Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-22

Madame Rejane, the celebrated actress
was among those present in court today.
She made the trip to Rennes especially to
see the trial and the return of NJ. Labor
into the case and she was one of those who
applauded the most heartily his entry into
the court room.
The first witness today was M. Grenier,
the former project of Belfort. His testi-
mony was favorable to Dreyfus and dis
tinctly hostile to Esterhazy
Major Rollin of the intelligence depart
ment was asked by NJ Labor during the
course of the formers testimony how a
certain document of a later date than Mer-
ciers ministry came into General Merciers
possession. Rolln said it not his BUSH
ness to explain. but counsel insisted, asking
whose business it was.
Mercier would Not Explain.
Finally NJ I.abori asked Col. Jouaust to
request General MERCER to explain. The
general rose and said he declined to an
sWer.
VI. Labor insisted. but MERCER still re-
fused to answer. and Major 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 discussed pub
licly.
NJ. Labori then declared i'll a loud voice
that he would reserve to himself the right
to take the necessary measures to obtain
the desired Information.
The next point was made by Dreyfus in
his reply to Major ROllin. The latter had
remarked that all the prisoners papers
We're seized when his rooms were searched
i'll 1894 and Col. Jouaust said that certain
papers from his text book, the School of
IT,
prisoner retcrted:
Not in 1894 my colonel"
This caused some sensation, as the OBJ
vious Interpretation was that the pages
were torn out at the war office, and that
then the fact was used against him as an
insinuation that he had communicated the
missing ages to foreign agents.
A former secretary of the war office
named Ferret next testified to seeing Drey-
fus prying into other officers work during
their absence. and the prisoner replied, ex-
citedly. that Ferret's statements We're con-
coctions by a former minister of war. which
caused a sensation. Then. in a cooler man
ner. the prisoner made statement explain
ing the difficulties in the way of a civilian,
such as Ferret, entering the office of the
general staff.
General Gonsc thereupon presented two
letters to the effect that the writer's. both
of whom We're civilians. obtained easy add
mittance TO the Offices
Dreyfus retorted that the regulations
We're very strict in this respect, and that.
therefore. some persons were guilty of
gross breach of discipline, and NJ Demange
scored by adding that if entry in these
offices was so easy, why, anybody could
procure the information Dreyfus was al
loco I,..N- f},ta i,,sa1 ,,sI1
Col. Bertin Enemy.
The next witness. Lieut.. Col Berlin, who
was the head of Dreyfus' office in 1894,
showed himself to be most Viruient enemy
of the prisoner. He had evidently learned
his testimony by heart, and declaimed it in
a strident, aggressive tone. which grated
upon the ears Of the audience. Some Of
his remarks, particularly his declaration
that he was convinced Of Dreyfus guilt by
NJ BertiIlon's chart and his introduction
of Esterhazy's statements as evidence
against Dreyfus, elected general smiles in
court.
Following are the proceedings in detail:
The president of the court. Col Jouaust.
on taking his seat. turned TO Maitre Labor,
and. amid impressive silence, read an ad-
dress, as follows:
ALLOW me. Maitre Labor. to express to
You the unanimous sentiments of the
court-martial at the odious attempt to
which YOU nearly fell a victim. This un-
speakable act has excited everywhere,
especially among the members of the court
martial. the keenest indignation. CAP
plause.J We glad il did not have grave
consequence TO you. and that the skillful
and devoted attention larished upon you
permit you to resume your duties today"
tAppiause)
In spite of the presidents exhortation
rot to fatigue himself. NJ Labor replied:
VI. LnbOri's Reply.
IN .nsieur lie President: Permit me. not
wthstanding my weakness and emotion, to
say a wcrd in reply 10 those you have done
ne honor TO address tC me in such deeply
touching terms. Ii was for me visitation
of a particularly painful nature 10 be struck
down at the time when this case was be
ginning to realize my beautiful dream of
the last few years, namely. to plead this
case in all its amplitude before a tribunal
of soldiers That was my aspiration, and
that viii explain TO you my emotion and
sorrow, we'll my joy today. will not
revert to that: but | wish to thank all
friends or foes or Indifferent people. who
have hOEored me with these signs of sym
pathy. OF which am deeply sensible, and 1
thank you. Mr.. President and members of
the cuurt-marIial and also all these eminent
men. though | have not the honor Of know
ing them, except in the course of these long
struggles in which We have met, and in the
progress of which the faces of adversaries
end by smiling little. like the faces Of
friends, al least like those of old ac-
quaintances, who have expressed their sym
pathy- / thank you, friends and colleagues
even tn humblest correspondents who have
done me the honor to write 10 NE without
giving their address. because their marks
OF sympathy, though coming from the
humblest abodes, were also the sincere and
most touching
Il Resume my place in court rather TO
hear than to speak If l am less active I
shall bring no less conscientiousness nor in
fuse less good temper into my work Ii is
difficult task We are all performing You
who are the arbiters and who Will render
JEstice-we. the auxilaries. But all of this
viii help US on for shall have the sense
OF duty done.
Let Us now continue the proceedings in
which We have yet TO pass through many
HiciSsitudes. Thanks 10 the fullness of these
Investigations. We shall see emerged from