The record-union., 1899-08-23

the ordinary cane bottom, behind the
table set apart for the lawyers.
Nine. Labori, who entered the court
room ahead of her husband, also re-
ceived a hearty greeting. AS she took
seat in court she was surrounded by
friends. who overwhelmed her with con-
gratulations on her husbands recovery,
to which she smilingly responded.
At first the audience seemed to be
apprehensive that Colonel Jouaust,
President of the court. might treat the
applause of NJ. Labori as demonstra-
ton, which would warrant him in
clearing the court. 1t began, there
fore, with a few timid claps of the
hand, but was soon followed by general
applause on the part of the whole
audience with the exception of a few
standing at the back Of the courtroom.
AS M. Labori shook hands with Gen
erals Billot and Mercier. who smilingly
congratulated him on being able to re-
appear in the case the lawyer thanked
them for calling at his residence while
he was in bed.
Dreyfus entered the courtroom soon
after, and after having saluted the
Judges, turned to M. Labori with out
stretched hand. smile of keen pleasure
lighting up his pale and usr 4paS
sive features. The lawyer took the
prisoners hand and shook it warmly,
whereupon Dreyfus gave him another
look of gratitude. and took his seat in
front of counseis table with his back
toward them.
Colonel Jouaust next read an address
to M. Labori, the tone being quite SYM
pathetic. The lawyer made an i'm
passioned reply. He was deeply af-
fected, and his voice was clear, though
not so strong as before he was shot
He was very nervous and excited, and
swayed to and fro as he delivered his
reply. His hearers were profoundly inn
pressed.
Laboris reply to the President con-
siderably fatigued him. and he sat
down flushed and holding his side. He
afterward once or twice nervously
| twitched his fingers. and an expression
fitted over his face as though he was
suffering.
Mime. Rejane, the celebrated actress
was among those present in court to-
day. She made the trip to Rennes es-
pecially to see the trial and return OF
NJ. Labori into the case. and she was
one of those who applauded the most
! heartily his entry into the courtroom.
The first witness to-day was NJ. Gren-
| ier the former Prefect of Belfort. His
testimony was favorable to Dreyfus and
distinctly hostile to Esterhazy.
Major Rollin of the Intelligence De-
partment, was asked by NJ. Labori dur
ing the course of the formers testi-
mony, how a certain document of 6
later date than Mercier's Ministry came
into General Mercier's possession.
Rollin said it was not his business
to explain, but counsel insisted, asking
whose business it was.
Finally M. Labori asked Colonel Jou.
aust to request General Mercier to ex.
plain.
The General rose and said he declined
to answer.
NJ. Labori insisted. but Mercier still
refused to answer. and Major CaIriere
/ the Government Commissary, support
ed him on the ground that the examin
alton was entering upon a matter
which ought not, in the interest of the
country, to be discussed publicly.
M. Labori then declared in louC
voice that he would. reserve himself the
/ right to take the necessary measure:
to obtain the desired information.
The next point was made by Dreyfu!
in his reply to Major Rollin. The lat
ter had remarked that all the prison
er's papers were seized when his room!
were seized in 1884, and Colonel Jou
aust said that certain papers from hi
text book The School of War wer,
found missing To this the prisone
retorted, mot in 1894. my Colonel
This caused some sensation, as the OBJ
vious Interpretation was that the page.
| We're torn out at the War Office anC
then the fact was used against him al
an insinuation that he had communi
Gated the missing pages to foreign
agents.
NJ. Ferret, a former Secretary of the
War Office, next testified to seeing
Dreyfus prying into other officers worl
during their absence, and the prisoner
replied excitedly that Ferret's state
ments We're concoctions by a former
Minister of War, which caused a sensa
! ton. Then in a cooler manner the
prisoner made a statement explaining
| the difficulties in the way of a civilian
such as Ferret, entering the offices o
the general staff.
General Gonse thereupon presented
two letters to the effect that tn,
| writers, both of whom were civilians
obtained easy admittance to the of
fees.
Dreyfus retorted that the regulation!
were very strict in this respect, anC
that therefore some persons were guilt,
| of gross breach of discipline, and NJ
Demange scored by adding that if entry
in these offices were easy, why any
body could procure the information
Dreyfus was alleged to have obtained
so surreptitiously.
The next witness, Lieutenant Colone
Berth showed himself to be &
most virulent enemy of the pris-
oner He had evidently learned his
testimony by heart, and declaimed it il
a strident, aggressive tone, which
grated upon the ears of the audience
Some of his remarks, particularly hi:
declarations that he was convinced o
Dreyfus' guilt by M. Bertillons char
and his introduction of Esterhazy'.
statements against Dreyfus, elicitet
/ general smiles.
The President of the Court, Colone
Jouaust, on taking his seat, turned tt
N. Labori, and amid impressive silence
read an address, as follows:
ALLOW me, M. Labori, to express t.
you the unanimous sentiments of tn,
I court-martial at the odious sentiment
to which you nearly fell victim. Thi
unspeakable act has excited ever.
where, and especially with the mem
bers of the court-martial, the keenes