Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-08-29
LABORI TAKES HOLD.
His Temperance Gives Hope to
Dreyfus and Friends.
GETS AFTER, DEFENSE WITNESSES.
Succeeds In PlacinsS-Gcn. Mercier in
an Unenvinble Position-Snys He
VIII Recall Several Who
Have Testified.

VIII Recall Several Who
Have Testified.
Rennes, Aug. 90. Maitre Labor,
leading counsel for the defense, who
was murderously assaulted August IA,
was present in court Tuesday morning
at the beginning of the second day of
the third week of the second trial by
court-martial of Capt. Alfred Dreyfus,
of the artillery, charged with treason.
The proceedings opened at $3.50 a. IN.
Warm welcome for Lnbori.
AS NJ. Labori, still accompanied by
Nine. Labori and physician, entered
the courtroom the audience greeted
him by standing up and there was
general roar of applause, accompanied
by the clapping of hands, which was
distinctly heard in the streets. Tears
sprang to the eyes of the wounded man,
who was evidently deeply affected by
the warm welcome accorded him.
Among those who greeted NJ. Labori
were Gems. Billot and MERCER, who
courteously inquired as to his condi-
ton.
At first the audience seemed to be
apprehensive that Col. Jouaust, presi-
dent of the court, might treat the ap-
plause of M. Labori as demonstration
which would warrant him in clearing
the court. 1t began, therefore, with
few timid claps of the hands, but was
soon followed by general applause upon
the part Of the whole audience with the
exception of few standing at the back
of the courtroom.
As M. Labori shook hands with Gems.
Billot and MERCER, who smilingly con-
graduated him on being able to reap
pear in the case, the lawyer thanked
them for calling at his residence while
he was in bed.
Dreyfus Greets LaborI.
Dreyfus entered the courtroom soon
afterward and, having saluted the
judges, turned to NJ. Labori with out
stretched hand, a smile of keen pleas
ure lighting up his pale and usually i'm
passive features. The lawyer took the
prisoners hand and shook it warmly,
whereupon Dreyfus gave him another
look of gratitude and took his seat in
front of counsels' table with his back
toward them.
Col. Jouaust next read from paper
an address to M. Labori, the tone of
the president being quite sympathetic.
The lawyer made an imprisoned reply.
He was deeply affected and his voice
was clear, though not SO strong as be-
fore he was shot. He was very nervous
and excited and swayed to and fro as
he delivered his reply. His hearers
were profoundly impressed.
NJ. Labori's reply to the president con-
siderably fatigued him and he sat down
flushed and holding his side. He after
ward once or twice nervously twitched
his fingers and an expression fitted
over his face as though he were suffer-
ing.
The first witness Tuesday was M.
Grenier, the former project of Belfort
His testimony wac faYe.-lble to Dreyfus
and distinctly hostile to Esterhazy.
Refuses to Answer.
Maj. Rollin, Of the intelligence depart
ment, was asked by M. Labori during
the course of the formers testimony
how certain document, of a later date.
than Mercier's ministry, came into
Gen. Mercier's possession. Rollin said
it was not his business to explain, but
counsel insisted, asking whose business
it was. Finally NJ. Labori asked Col.
Jouaust to request Gen. MERCER to ex-
plain. The general rose and said he
declined to answer. M. Labori insist
ed, but MERCER still refused to answer
and Maj. Carriere, the government
commissary, supported him, on the
ground that the examination was enter
ing upon a matter which ought not, in
the interest of the country, to be dis
cussed publicly.
MERCER COrnered.
The document in question was the
Schneider letter, which the latter had
used in evidence, and which Col.
Schneider had repudiated as forgery.
Ihe general was surprised when La
borl suddenly demanded that Mercier
be recalled. Evidently he hoped the
tribunal would support him in refus-
ing to explain how he got copy of a
letter which was of later date than his
lncumbency at the ministry of war.
lie declined, as stated above, to ex-
plain, but Labori was not to be denied.
He insisted that MERCER should give
some explanation. Then, after hesitat-
ing, MERCER declared that he would as
sumo all the responsibility attaching
to his possession of the document. This.
as Labor intended it should be. was
demonstration of communication by
the general staff of part at least of the
secret dossler to an ordinary soldier.
such as Mercier became immediately on
leaving the ministry of war. When
Labor had attained his object and
forced a confession of grave violation
OF law on the part of Gen. Mercier. he
gave smile of grim satisfaction and
then added significantly: 81 shall have
other questions to put to Gen. Mer-
cier.''
The scene was highly dramatic. and
made profound impression upon all
the spectators.
An UnenviabIe Position,
Gen. Mercier must now be snending
very miserable moments, for, as the
result of this admission, and with the
additional charge of communicating
secret documents to the court-martial
OF 1894, he is liable to arrest at anv
moment. Indeed, some people think it
not impossible that he will be lying in
the military prison adjoining the cell
OF Capt. Dreyfus before the week is
out.
Another series of questions put by
M. Labori concerned Laioux, a spy for