Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-25
ON THE RACK.
Continued from page ~

mehts To the courtmartial of 1894.
Gen. Mercier-'I knew l did not have
'he right to give formal orders to that
| effect. but | gave moral orders in a
manner sufficiently clear" (Sensa-
tion).
counsel proceeded to closely question
the general, referring to the "dxi' ar
| ticle in the Libre Parole.
MERCER replied that he was so accus-
| toned to violence from the press that
| he paid no attention to that article.
| He added that he paid no more atten-
ton to the eulogies of the Libre Parole
than to the statements of other news
papers.
Replying to further questions. the
general said that when Dreyfus was
arrested he knew of no other proof
against him than the bordereau. There
| We're, therefore, only suspicious, but it
was urgently necessary not to lose
time in arresting him. in order to stop
the reasonable practices.
NJ. Labori here asked Col. Jouaust to
secure the evidence of NJ. Papilland,
editor of the Libre Parole, in regard to
the "DiXi' letter, in which the name
of Dreyfus was disclosed as that of
the officer arrested for espionage.
AS Col. Jouaust hesitated NJ Labori
insisted upon the necessity for an eX-
animation of the latter. in order to
reach the truth l am seeking for"
The whole responsibility for this
case" counsel added, Il believe. really
rests upon the late Lieut.. Col. Henry
and Col. Du Patty de Clam"
Iesuming his examination of Gen.
MERCER. NJ. Labori asked him several
questions as to why he first ascribed
the date Of the bordereau to the month
of April. Gen. MERCER said that, in
1894. he was only acquainted with the
general reasons which existed for be
lieving Dreyfus guilty and had not
paid much attention to the details
The general refused to reply to many
of the questions. For instance. he de-
clined to say whether he had examined
the proofs.
NJ. LabOri-'In short you considered
it in the nature of Il sensational move
to have you examine previously the
charges against Dreyfus?''
Gen. Mercier-'I only examined the
nature of the documents betrayed"
NJ. Labori-'Was it not necessary for
that purpose to fix the date Of the Dor
dereau"'
Gen. Mercier-'I don't think so.
Further. | declare Maitre Labori is dis
cussing the whole trial of 1894. That
may have some interest from a histori-
cal point of view. But since the court
of cessation quashed the judgment it
seems To me that it is not for us now
to revert 10 the various features OF
that trial.
NJ. Labori pointed out that the con-
tradictions in the evidence Of the Off
GERS Of the headquarters staff regarding
the Importance and nature of the con-
tents Of the hordereau and asked Con.
MERCER where Drcyfus could have Oh
tanned particulars about the pneumatic
brake.
The general hotly objected to being
asked to repeat his evidence ana NJ.
Labori. equally warmly. said: ii am
only asking for definite statements"
MERCER then said he thought ORGY
fus might have had cogniZanCe of tho
brake at Bourgcs. adding: In any
case. lie had a better chance to obtain
such knowledge than Esterhazy could
possibly have had"
N. Labori-"Gencral MERCER says.
.T1raNf1ig lt1ipbt have had rpsrnjy.1N Z,
,,,S.,-.i., III. .s,,,,.,,,,'.;.,,,
I,,,. 1,,.,,,.e,,. .,,,l ~
,a,.. IA, a,.,l ,.a ae ma hra,,a.,,
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HIM 49, ,' ~, ,,.,.. .r,,,r,1oa ana
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n,: ,,Iii,,i,a ,t,l,T,, ,,..,,,7. ,,,+
~ IL i>o'''' -'i
""''' "p'',
Mcrclef- j. nag ARISES l'"ii l"t Nl'iP'
lact that II va h"l hH"N "h'' iN'' .
lN' that ihl"rIldll"H 'n inc S""J''' wac
beng "iNulG'd. inc tNlSlthc' - ll''e"'
eFy III regard - the distribution q htaNE
|F'iii'iH '',l'','-' Inv ''' -
known until lN''.
me passages at -drflS between ~ -
p"rl ana zen McrcIe' "ric 4o''o"c"
Wlth the kc'hcSt interest
". Labor asked WHY ''i mercer ui'
not have report prepared regarding inc
confessions preNius - alleged I" nave
ih'o' Y" ''il'. '-1"i n IT
Mcrcior-Ihe question OF the c"n''8'
s!ons was 81 no importance us rcNlSlo1
Of the case seemed impossible
u. Labori-"N nat docs Gen MERCER
think of ESiclhazN ana the part hI
playcd"''