The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-15

Dreyfus, robbed the morning session of
the Dreyfus court-martial of its para
mount interest. The murderer appar-
emily chose today for the attempt. be-
cause it was anticipated NJ. Labori
would crush General Mercier. the for
mer minister Of war, with his cross
questioning.
The news of the shooting of NJ. Labor
caused an immense sensation in the
court room, where the usual audience
had assembled. awaiting the entrance
OF the judges. NJ Labori's absence had
Just been announced when Suddenly NJ.
Jaunay, syndic of the judiciary press.
| rushed into the room and shouted. M.
Labor has heen shot
All present gave gasp of horror
and surprise. and every man jumped
| TO his feet and a volley of questions
was hurled at Jaunay'S head who. cry
I ing That is all | know rushed ont of
court again. followed by number Of
his hearers. Those who remained ex-
Citedly discussed the crime and VigC--
ously denounced the authors.
! Colonel JOuaust. president of the
court. when the news reached him. sus-
/ pended court until 7:15 a. m. 1t ap-
pears that Mime. Labcri herself broke
/ the news to the court and informed NJ
Jaunay of the crime.
Violent Alterations Result.
There was an eager struggle for
seats in court today and $40 were
seated. There were the usual military
honors. Immediately after the prisoner
arrived the president announced that
J IN consequence of the applause and
other expressions Of opinion on Satur-
day. he had decided that if there was
any further interruption the court
would be cleared. During the adjourn
ment of the court, in consequence of
the announcement Of the attempt on
the life of N. Labor. the audience en-
gagged in violent alterations over the
! incident
NJ. Mercier. editor Of the GaulOis. ex-
pressed the opinion that all the news
papers ought to regard themselves as
responsible for the outrage. whereupOn
NJ Savarrine loudly protested saying:
mo. it is you 10 be held responsible
for What has happened.
The clamOr finally became 50 violent
that gen d'arrTies We're forced to sep
arate the combatants and take away
the sticks of all those present. but calm
was finally restored and the session
was resumed.
Confronted By Casimir-Perier.
When the court martial was resumed
General MERCER was confronted with
Nj. CaSimir-Perier. the former president
of France. The latter declared that NJ
Mercier's story. told on the witness
stand Saturday, of the imminence of
war between Germany and France in
1884. was grossly exaggerated. and
complained of the action of the then
minister of war tMercier) ia moving
$4,000 troops to the frontier without
consulting him.
As it was NJ. Labori's task To take
General MERCER in hand. and NJ De-
mango, associate counsel. was quite
unpre9ared for the task. the few ques-
lions the latter put were practically Of
little effect and General MERCER es-
capped cheaply. Moreover. NJ. Demange
was deeply affected by the attempt to
assassinate his colleague. and was
quite unable TO DO himself justice.
NJ. Demange, when court assembled
at i:20 a. m, announced thai though
his colleagues wound was not So ser
ious as at first supposed. il would be
impossible for the latter to participate
in the proceedings When General Mer-
cier WAS recalled. in reply To the presi-
dent of the court. he reiterated his be-
lief that Major Count E,sterhazy. in
spite of the iattsr'S own declaration.
was not the author of the bOrdereau.
which, the witness claimed, was writ
ten on tracing paper. and was found in
IL.
Casimir- Perier To explain the circum-
stances of the confession Dreyfus IS
alleged to have made to NJ. J.e Brun-
Renarit
Never Heard of Dreyfus' Confession.
NJ Casimir-Perier persisted in his
statement of Saturday that he had
never received any condolences of this
character from Captain lie Brun-Re
nault. He added that M. Dupuy. the
then premier, was present when Cap
tain lie Brun- Renault called at the
Elvsee palace
Moreover" said NJ Casimir- Perier.
here IS n letter from M. Dupuy, which
l ask may be read"
The letter asserted that Captain lie
Brun- Renault. when questioned by VI.
Dupuy, replied that General MERCER
lad sent him to the president to receive
a dressing down for his indiscree: dis
closures toIhe Figaro.
General MERCER here interpOsed. say
ing: Captain lie Brun- Renault spoke
to me in regard TO the confessions in
the presence of General Come, who
will testify thereto. 1t was then that
ordered him to go to the president of
the republic.
Regarding General Mercier's declara-
tions on Saturday last on the witness
stand. NJ. Casimir-Perier said:
General MERCER had no right what
ever to intervene in a diplomatic con-
versation. I would have prevented
such interference. 1t was l alone who
conferred with the minister, and | de-
clare that the impression l derived
from conversation was one of complete
calm, otherwise the incident would not
have been closed by the framing of a
nOte.
Question of Varacity.
1--WE had no telegram from Berlin |
that evening. 1t was in regard to a !
note the minister referred TO Berlin. If |
there had been any news in regard to !
the matter on the evening of the 9Th. /
we would not have waited until the |
Sth to publish the matter. There was
no dispatch addressed TO the friendly 1
powers relative to the incident. The in /
cident has been magnified. Besides, /
in the event of diplomatic conlDlicS- |
tions. the president would have COM !
municated with the minister of foreign |
affairs.
General Mercier replied that he went |
to the Elysee as minister of war. He
recalled that General de Bolsdefre /
could testify in regard to the orders
received.
NJ. Demange seized upon this, and