The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-25

Skirmish at the Opening Was Favorable to
the Defense--J ouaust's Hostile Attitude
Towards Dreyfus' Counsel One of
the Features Of the Day-The
Statement of the Accused.

Rennes, Aug. 24.-Todays session of
the Dreyfus court martial was marked
by one of the most exciting sessions of
the trial. The proceedings opened with
a skirmish entirely favorable to the de-
Tense over Col Maurel president Of
the court of 1894, who admitted reading
one of the secret documents to the
court which had not been seen by the
defense. He protested that only one
document was looked at, saying that
this suficed to enable him to form a
conviction that could not be shaken.
This protest made matters worse, be-
cause, as NJ. Labori pointed out, if he
perused one, it was his bounden duty
to peruse all. Col. Jouaust upheld Col
Maurel in his refusal to indicate the
nature of the document he read, but NJ
Labor announced that he would sum
mon Capt. Freystatter another mem
Der of the tribunal of 1894, and get his
version of what passed behind the
backs of the counsel for defense.
Col Maurel felt his position keenly,
ri's questions All this, however, was
only preliminary to fierce battle that
ensued between NJ. Labor and Gen.
MERCER, the latter receiving reinforce
ments from Generals Roget, Gonse and
De Boisdeffre, as well as invaluable as
sstance from Col Jouaust himself.
M. Labori took Gen. MERCER over the
whole ground of his previous deposit
ton. This led to several sharp pas
sages at arms between the advocate
and Col Jouaust, who upheld MERCER
in refusing to reply to several questions
which, in the general opinion of those
in the court room, were distinctly per-
tinent.
Whenever Gen. MERCER was cornered
he declined to answer, and Col. Jouaust
invariably supported him NJ. Labor
protested most ener getically. His words
and manner breathed the deepest indig
nation, but the president of the court
martial was intexible.
The Intervention of Gems. Gonse, .Ro-
get and De Boisdeffre and Major
Lauth, who in rapid succession mount
ed the stage or rose in their seats and
interposed remarks, was very exciting
and carried the spectators along on
wave of GREATNESS interest One after
the other these officers, who were to-
day in full uniform would jump up and
cry: Il demand to be heard" and
further waiting, ascend the
steps of the platform and begin
statement in support of a brother Off
Ger. Sometimes the officers would be
on the stage at the same moment. 1t
was a marvellous display of military
At one time a perfect
Babel of voices reigned for several
minutes until Col. Jouaust interviewed
and restored order.
M. Labori's DISCRIMINATION was
as far as it went; but Col
Jouaust prevented his pressing his adj
to the utmost. In fact, Jou-
aust's hostile attitude toward the coun-
sci for the defence then and during the
evoked the severest crit
icism on the part of the public present.
Not only Col. Jouaust, but the other
judges displayed considerable impa-
tence during Labori's scathing cross
examination, shifting restlessly in their
seats and drumming the table with the
tips Of their fingers.
Gen. mercier faced Labori's fire with
callous demeanor, standing on the plat
form, his hands behind his back and his
face only malt turned toward his ques-
toner. once or twice a savage look in
the eyes, an elevation in the tone and
a swaying to and fro of the body re-
vealed the inner fires of resentment.
Gen Roget faced the court with AM
air of unblushing effrontery. His hand
some but unsympathetic features ex-
pl essed the bitterest scorn, as he spun
round on his heel and with arms crossed
faced Labor. or the audience, or theI
judge. He is extremely vain, and isl
always striking attitudes for the BEN
eft Of the newspaper artists, quite al
number of whom regularly attend the
sessions. His impertinent behaViorl
was strikingly illustrated today when
he interrupted NJ. Laboris examination
Of Gen Chamoin, which had resulted in
Labori's scoring heavily against Mer
cier With the exclamation; This ex-
animation is a waste of time"
AS a matter of fact the examination
Of Chamoin showed Mersier in a veryl
bad light as it brought out that he had
privately communicated to Chamoin on
the first day of the secret sessions a re-
port on the Panizzardi dispatch for in
sertiou in Il secret dossier.
Gen. Chamoin admitted that he did J.
wrong in accepting the report, but |
pleaded ignorance in judicial matters.
The report consisted of three pages, |
Of which the second and third, Chamoin
declared, contained fantastic, and. IN
fact. false representations NJ. Labor
brought Gen. MERCER to the bar in ref
erence to this MERCER admitted that
the report emanated from Du Patty de
Clam, but claimed that he himself did
not understand its contents though he |
thought it would be interesting, and
useful to Chamoin.- This ex-
vas regarded as very lame, |
and. combined with other shady actions, |
would damn MERCER as witness in |
tha ewes Of any impartial tribunal. |
The correspondent Of the Associated