The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-15

On a stranger, his appearance ana
bearing produced a far from favorable
effect. He gave the impression OF
stiffness, his forehead was wrinkled.
his eyebrows were contracted and his
eyes peered through Sits between his
puffy eyelids. His cheeks were sallow
and he spoke almost inaudibIy and in
a weak, mononous voice, which pro-
duced soporific effect upon those who
were not able to distinguish his words,
but were within hearing Of his voice.
This monologue, with hardly break,
except when the clerk read the various
documents Mercier presented TO the
court, lasted nearly four hours, with
ten minutes suspension at IL o'clock,
when there was a general feeling that
the witness was going TO prove as the
Dreyfusards predicted, an utter fiasco.
While he was under examination,
General Mercier asked Colonel Jou-
aust to allow him to present docu-
ment showing how an espionage Sys-
tenn was organized in France by Colo
mel Schwarzkoppen. the former German
military attache at Paris. The docu-
| ment referred to the t-r,ifications Of
the MeuSe.
| General Mercier then entered into an
explanation tending TO prove Schwarz-
koppen was at the head of the Ger
man espionage system in France, and
| afterward, had the famous letter con-
| tanning the words ''Cette Canaille de
D" read.
In the meanwhile Dreyfus watched
| Mercier through his eyeglass, but ap-
parently quite unmoved. The witness
who displayed the deepest interest was
| M Casimir-Perier. Seated in front of
| a row Of private seats, he leaned for
| ward, with his hands on his knees, ex-
! cept when very excited, when he lift
| ed his hands in an expressive gesture
| of disgust or impatience.
Mercier, who had his back turned to
the former president, saw nothing of
| this, but after he had completed his
| testimony and had reiterated all the
| charges contained in NJ. d'Ormesche-
| ville's bill of indictment, Mercier pre-
| sented a document to be read by the
| clerk which proved to be the alleged
| Dreyfus letter concerning the alleged
| engagement entered into with NJ. Cast
| mir-Perier, which the latter had so not
! 1y denounced.
! The last word had barely left the
| clerks lips when NJ. Casimir-Per
| jumped up and shouted: That's the
| letter 1 read in the newspapers
| General Mercier, startled, turned
round and muttered excuses, saying he
| did not believe a president of the r.
! public would enter into such an en-
| gagement.
To this NJ Casimir- r-Perier retorted in
| a tone of the bitterest sarcasm: ThanH
you, general, for this testimonial
! At the end of his evidence General
| Mercier said he believed that the only
| motive of Dreyfus' treason was that
| Dreyfus had no feeling of patriotism.
MERCER KISSED.
This cruel utterance brought forth
! Kisses from the audience whose blood
had been sent up to fever heat by the
! witness savage attacks on Dreyfus.
| General Mercier, not needing the
Kisses, terminated with remarking: Ell
the least doubt crossed my mind, gen
| tlemen, I would be the first to declare
it to you and say before you: 'Dreyfus
1 am mistaken, but in good faith >
Then Dreyfus electrified his hearers
He jumped to his feet, as though the
, words had galvanized him into new
life, and shouted with voice which
! resounded through the hall like g
trumpet note: THAT is what you ough
J to say
The audience burst into wild
cheers, whereupon the ushers called
| for silence.
General Mercier then stammered: 81
would come and say: Captain Dreyfus
was mistaken in good faith and
come with the same good faith to admit
it, and I will do all in human power
to repair the frightful error"
The prisoner then shouted: "Wh!
don't you, thenf. That is your duty
At this there was another outD IL s
of applause.
General Mercier afte- a pause, wher
the excitement had p rtially calmed
said: We'll, no. Ny convictions sine,
1894 have not suffered the slightes
weakening It is fortified by the deep
est study of the dossier and also b.
the inanity Of the means resOrted t,
for the purpose Of proving the limo
cence of the condemned man Of 1894
in spite of the evidence accumulated
and in spite Of the millions Of none.
expended"
Colonel Juaust then said: Have yo,
finished?"
General MERCER replied: yes"
Colonel Juaust then announced tina
the sessions of the court-martial woult
be resumed Monday morning.
M. Casimir thereupon arose and said
"After the deposition of General Mer
cier I shall ask the court to hear me
and 1 would prefer it to be in confron
tation with him.
This announcement caused a sensa
ton.
Then followed the thrilling demon
stration against General Mercier.
Dreyfus was hurried out, but tn
gendarmes Immediately cleared tn
court room.
war scare today, but the effect must b
very discouraging to him, as his hearer
listened without stirring a muscle L
his story of how France was on tn
threshold of a war with Germany. Tn
anti-Dreyfusards have cried wolf to-
often.
At the outset of General Mercfer's tes
! timony he prepared the court for a wa
scare by declaring the emperor Of Ger
many personally took an active part il
organizing espionage.
General Mercier, when he had finish
ed his testimony, according to the gen
eral opinion, had said really nothing
and had proved nothing. The over
whelming proofs he was to have throw
down before the members of the court
martial like a bombshell, failed to ap
pear and he left the court diScredited
Irritating stings, bites, scratches