The Portland daily press., 1899-08-23
LABORrS DAY.


Continued from First Page.
which Cusrs declared Dyeyfus had never
heen heard OF at army headquarters In
Berlin and that on the news Of the ar
rest Of Dreyfus General Count Won
Waldersee summoned all the German mil-
itary attaches in Europe co Berlin and
they unanimously declared that not one
Of them had ever had relations with
DFeyfus. CuerH added that he, himself,
had never heard Of Dreyfus After thu
reading Of this letter, NJ. LAbori In
quired:
''Can Lieutenant Colopel Rollin ex-
plain how a man, regarded as rogue
and bad egg,is now receiving pension
OF 8OJ francs monthly"
/ 10 this with ess replied: ssIt is no doubt
IN recognition OF his previous services. +"
laughter
Then NJ. Labori asked IL the witness
assumed responsi bility for the report OF
November 80. 1897, which was attributed
to foreign military alta che.
The government commissary. Major
Carriere protested against this question,
saying 1t referred 60 asfairs of state and
should not be answered except behind
closed DOORS NJ. Labori pointed out
that be had no knowledge regarding the
translation OF the document In question.
At this, n. Lsbori called the attention
reply and asked him how the document
came into the possessioni OF General
Mercier.
General Merciar thought the witness
was not justified in answering. But in
reply to further qIeriss Mercier declared
he took the full responsibility for the
translations submitted to the court.
Thereupon nj. Labori pointed out that
when the document was produced Gener-
al Mercier was no longer minister of war
and asked what right had be to have In
his possession a document which was a
state secret.
General Mercier did not reply.
Counsel then asked what right had
General Mercier to retain possession of
all the documents In the, secret dossierf Z
The silence of General Mercier was un.
broken.
I. Gen Meroier made pitiable exhibition.
III. Laborl in passion fairly thundered
his questions.
What can be the value of documents, -
said he. (which we cannot see and cam
not discuss; documents for which it Is
impossible TO know who takes the respon-
sibility? l appeal to you, M. le Presi-
dent. to be good enough to ask Gen. Mer-
cier how this document came into his
possession"
Mercier, driven Into corner, feebly
evaded the question.
IN lie President" continued Labori,
II insist that reply bs given. Gen
Meroier has sworn TO speak the whole
truth. l must insist that questions re-
specially rendered by the defense be an
swered by him. The court martial. un-
like the court of cassation, has to deal
with the whole range of the affair, and
1t is necessary that complete light be
thrown upon It, insist that Gen. Msr-
cier answer me, for IL is my right"
After Mercier's shuf1iing collapse, NJ.
l.ah hack nj npt hnf
great beads Of perspiration standing on
his forehead. but his countenancs radiant
at the Impression he had made.
Counsel added that he would later ask
Colonel Jouaust to recall General Mercier
and would put numerous questions to
him, TO which, however, counsel added
he could foresee the general would refuss
to reply. (profound sensation.)
Reverting to Lieut.. Col. Rollins evil
uence and the testimony Rollin has CIV
en- M. Labori read the evidence of Guene
before the court of cessation pointing
out that after such evidence none OF the
information which Guene supplied in
1894 could be maintained against Drey-
fus. Replying 70 question as TO the
character OF LalOux and the confidence
which could be placed in his statements
Gen Gonse handed in report giving
LRjoux the worst possible character.
Ureyfus then made q statement regard
ing passage of Rollins evidence refer
ring to the searches made in his (Dreyfus
residence in 1894. "Every thing" said the
prisoner, "was seized without excep-
tiOn."
Col. Jounust asked: "Some of the
pages we're missing from your notes
college,"
Drdyfus-"No. my colonel not in 1894. -
(Sensatlon.)
Ferret, former secretary of the war
office. who is alleged TO have caught
Dreyfus prying into the work OF some of
his fellow officers during their absence.
testified that towards the end of 1898 on
returning from his lunch at an hour court
officers were usually out, heefound Drey-
fns In the fourth bureau standing with o
stranger. q civilian at .the table consult
ing a document which seemed to the wit
ness to re connected with the transport
Of troops.
NJ. Denlange-"why did you not give
this evidence in 1S94f
Witness said regretted he had over
looked 1t. Besides he added IL was not
his business to suspect his chiefs.
Demange-"The court will form its
own opinions of this five years silence"
NJ. Labori asked the witness who 1t was
that he first mentioned this fact
Ferret-'I do not remember. (Mur-
murs)
nj. LRbori-"Try. 1t would be Inter-
esting TO have an explanation.
Ferret-sIt was about year ago.
The prisoner protested against such
statements, which he said were nothing
but evile insinuations'' collected by a
former minister of war. (Great sensa-
tion.)
81 never went into my Office" con-
tInued Dreyfus, "at any other time than
the hours OF dnty. I declare it was i'm
possible OF at least most difficult for n
civilian to enter the offices of the minis
try of war;
Dreyfus added that while his wife was
at Houlgate, Normandy, in August or
September, 1894, he happened to go to his
office at noon though the usual hour was
two o'clock.
Col. Jouaust asked Dreyfus relative to
his courss of duties and the difficulty of
introducing stranger into the offices,
| after which Gen. Gonse asked for permits.
sion to speak ia order to complete his ev-
4 a II n l..