The age-herald., 1899-08-13

duceS far from favorable effect. He gave the impression of stiffness, his fore head was wrinkled, his eyebrows were con- ) traoted and his eyes peered throughsit be- 1 tween puffy eyelids. His cheeks were sal l low and he spoke almost inaudibly and with a weak, monotonous pitch of voice which | produced sporifc effect upon those who were not able to distinguish his words, but who were within hearing of his voice. This 1 monologue, with hardly a break except when the clerk read the various documents, 1 Mercier presented to the court lasted near 1 ly four hours, with the ten minutes sus- pension at II, when there was general l feeling that the witness was going to prove as the Dreyfusards predicted, an utter f1asco.
 General Mercier wore on his breast the decoration of the grand officer of the
 Legion of Honor
 Wanted to Present Documents While he was under examination General Mercier asked Colonel Jouaust to allow him l to present documents showing how an espionage system was organized in France | by Colonel Schwartzkoppen, the former German military attache at Paris. The documents referred to the Notifications of the mense.
 General Mercier then entered into an ex- planation tending to prove that Schwartz | koppen was at the head of the German espionage in France and afterward had the favored letter containing the words, "Cette canaille De D." read. In the meanwhile Dreyfus watched Mercier through his eye glasses, but apparently quite unmoYed. I The witness who displayed the deepest in- terest was M. Casimer-Perier, seated in front of row of private seats. He leaned forward with his hands on his knees. except
 when very much excited, when he lifted lhis hands up in an expressive gesture of disgust or impatience.
 Mercier who had his back turned to the former president nothing Of this but after he had completed his testimony and had reiterated all the charges contained in
 M. 'Ormescheville's bill of indictment.
 Mercier presented a document to be read by the clerk, which proved to be the al- legged Dreyfus letter concerning the al- legged engagement entered into with NJ. Casimer-Perier, which the latter had so hotly denounced The last breath had bare ly left the clerks lips when Casimer-Perier Jumped up and shouted: That's the letter l read in the newspapers" General Mercier, startled, turned round and muttered excuses, saying he did not be- lieve president of the republic would en-
 ter into such an engagement. Bitter Sarcasm
 To this M. Casimer-Perier retorted in a tone of the bitterest sarcasm: Thank you, general, for this testimonial"
 At the end of his evidence, General Mer-
 cier said he believed that the only motive of the Dreyfus treason was that Dreyfus had no feeling of patriotism. This cruel utterance brought forth misses from the audience, whose blood had been sent up
 to fever heat by their witness of the sav- age attacks on Dreyfus.
 General Mercier not needing the hisses
 terminated with remarkng:
 If the least doubt crossed my mind,
 gentlemen, would be the first to declare 1t to you and say before you to Captain
 Dreyfus. l am mistaken, but in good
 faith"
 Then Dreyfus electrified his hearers. He jumped to his feet, as though the word had galvanized him into new life and shouted
 with voice which rang throughout the
 hall like trumpet note; 'That iss what you ought to say.'
 The audience burst into a wild cheer,
 whereupon the ushers called for silence. General Mercer then stammered: s'I would come and say, Captain Dreyfus, I was mistaken in good faith, and come
 with the same good faith to admit 1t, and will do all in human power to repair the frightful error"
 The prisoner then shouted "Why don't you then. That is your duty" A At this there was another outburst of applause. General Mercier, after a pause, when the excitement had partially caimed. said: [ Well. no My conviction since 1894 has not suffered the slightest weakening. It is
 
 and also by the inanity of means resorted
 10 Tor the purpose of proving the innocence or the condemned man of 1894 in spite of evidence accumulated and in spite of the millions of money expended.
 Colonel Jouaust then said: Have you finished?"
 General Mercier replied: "Yes'
 colonel Jouaust then announced that the sessions of the courtmartial would be re-
 sumed Monday morning.
 M Casimer-Perier thereupon rose and
 said; After the deposition of General
 Mercier l shall ask the court to hear me and would prefer to be in conformation of him.
 Demonstration Against Mercfer This announcement caused a sensation. Then followed thrilling demonstration against General Mercier. As he turned to leave court the audience rose en masse and hissed and cursed him. those at the back of the court standing on chairs and benches in order to better hound him. The gendarmes. placed themselves be- tween the general and audience which showed strong disposition to maltreat the former minister of war. General Mercier hurried out of the court room through side door. On emerging into the street the crowd outside cheered the general, and cried "Viva farmee"
 "Ah," cried a spectator of the scene in l the court, 'if they had heard the human monster speak, they would not cheer him now"
 One newspaper man in the court was ar- rested for calling General Mercier. as he passed by him, a murderer; but later on the man was released.
 Dreyfus was hurried out by gendarmes, who immediately cleared the court room,