drcyfus' GuiIt-Cnsimir-
Pericr's TcStimony-He Is Anxious
to Confront Mcrcicr.
Rennes Aug ia stirring scene clos
ed to-day's session of the Dreyfus trial.
Gen Mercier had spoken nearly 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 jatter's conviction had not been
fortified since 1894, he would admit he had
been mistaken.
Dreyfus jumped to his feet as though
the words had galvanized him into life.
and shouted in a voice which resounded
through the hail Ike a trumpet note:
You ought to say so now"
The audience burst forth into wild
cheer whereupon the ushers called for
silence. But when MERCER replied that
he would admit Dreyfus was innocent il
there was any doubt, the prisoner shouted
again:
why don't you, then"
AT this there was another outburst of
applause.
NJ. Caslmir-Perier then rose and dramat-
ically demanded to be confronted with
Gen. MERCER, in order to deny some of
his statements
Crowd Kissed MercIer.
Col. Jouanist ordered the court to be ad-
journed until Monday. at $3.50 O'Clock a.
m, for the conformation, and as Mer-
cier turned TO leave the court the audi
ence rose en- masse and Kissed and ours
ed him. those at the back of the court
standing on chairs and benches in order
10 better hound him down. The gendarmes
placed themselves between the general
and the audience which showed strong
disposition to maltreat the former minister
of war.
Gen. Mercier hurried out of the court
room through a side door, amid fierce de-
nunciauons from the audience. on emerg-
ing into the street, the crowd outside
cheered him and cried:
"Vive rArmee."
"Ah," cried spectator Of the scene
in court, "if they had heard the inhuman
monster speak they would not cheer him
now"
Calm Before the Storm.
The proceedings this morning opened
tamely, and the hopes of a sensational
sitting began to flag, but this was oply
the calm before the storm and when the
storm broke it carried every one in court
with ii into whirlpool of the widest
excitement.
Dreyfus on entering the court TODAY.
saluted the president with the same SOL
dlery mien as last Monday, aud the
president, Col. Jouaust, returned the sa-
Lutte and said:
'Sit down, Dreyfus"
The prisoner was first asked in regard
TO a copy of the text of the bordereau.
which was found in his pocket when he
was searched in prison. Dreyfus stated
that he had kept the document as a SOU
venir
NJ. De La Roche Vernet, a secretary at
tached to the French embassy at Berlin
and M. Palelogue of the French foreign
office, were examined as to the transla-
ton Of a Panizardi dispatch, and while
their evidence was conflicting at certain
points, the net result of the two Witnesses
replies to NM. Labori and Demange, was
that never in any TRANSLATION, was there
any question of relations on the part of
Dreyfus with Germany
Casimir-Perier Called.
Casimir-Perier, formerly President of
France. was then called 20 The witness
stand
He was dressed in a black frock coat.
with the rosette OF the Legion Of Honor
at his buttonhole, and light check trousers
ard carried a silk hat in his hand. In re-
| sponse to the usual questions, he said:
Il am 50 years old; no profession. I was
! formerly President of the republic"
Col Jouaust then asked: Did you know
! the accused prior 10 the acts with which
| he Is charged.
NJ Casimlr- -Perler: mo; Monsieur lie
| President"
Jouaust: you were President of the
republic at the time of the arrest Of Drey-
| fus. In this position you were able TO
| have many particulars upon the circum-
| stances and causes of his arrest. i beg
| you to kindly communicate them TO the
| court"
| Casimir- Perler, in a loud voice, said:
| Monsieur le President, you ask me to
speak the truth and all the truth. I have
sworn to do IL. / will speak without ret-
cence, without reserve. Whatever l 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 Of Incidents and facts which
might throw light. and that I have not
hitherto said all. justice ought to know
that it is false. / VIII not leave this place
without saying all"
Repeated His Evidence.
The former President in loud and dis
tnct voice repeated the evidence ne had
| given before the Court Of Cessation. The
! witness read the text Of the dispatch re-
| ceived by Count Won Munster-Ledenburg,
| the German ambassador at Paris from
| Prince Hohenlohe the German imperial
| chancellor which the former commune
| Gated 10 VI. Caslmir-Perier during visit
to the Elysee palace. II ran:
| "Hs majesty, the Emperor having
| every confidence in the loyalty Of the
| President of the republic and the govern
| ment. Of the republic. begs your excel
| lency to tell NJ. Casimir-Perier that It Is
proved the German embassy was never
| Implicated in the Dreyfus affair. His ma
| jesty hopes the government Of the repub-
| lie will not hesitate TO declare 70. With
/ out formal declaration, the legend which
! here continues to spread regarding the
| German embassy. would compromise the
| position of the representative Of Germany.
Signed Hohenlohe."
NJ Casmir Perler then recounted how
| he had expressed to the then premier ana
] 81 I. nd in