New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-13
THE DAYS TESTIMONY.
SCENE IN THE COURTROOM AT RENNEs
WHILE EX-PREsIDENT CASIM1H-
PERIER AND GENERAL MEX

Rennes Aug 12-Mrs Emily Crawford writes
OF the Dreyfus trial as follows:
This has been a tremendous day NJ Caslmr-
Perer gave to the court martial history OF '"e
Dreyfus case. He spoke In an emphauc man
ner. with strong emotion, and often In a strong
,o,a ~ INDIGNATION He appeared to greater ad-
vantage than ever remember to have seen MIN
before, and was honest and truthful, though not
free from pose unless when anger al 'ile "e'
being told about him rendered him quite natural
N Css,,nir- Perier declared that he would not
leave the court until the imputations against
him were cleared up.
THE EX-PRESIDENT IN COURT.
He mid aside to-day his shepherds plaid suit
and wore a long frock coat OF true hhenSh 0u'
and light gray trousers. His shirt collar was
turned down. as In his photographs, showing
strong neck. He has grown stouter since ne re-
signed the Presidency. and looks like an adfpt
in athletic sports His eyes are somewhat star
ing and not at all observant or expressive OF MS
feelings unless of anger; but he looks hke
man who had grandfather who had hI'eu HIS"
situations and one who stands unconimohI| wv"
with his banker Refinement ana ueH'a'E nv
wanting He is not highborn Gch'e'n""' ""'
the con and grandson Of pre-emineh''E SUCCESS
full bourgeois Of whom he Is proud lh'ic IL
nothing commonplace or insignificant aoou' H''"'
hut there is nothing that suggests hoo'e H"l
ure However he has a fine, STRAIGHTFORWARD an
o,,d looks q man proud and Of independent char
actor liable to take offence. This pride recon
Giles itself with an abnormally thin SKIN NJ
r-asi,,,ir Perer likes TO stand well In the opinion
OF the world. 49,
HE tone was a little rude In answering the
formal questions as to his name age ana pro-
fesson. When the president Of the court SAID
"Tel what you know Of the Dreyfus aifar VI
Casimir. Perer seemed unable to speak. AS
matter of fact the blood rushes 10 his heart
whenever he is deeply moved, paralyzing for
short time the organs Of speech.
HOW MERCER LOOKED.
General MERCER was allowed to sit while CIV
ing his deposition If long winded, nat eNpia''a-
tions and remarks can be called depositioh
He is Of quite another type from NJ. Cas'n"-
Perier His full dress uniform failed to make
him look sodery He has the carriage ana
countenance OF a trickster. EsterhaZy is Ike
bripand MERCER like a dishonest grocer VINO
odnltarates his wares His eyes are mere Sits
surrounded with puffy flesh. They peer sus-
n,ciouslv. and reveal nothing that is going on be-
hind them The instinct OF self-preservatlon ana
the small. mean passions that minister 10 II are
alone expressed in his withered countenance.
He spoke for hours In a scarcely audible voice.
once the tap was turned, the dribble or drlNei
went on There was hardly anything IN MS
denos,tion beyond the one capital admission that
Wit
a not strict order. but an implied order. TO sho"
them to the other judges 81 the 1874 court-nar-
tial Apart from this admission, his deposition
like that Of General Roget before the Court OF
Cessation. was full Of innuendo Of 'perhapses'
and OF III Is not impossible OF III may pe'
and such like verbal antiquities.
Who is he like? thought. Why, like Peck
sniff His conceit and pride are unhounded. lie
spoke venomously Of NJ. Casimir-Perier
DREYFUS ROUsED AT LAST.
Failing to demonstrate the guilt OF Dreyfus
General MERCER turned toward the prisoner at
the conclusion OF the dullest speech ever heard
and with Pecksnfian softness he appearing TO
beat time on his knee as he spoke. SAID: II
had the slightest doubt of the justice Of the
1894 sentence. would now say to the prisoner
Captain have wronged you.
his strict self-control. The blood rushed into
his face, and starting 10 his feet he cried But
that is what you ought 70 say This brought
down the house, and the bar the press and the
public applauded. Dreyfus stood while the
braves were repeated, quivering with anger
Then the cowed look returned, and ne sat down
rapidly in the square. military position nc
thinks respectful TO the Court.
General Mercers deposition was In such con-
trast TO the graphic powerful story Of NJ. Cas-
inir- Perer which had throughout the ring OF
truth that the General was hooted as he
left the stand. He and NJ. Casimir-Perier will
be confronted on Monday pity him. Think OF
q sorry. spawned horse, only good for the
knacker, set to fight lion.
THE TIDE on THE TURN
Mondays proceedings will he sensational; to-
days were thrilling. a sign that the tide IL on
the turn Colonel Jouaust, the president Of the
court martial who was 50 stiff with Dreyfus
and ignored his salutes to-day returned them.
There were other dispositions Of great mpor
lance, though they were not sensational Their
importance lay in their covering the ti-Drey
fustes with confusion by mailing their lies 10
the counter. The evidence that DR.. Ransom.
who is now In India was said to be prepared
with was stigmatiZed in a letter from him as
futile Inventions He did not witness the
search made Of the person OF Dreyfus for docu-
ments when the latter arrived at lie de re
10 be shipped for Cayenne and he never heard
OF the search the finding of concealed dOcu-
ments on him
NJ. de la Roche Vernet. typical attache OF
embassy, now serving at Berlin. had been
greatly boosted about by the anti-Dreyfusites
as able to smash NJ Paleoogues testimony
given on behalf Of the Foreign Office before the
Court Of Cessation Well, De la Roche-V ernet