Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-08-31
THE DREYFUS TRIAL.

fresh, but mostly reiteration of old
statements, the audience followed the
dispositions with comparatively little
interest, the references by Gribelin to
relations by Dreyfus with ''demi-
mondes" proving the most appetizing
portion of the mornings proceedings.
DemaDge was more successful than
usual in cross examining him and Wis
IDLY disconnected Gribelin. The coun-
sci scored a distinct hit when he got
Gribelin TO admit that he mixed the
intrigues of Du Patty de Clam and Col.
Henry to shield Esterhazy, and when
Gribelin was finally disposed of his
evidence had suffered badly.
RENNEs, August 23.-Yesterday was
Maitre Labori's day at the Lycee,
where Captain Alfred Dreyfus is stand
ing trial on charges of treason. Labori
was the central figure of the scene.
Labor did what people had expected.
He galvanized the dormant defense in
to an active, living thing. Labori
cornered Mercier on the Schneider let
ter, which the latter had used in evil
dence and which Colonel Schneider
had repudiated as forgery. The
general was surprised when Labor
suddenly demanded that Mercier be
recalled. Evidently he hoped the tri-
bunal would support him in refusing
to explain how he got copy of let
ter which was Of later date than his
incum bency at the ministry of war.
But Labor insisted that MERCER
should give some explanation. Then,
after hesitating, MERCER declared he
would assume all the responsibility
attached to his possession of the let
ter. This, as Labor intended it
should be, was a demonstration of
communication bv the general staff of
part at least of the secret dossier to an
ordinary soldier. such as MERCER be-
came Immediately on leaving the min
istry Of war. When Labor had at
tanned his object and forced q confess
sion of grave violation of law on the
smile OF grim satisfaction and then
added significantly: II shall have
other questions to put to General Mer-
cIer." The scene was highly dramatic
and made profound impression upon
all the spectators.
RENNEs, August 24.-The session of
the court yesterday was comparatively
uneventful. The dispositions were not
productive of any really thrilling Incl
dents. The systematic. production of
the fiimsiest trash, which the prosecu-
tion deems profitable to inflict on the
Judges. and which the latter accept as
evidence, was proceeded with. Much
of the ridiculous testimony of the
morning was devoted to an attempt
to blast Dreyfus' private character,
though when Maitres Labor and De-
mango hau finished with the witnesses
their bubbles of tittle-tattle were bad
ly pricked. Much of the time was oc-
cupied in reading the testimony of
Esterhazy and Mile. Pays before the
court of cessation. during which many
of the audience left the court. NJ. La
bori again distinguished himself in
laying bare the weak points of the
evidence.
RENNEs, August 25.-In the Dreyfus
trial yesterday Labori put series of
searching questions to MERCER, with
reference to the communication Of the
secret dosser for the court-martial
and his attitude in 1894, and an inter-
esting scene ensued The general re-
fused to reply to all the questions and
there were sharp passages between
the counsel and Jouaust, who upheld
MERCER, while the dialogue between
the general and Labor became acri-
monious. Labor became very heated,
while MERCER seldom departed from
the callous demeanor characteristic of
him. The lawyer made a strong point
on the part of the Esterhazy paper.
MERCER said lie did not know Ester
hazy. Only saw him once at the Zola
trial. "That is very interesting" eX-
claimed Labor, "but surely Mercier
was present at the Esterhazy trial?''
The general replied that he was not
there and knew nothing about the
evidence in the EsterhaZy prosecution.
What" cried Labor, "Mercier, who
is the chief accuser of Dreyfus, did not
even follow the proceedings in the Es-
terhazy tral?" A loud murmur OF
surprise and indignation came from
the audience. Labor then brought
MERCER to his statement that thirty
five million francs was spent by the
defenders of Dreyfus and asked the
general to say how he knew this, who
spent it, and other awkward questions
which MERCER could not answer.
RENNEs, August 26.-After M. Der
tillon, the handwriting expert, who
is at the head Of the anthropometric
department of the prefecture Of police
of Paris, had concluded the first in
stallment of his 'so-called demonstra-
tions of the guilt of Dreyfus yester-
day, prominent Dreyfusard referred
to HIM as the fin de steele Cagliostro.
The Dreyfusards refuse to regard him
as anything but the prince of quacles.
They cover his remarks with ridicul e
and protest that the admission of his
fantastic theories as evidence before
the court-martial is disgrace to
France. If the judges accept Bertil-
Ions premises-that Dreyfus, as an
expert spy, did not write ordinary
handwriting. but in close imitation,
even contriving to give the letters the
appearance of having been traced, in
order to be able to repu6iate them as
a forgery if detected-then the struc-
ture built upon this ground work may
be scientifically correct. Even Drey-
fus, when shown Bertlllon's demon
strations, admitted the ingenuity and
plausibility of the system, though he
naturally declared that it was built
upon a false basis.
RENNEs, August Eft was shown
in the court martial yesterday that
the acquittal of Dreyfus depends
largely on the appearance of Du Patty
de Clam before the court. Every eff
fort of Labori to secure his appear
ance, however, has thus far failed, and
Col. Jouaust will not permit the ap.
pointment of competent physicians to
examine him. The proceedings yes
terday We're exceedingly favorable to
Dreyfus. Labor tangled up several
of the states witnesses, and the con.
frontation of Colonel Maurel by Cap.
tain Freystetter was greatly to the
advantage of the latter.