The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-23

Breach of Military Law-Presence
of Chief Counsel for the Prisoner
fus PrOceedings-POints Scored
for Dreyfus Were Numerous.
RENNES, Aug. %. - Large crowds
gathered this morning at the Lycee,
where Capt. Alfred Dreyfus is standing
trial for treason. Maitre Labori was the
central figure of the scene. AS the Drey-
fus drama unrolled before a crowded
court this forenoon his tall Viking-like
form, draped in a long black gown, bor-
dered with ermine sitting in front of the
footlights, was the magnet from the mo-
ment the curtain was rung up until it
fell at noon, and drew all remarks and
glances of the curious. His presence
brought brightness into the court room
and fresh interest into the proceedings.
Labor woke things up. He famed the
dormant proceedings into an active liv-
ing thing. Demange was conciIiatory.
He had always seemed to fear to tread
on the military corn. Labor is a gladia-
tor and always speaks to touch his foe
to the quick. Let there be the slightest
opening in his opponents defense and he
thrusts home.
Today, when NJ. Demange had found
nothing to ask a witness, M. Laboris
quick eye had discovered weak spots,
and he came forward with searching
questions. He opened today with an elo-
quent speech, and the audience could
have listened for an hour to his rich,
melodious voice, modulated tones and
then impassioned outbursts, accompa-
MED by energetic and speaking gestures.
LABORI IN ACTION.
Gems Roget, Mercier Billot and Bois-
deffre. with other military witnesses,
gave one another an accusing glance
and put their heads together to discuss
obviously disagreeable questions, as La
bori piled the smaller fry, who occupied
the witness stand sufficiently today, with
disconcerting questions.
LabOri cornered Mercier on the Schnei-
der letter, which the latter had used in
evidence, and which Col. Schneider had
repudiated as a forgery. The general
was surprised when Labori suddenly de-
IDENTIFY he hoped the tribunal would sup
port him in refusing to explain how he
got a copy of a letter which was of a
later date than his incumbency at the
ministry 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 docu-
ment. This, as Labori intended it should
be, was a demonstration of communica-
tiOn by the general staff of part at least
Of the secret dossier to an ordinary
soldier, such as Mercier became imme-
diately on leaving the ministry of war
When Labori had attained his object and
forced a concession of grave violation of
the law on the part of Gen. MERCER, he
gave a smile of grim satisfaction and
then answered, significantly:
Il shall have other questions to put to
Gen. Mercier"
The scene was highly dramatic and
made profound impression upon all the
spectators.
MERCER IN DANGER
Gen. MERCER must now be spending a
very miserable evening, for, as the re-
suit of his admissions, and with the ad-
ditional charge of COmmunicati ting secret
documents to the cOurt-martial of 1894
he is liable to arrest at any moment In
deed some people think 1t is not impos-
sible that he win be lying in the military
prison, adjoining the cell of Capt. Drey-
fus, before the week is out
Another series of questions put by La
bort concerned Lajoux, a spy formerly
in the employ of the French war office.
but packed off to South America, accord
ing to various military witnesses, because
he proved swindler. Laboi asked how
it was, if that were so, that Lajoux
was still receiving monthly payments
Commandant Rolkn, completely taken
aback, replied 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 offer
ing revelations in the Dreyfus affair, in
dicated as the real traitor
NJ. LabOri's cross-examination in this
matter, therefore, was a distinct advan-
tage to the accused.
NJ. Labori announced that he intended
to recall several witnesses who had made
dispositions during his absence. This
means that Mercier, Roget and others
will be put to the test Of a severe cross
examination. To his friends NJ. Labori
DelnR
able to tear to pieces the evidence these
generals have given so confidently before
q sympathetic tribunal
DREYFUS PROTESTS.
Capt. Dreyfus today pursued the attf-
tude he took UP yesterday and replied
to the statements of hostile witnesses
with arguments and the presentation of
counter facts, only once giving way to
feelings and offering a protest. This was
at the conclusion of Bertin's evidence,
when, with broken voice, the accused
declared his love of France and the
army.
Yes he cried st love France. 1t is
my country, but my sentiments differ
from those animating those who came
here today to testify against me-
NJ. Labor, If anything, was better after
his eXertions than before them. The ex-
element under which he labored seemed
to act as a stimulant, although many
friends. noticing his flushed face, feared
there might be a relapse. So far from
this being the case, however he was
able to go for q drive with his wife in
an autocar this afternoon, and on his
return he held quite a reception, after
wards spending the time until dinner in
going over today's evidence and pre-
pairing for tomorrow.
The scurrilous attacks of the anti
Dreyfusard newspapers may be Illus
trated by a paragraph appearing in their