Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-08-28
THERE'S A LIE OUT SOMEWHERE.
Perjury a Fact in the Dreyfus Case-sIer'
cier Gets Excited.

Perjury a Fact in the Dreyfus Case-Ier-
cier Gets Excited.
Rennes. Aug 2S.-General MERCER
was present as usual in the front row
of witness seats when the fourth week
of the court martial of Captain Dreyfus
was begun this morning. Parof Laval,
the draughtsman whose testimony was
begun Saturday, continued with the aid
of black board his refutation of the
argument of NJ. Bertillon-
Rennes, Aug. %. - There was an
absurd report telegraphed from here
Saturday that General Mercier had fled
somewhere to avoid arrest. No one
who knows General Mercier believed
it. as they know he would be the last
man in the world to flee under such
conditions. He is too dogged in dispo-
sition AS a matter of fact he has not
fed.
The feature of Saturdays sitting of
the Dreyfus court was a dramatic scene
between Captain Freystaetter. one of
Dreyfus' judges in 1894, and Colonel
Maurel, president of that court martial.
III Captain Freystaetter is speaking the
truth-and he has the reputation of be-
ing man of the highest honor. whose
conscience was troubled by relations OF
the intrigues and manoeuyers OF the
general staff-General Mercier commit
ted perjury in his deposition and Col.
Maurel was guilty of the suppression
of the truth.
General Mercier in his evidence cate
goricalIy denied that the incorrect
deciphering of the dispatch from Paniz-
Zardi, the Italian military attache. was
communicated to the court martial OF
1894. Captain Freystaetter swears that
it was. Colonel Maurel in his deposit
ton Friday declared that he read only
one document of the secret dosSier,
leaving the court under the impression
that this was the only document of
which cogniZance was taken. He was
Saturday forced toadmit that his state
ment referred only to himself. but that
all the other officers read all the docu
ments - a statement which provoked
loud murmnrs in the audience.
Captain Freystaetter. however, as
serted that Colonel Maurel had openly
commented on each document to his
brother judges. This Maurel indignant
ly denied. Then came the most dra-
matte incident of the day. General
Mercier advanced to the witness bar.
Captain Freystaetter." he said, you
referred to a document of the secret
dossier regarding a revelation made 10
Germany by Dreyfus when at the
school of polytechnique at Bourges. To
what did this refer?'
Captain Freystaetter-To a shell.
General Mercier. shouting at the top
of his voice. have caught Freystaet-
ter in flagrante delicto of lying. The
Robin shell was betrayed to Germany.
but we only discovered the fact in 1896.
Captain Freystaetter-I did not say
ii referred to the Robin shell, but only
to a shell.
This absolute conflict of sworn testi-
mony caused the greatest excitement
in court.
The earlier part of the sitting was
taken up with the conclusion of NJ.
Bertillon's deposition. which nobody
seemed to understand. and the evil
dence of Captain Valerie. who tried to
explain in a more popular form the
Bertillon theory. The defense put on
NJ. Paraf Laval as an expert on hand
writing. who proceeded TO demolish the
Bertillon theory and had not concluded
when the court rose. Labori again
tried to have Patty de Clam examined
by well-known doctors, but failed. The
defense believes Patty de Clam could be
b2-o - he arnny cl;G,,e wanted him.
Say They Travel Underground
Paris, Aug 2S.-The anti-Semites as
sert they are conveying food supplies by
an underground passage to Jules Guer-
in the anti-Semite agitator. and his
dN 1AC
quarters of the Anti-Seuite League in
the Rue de Chabrol.
Wen Know n in Legal Critics.
Milwaukee, Aug. 2S.-Colonel War
ham Parks. who for many years oc-
cupied a prominent place in legal cir
cles. died at Oconomowoc- The de-
ceased was born in Milwaukee Nov. 5.
1876. He passed through the great civil ,
war struggle.
WIN Ftcht enc sur.r trust.