The San Francisco call., 1899-08-23

u Maitre Laboris day at the Ly-
Gee. where Captain Dreyfus IS
u standing trial on a charge Of
treason. Labori was the central
figure of the scene. AS the Dreyfus
drama unrolled before a crowded court
this afternoon his tall NilIing-like
form draped in long black gown, bor-
dered with ermine, sitting in front of
the fOotlights, was the magnet which,
from the moment the curtain was run
up until it fell at noon, drew all re-
CARDS. not merely glances of curiosity,
but the steady gaze of admiration. His
mere presence brought brightness into
the courtroom and fresh light into the
proceedings.
Labori did what people had ex-
pected He galvanized the dormant
defense into an active, living thing. NJ.
Demange is cOnciliatOry. He has all
ways seemed to fear to tread on the
military corn. Labori is a gladiator
and always speaks to touch his foe to
the quick. Let there be the slightest
opening in his opponents defense and
he thrusts home. To-day when NJ. De-
mango found nothing to ask a witness
NJ Labori's quick eye discovered weak
spots and he came forward with search
ing questions He opened to-day with
an eloquent speech and the-audience
could have listened for an hour to his
rich, melodious voice, modulated tones
and then impassioned outbursts ac-
companied by energetic and speaking
gestures
q. Generals Roqet. Billot, MERCER and
Boisdeffre. with the other military wit
glances and put their heads together to
exchange obviously disagreeable i'm
pressions as Labori piled the smaller
military fry who occupied the witness
stand successively to-day with discon-
certing questions.
Labori cornered MERCER on the
Schneider letter, which the latter had
used in evidence and which Colonel
Schneider had repudiated as forgery.
The general was surprised when Labori
suddenly demanded that NJ Mercier be
recalled. Evidently he hoped the tri-
bunal would support him in refusing
to explain how he got a copy Of let
ter which was of later date than his
incumbency as Minister of War.
But Labori was not to be denied He
insisted that Mercier should give some
explanation. Then, after hesitating,
Mercier declared that he would assume
all the responsibility attaching to his
possession Of the document This, as
I.abori intended it should be, was
demonstration of communication by
the general staff of part, at least, Of
the. secret dossier to an ordinary sol
der. such as Mercier became imme-
diately on leaving the Ministry of War.
When Labori had attained his object
and forced a confession Of grave viola
ton of law on the part of General Mer-
cier he gave a smile of grim satisfac-
ton and then added significantly:
i shall have other questions to put
to General Mercier."
The scene was highly dramatic and
made a profound impression upon all
the spectators. General Mercier must
now be spending a very miserable even
ing. for as the result of this admission,
and with the additional charge of COM
municating secret documents to the
eourt-martial of 1894, he is liable to ar
rest at any moment. Indeed some peo-
pie think It not impossible that he will
be lying in the military prison adjoin-
ing the cell of Captain Dreyfus before
the week is out.
Another series Of questions put by M.
Labori concerned LajouX, spy for
merly in the service of the French War
Office, but packed off to South Amer
lea, according to various military wit
nesses, because he proved swindler.
Labor asked how it was If that were
so that Lajoux was still receiving
monthly payments. Commandant Rol-
lin, completely taken aback, replied
that cessation Of payments was under
consideration. The impression con-
, veyed by Laboris questions and the re-
plies given was that Lajoux was being
paid by the War Office to keep out of
the way in the interest Of Esterhazy,
whom LajouX, in letter read in court
offering revelations in the Dreyfus af-
fair, indicated as the real traitor NJ
Labori's cross examination in this mat
ter therefore, was distinct advantage
to the accused. Labori announced that
he intended to recall several witnesses.
MERCER, Roget and others will be put
to the test of a severe cross-examina-
ton. To his friends Mr. Labori has ex-
pressed himself confident of being able
to tear 10 pieces the evidence these gen.
erals have given so confidently before
a sympathetic tribunal.
Captain Dreyfus to-day pursued the
attitude he took yesterday and replied
to the statements of hostile witnesses
with arguments and the presentation of
counterfacts, only once giving way to
his feelings and offering cry Of pro-