The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-15

BY Dreynas . Msrcler Lacking in
Respect Toward his superlora.
RENNEs, France, August n.-The
shooting of Maitre LabOri, leading
counsel for Captain Alfred Dreyfus,
robbed the morning session Of the
Dreyfus court martial OF its paramount
interest.
The murderer. apparently, chose to-
day for the attempt because 1t was an
tlclpated that N. Labori would crush
General Mercler, the former minister
OF war. with his eross-questionlng.
The news of the shooting of NJ. La
borl caused an immense sensation in
the court room, where the usual audi
enee had assembled, awaiting the en-
trance Of the judges. NJ. Labori's abb
sence had Just been announced when NJ.
Jannay, syndic of the judiciary press,
rushed into the room and shouted;
IN. Labor has been shot"
An present gave a gasp Of horror and
surprise. and then every man Jumped
to his feet, and volley OF questions
was hurled at N. Jannay's head, who,
crying: "Thnt is all know" rushed out
Of court again, followed by number Of
his hearers. Those who remained ex-
cltedly discussed the crime, and Vlgor.
ously denounced the authors.
Colonel Jouaust, president Of the
court, when the news reached him. sus-
pended the sitting Of the court martial
until 7:15 a. m.
1t appears that Madame Labor her.
self broke the news to the court, and
informed NJ. Jannay Of the crime, hay
ing rushed from her husbands side to
the court, crying for doctor and shout
ing that her husband had been shot.
As 1t was N. Laborls task to take
General Mercler in hand. and NJ. De-
mango, associate counsel, was quite
unprepared for the task the few queS-
lions the latter put were practically of
little enect, and General Mercler eS-
capped chiefly.
Moreover, NJ. Demange was deeply
affected by the attempt to assasslnate
his colleague, and was quite unable to
do himself Justice.
n. Demange. when court assembled
at 7:2o a. M, announced that though his
colleagues wounds were not 30 serious
as at first supposed, it would be i'm
possible for the latter to participate In
the proceedings.
When General Mercler was recalled,
in reply to the president OF the court,
he reiterated his belief that Major
Count Esterhazy, in spite of the lat
ter's own declaration. was not the au-
thor of the bordereau, which, the Wit
ness claimed, was written on tracing
paper. and was found in an embassy.
The president asked NJ. caslmir-Per-
Ter to explain the circumstances Of the
confession Dreyfus Is alleged to have
made to Captain Lebraun-Renault. NJ.
caslmir- Perler persisted in his state
ment Of Saturday that he had never
received any condolences Of this char
acter from Captain Lebraun. Renault.
He added that NJ. Dupuy. the then pre-
mier, was present when Captain Lee
braun-Renault called at the Elysee
palace, in Paris.
Moreover" said N. casimir- Perler.
there is a letter from N. Dppuy which
/ ask may be read" The letter as
serted that RenAult. when questioned
by NJ. Dupuy. replied that General Mer-
cIer had sent him to the president to
receive a dressing down for his indls-
Greet disclosures to the Figaro.
General Mercier here interposed, say.
ing: Captain Lebraun- Renault spoke
to me in regard to the confession in
the presence of General Gonse. who will
testify thereto. Il was then that /
ordered him to 30 to the president Of
the republic"
Regarding General Mereier's deelara-
tion on Saturday last on the witness
stand, NJ. Caslmir-Perier said:
General Mercler had no right what
ever to intervene in diplomatic con-
yersntIon. would have prevented
such Interference. 1t was alone who
conferred with the minister. and de-
clare that the Impression derived
from the conversation was one OF COM
plste calm; otherwise the incident
would not have been closed by the
framing of note,
ave had no telegram from Berlin
that evening. It was in regard to
a note the minister referred to Berlin.
II there had been any news in regard
to the matter on the evening Of the
sixth wewould not have waited until the
eighth to publish the note. There was
not a dispatch addressed to n friendly
power relative to the Incident. The In
cIdent has been magnlhed. Besides,
in the event of diplomatic complIca-
lions. the president would have COM
inundated with the minister Of foreign
affairs"
General Mercier replied that he went
to the Elysee palace as minister of war.
Ho recalled that General de Boisdeffre
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