The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-25
Former Minister Shown
Up In Bad Light.
Many Points In Favor OF Pris-
Oner Brought Out.

sRennes, August s4.--Tcday's session of
the Dreyfus court martial was marked by
one Of the most exciting scenes OF ths
trial. The proceedings opened W ith q
skirmish entirely favorable to tho defense
over Col. Mauriel, president OF the court
martial 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, alleging that this suiilced to
enable him to form a conviction that
could not be shaken.
This protest made matters worse be-
cause, as NJ. Labori pointed out, IL he
pursued one, 1t was his bounden duty to
persue all. Col. Jouaust upheld Col.
Mauriel In his refusal to indicate the
nature of tho documents be read, but II.
Labori announced that he would sum-
mon Capt. Freystatter, another mcmber
Of the tribunal of 1894, and get his YER
sion Of what passed behind the backs OF
counsel for the defense Col. Mnuriel felt
his position keenIy ana continually hesi-
tated before replying to Larori's ques-
eiens. All this, however, sss only pre-
llIninaty to fierce battle that ended bs-
tween III. Labor and Gen. Mercier, the
latter receiving reinforcements from Gen.
erals Roget, Gons and lie Boisdeffre, as
we'll as Invaluable assistancs from Col.
Jouaust himself. NJ Labori took Gen.
Mercier over the whole ground OF his
previous deposition. This led to several
sharp passages at arms between the advo
cate and Col. Jouaust, who upheld Mer-
cier in refusing TO reply to several ques-
tions which, In the general opinion Of
those in the court room, we re distinctly
pertinent. Whenever Gen. Mercisr was
c0rnered he declined to answer, and Col.
Jouaust Invai iahly supported him. NJ.
Labori protested most energeticaliy. His
words and manner breathed the deepest
indignation, but the president OF the
court martial was intlexibie. The inter-
vention of Generals Gonz, Roget and De
Boisdsffre and Major Lauth, who In rapid
succession mounted the stage or rose In
their seats and interpossd remarks, was
very exciting. One after the other. thess
officers who were today In full uniform.
would jump up and cry: al demand to
be heard, I" and without further waiting,
ascend the steps OF the platform and
begin statement in support of brother
officer. Sometimes four officers were
on the stage at the same moment. II was
marvellous display of military ciannish-
ness. At one time perfect babel Of
voices reigned for several minutes. uutil
fnk oA a.d
order.
The examination Of Chamoine showed
Meroier In very bad light. as 1t brought
out that he had privately communicated
TO Chamoine, Oh the trst day of the
secret sessionH,a "a report on the Panizzardi
despatch for insertion In the secret dos.
sier. Gen. Chamoine admitted that he
did wrong In accepting the report but
pleaded ignorance in judicial matters.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
at the opening of the proceedings Col.
Jouaust ordered that evidence of NJ. Penot
be read by the court which was done.
His testimony as given before the court
of cessation set forth that Col. Sandherr
told ID. Penot that the brothers of Drey-
fus had offered one hundred and fifty
thousand francs TO settle the case and
that Sa ndherr was SO incensed that he
ordered them out Of his Office Maitre
DemaDge as counter read O note
written by Sandherr the same day the
interview with the brothers of Dreyfus
took place. 1t appears from this nots that
the brothers i'm agined plot was being
hatched against Capt. Dreyfus because he
was Jew. They maintained the cap
tain's innocence and declared they
would do everything In their power to
obtain his reinstatement saying that If
necessary they would spend their whole
fortune 70 arrive sat the truth and would
do every thing to that end.
Counsel pointed out that there were seri-