Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-08-23
May ARREST MERCIER.
Labori Has the General In a
Tight Place.
VIOLATION OF LAW DEVELOPED.
Violation of Law DeveIoped-Dreyfus' At
torney Made 1t Warm For Some of the
Witnesses-The Prisoner Himself Pre-
sented Counter Facts and Arguments.

RENNES, Aug. 23.-The third session
of the third week of the second trial
by courtmartial of Captain Alfred
Dreyfus, on charge of treason, began
at the Lycee at $3.50 this morning.
Maitre Labor and Madame Labori
were present.
The session opened with the testi-
mony of minor witnesses, Roy and
Dreviell. The latter deposed that Drey-
fus, while with the general staff, could
have access TO documents unperceived
during certain hours of the day.
Captain Dreyfus, replying. admitted
that he was present during those hours,
but explained that his presence was con-
nected with his duties.
RENNEs, Aug. 23.-Labori, during
the Dreyfus trial, cornered General
MERCER ON the Schneider letter, which
the latter had used in evidence and
which Colonel Schneider had repu-
dated as Il forgery. The general was
surprised when Labor suddenly de-
manded that Mercier be recalled. Evil
IDENTIFY he hoped the tribunal would
support him III refusing to exp lain how
he got a copy of a letter which was of
later date than his incumbency at the
ministry of war.
But Labori was not to be denied. He
insisted that Mercier should give some
explanation. Then, after hesitating,
Mercier declared that he would assume
all the responsibility attaching to his
possession of the document. This, as
Labor intended it should be, was de-
monstration of communication by the
general staff of part at lea st of the Sc
cret dossier to an ordinary soldier, such
as Mercier became Immediately on
leaving the ministry of war.
AS the result of this admission, and
with the additional charge of communi-
eating secret documents to the court
martial of 1894, Mercier is liable to ar
rest at any moment. Indeed, some peo-
pie think it not impossible that he will
be lying in the military prison adjoin-
ing the cell OF Captain Dreyfus before
the week is out.
Dreyfus, during the session, replied
to the statements of hostile witnesses
with arguments and the presentation of
counter facts, only once giving way to
his feelings and offering cry of pro-
test. This was at the conclusion of
Colonel Bertin's deposition, when, with
broken voice, the accused declared his
love of France and the army,
EYES," he cried, 81 love france and
] love my country, but it is with senti-
ments different from those aninating
them who come here today to testify
against me-"
M. Labori, if anything, was better
after his exertions than before them.
The excitement under which he labored
seemed to act as stimuiant, although
many friends, noticing his flushed face,
feared there might be a relapse. So far
from this being the case, however, he
was able to go for a drive with his wife
IN an autocar.
NJ. Labori's return to the Dreyfus
trial by courtrnartial brought on a
demonstration by the audience. Among
those who congratulated him were Cen
erals Mercier and Billot, Colonel Jou-
aust, judge of the courtmartial, made
speech to which NJ. Labori replied
Dreyfus shook hands with Labori,
showing great pleasure.
The first witness was M. Grenier, the
former project of .Belfort. He told of
some things regarding Esterhazy, some
favorable and others not. EsterhaZy
tried to get into the ministry OF war,
saying it was necessary, to enable hIm
to pass for lieutenant colonel.
Colonel Jouaust-Did Esterhazy tell
you he believed in the innocence of
Dreyfus?
The witness could not reply definitely
TO this question. He said his recollec-
tions were not sufficiently exact. He
fancied Esterhazy had said so, but he
could not swear to it.
Lieutenant Colonel Rollin of the in
telligence department was the next
witness. He described the spy Lajoux,
employed in the, department, as s'bad
spy" whom it was found necessary to
supp ess.
NJ. Labori asked the witness whether
he knew Lajoux had offered to make
revelations i'll the Dreyfus affair. and
the witness replied that Lajoux wrote
to the minister of war asking for as
sistance and referring to the Dreyfus
case.
The clerk of the court read Il letter,
i'll which, after dwelling upon his serv-
ices, Lajoux said it was in consequence
of Henry's exactions that the spy Cuers
had become an enemy instead of ally.
He also described conversation with
Cuers, i'll which Cuers declared Dreyfus
had never been heard of at army head
quarters in Berlin, and that ON the news
of the arrest of Dreyfus, General Count
Won Waldersee summoned all the Ger
man military attaches in Europe to Ber-
lin and then unanimously declared that
not one of them had ever relations with
Dreyfus. Cuers added that he himself
had never head of Dreyfus.
A series of questions was put by M.
Labori concerned Lajoux, who was
packed off to South America. The wit
ness said he was suppressed because he
proved Il swindler.
Labori asked how it was, if that were
30, that Lajoux was still receiving
payments.
Commandant Rollin was completely
taken aback and replied that it was be-
cause of previous services.
The impression conveyed by Labori 5 |
questions and the replies given was
that Lajoux was being paid by the war
office to keep out of the way in the in |
terest Of Esterhazy.
Then NJ. Labori asked if the witness |
responsibility for the report of |
Nov. 30, 1897, which was attributed toa |
foreign military attache.
The government commissary, Major |
Carriere, protested against this ques- |
ton, saying it referred to affairs of |
state and should not be answered except |
behind closed doors.
NJ Labori pointed out that he had not
anybody, and Lieutenant Colo
mel Rollin replied that he had no knowl
edge regarding the translation of the
10 u,:,It in questions
1T tbs IL. L.,hori called the attention
)i witness to the cautious nature of his
-enly and asked him how the dOcumeut |