Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-08-17

Rennes, Aug. 10. - Saturday was a
tremendous day. NJ. Casimir-P erier
gave to the court-martial a history of
the Dreyfus case. He spoke in an
animated names with a strong emo
ton. He appeared to great advantage
and was honest and truthful. though
not free from pose, unless when anger
about lies told about him rendered him
quite natural.
NJ. Casimir-P erier declared he would
not leave the court until the imputa-
tons against him were cleared up. He
repeated the testimony given by him
before the court of cessation.
Gen. MERCER was allowed to sit
while giving his deposition. IL long
winded, fiat explanations and remarks
a be called deposition. There was
hardly any incident In his testimony
beyond the assertion that he sent Sc
cret documents to Col. Maurel with a
not strict order, but an implied order,
to show them TO the other judges of
the 1894 court-martial. Apart from
this administration his deposition, like
that Of Gen. Roget before the court OF
cessation, was full Of inuendo. of
phrases and Of sit is not impossible"
or "ft may be-" and such like verbal
antiquities. Failing to demonstrate
the guilt of Dreyfus. Gen. MERCER
turned toward the prisoner at the on
clusion of a very dull speech and. with
Pecksniffian softness. disappearing to
be at the time on his knees as he spoke
said:
ssIf I hoH tha clirhfacf .lnnLf nf Tho
justice of the 1894 sentence / would
now say to the prisoner, Captain, /
have wronged you"
Dreyfus. for the first time, burst the
bounds OF his strict se~lf-control. The
blood rushed into his face, and start
ing to his feet he cried: ''But that is
what you ought to sayr' This brought
Down the house, and the bar, the press
and the public applauded. Dreyfus
stood while the braves were repeat
ed, quivering with anger. Then the
cowed look returned and he sat down
rapidly in the square military position
he thinks respectful to the court.
Gen. Mercier's deposition was in
such contrast to the graphic, power
full story of NJ. Casimir-Pe rier which
had throughout the ring of truth, that
the general vas hooted as he left the
stand. Gen. MERCER and NJ. Casimir-
Perier will be confronted to-day. To-
days session will be as was Satur-
days, thrilling, a sign that the tide is
turLiHg. Col. %Jouaust, the president
Of the court, who was so stiff with
Dreyfus, ignoring his s~alutes, Satur-
day returned them.
There were other dispositions Of
great Importance, though they were
not sensational. Their Importance lay
in their covering the anti-D reyfusites
with confusion by mailing their lies to
the counter. NJ. de In Roche-Vernot,
a typical attache of the embassy, now
serving at Berlin, had been greatly
boosted about by the anti Dreyfusites
as able TO smash NJ. Palalogue's testi-
mony given on behalf of the foreign
office before the court of cessation.
Well, De la Roche-Vernot was sum-
moned TO Rennes as a witness for the
defense. Everything he said confirmed
Nj. Palalogue and COMPOUNDED Gen.
MERCER. His evidence related to in
terpretations sent to the war office of
Pannizhardis' cipher telegram to the
Italian government about the arrest of
Dreyfus. NM. De Ia Roche-Vernot
and Palalogue were confronted with
the result of mutual confirmation.
The military judges will for de-
cency's sake have to acquit Dreyfus,
but they will do so reluctantly and
with hearts filed with gall. They
are not to be contented with the evil
dence, but 1t will overbear them.