The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-25
.MERCIER ON THE RACK
Labori Fires Questions at Him
Which He Refuses to Answer.
MOST EXCITING SCENES OF TRIAL.
President Of the Csart-SIartial Again
Shows His Hand and Is scored by L.
Marvellous Display Of military
Clanniahnoss.

Dori-AarvelOus DISPLAY OF nliitcary
Clannishnoss.
RENNEs, Aug. 25.-Ye Yesterdays ses-
sion Of the Dreyfus court martial was
marked by one Of the most exciting
scenes Of the trial. The proceedings
opened with skirmish entirely favor
able to the defense over Colonel Maurel,
president Of the court-martial of 1894,
who admitted reading one Of the secret
documents to the court which had not
been seen by the defense. He protested
that only one document was looked at,
alleging that this sufficed to enable him
to form conviction that could not be
shaken.
This protest made matters worse, be-
cause, as M. Labori pointed out, if he
perused one it was his bounden duty to
peruse all. Colonel Jouaust upheld Col
onel Maurel in his refusal to indicate
the nature of the document he read,
but M. Labori announced that he would
summon Captain Freystatter, another
member Of the tribunal OF 1894, and get
his version of what then passed behind
the backs of the counsel for the defense.
Colonel Maurel felt his position keenly
and continually hesitated before reply
ing to Labori's questions.
NIercier Gets Help.
All this, however, was only prelimi-
nary to a fierce battle that ensued be.
tween NJ. Labori and General Mercier,
the latter receiving reinforcements from
General Roget, General Gonse and Gem
ernl de Boisdeffre, at well as invaluable
assistance from Colonel Jouaust him
self. NJ. Labori took General Mercier
over the whole. ground Of his previous
deposition This led to several sharp
passages at arms between the advocate
and Colonel Jouaust, who upheld Mer-
cier in refusing to reply to several ques-
tions which in the general opinion Of
those in the court room were distinctly
pertinent. Whenever General Mercier
was cornered he declined to answer,
and Colonel Jouaust invariably sup
ported him. M. Labori protested en-
ergetically. His words and manner
hreathed the deepest Indignation, hnt
tie presidents of the court-martial was
inflexible.
All Want to He Heard.
The intervention of Generals Gonse,
Roget and De Boisdeffre and Major
Iauth, who in rapid succession mounted
the stage or rose in their seats and in
terposed remarks, was very exciting.
and carried the spectators along on a
wave of breathless interest. One after
the other these officers, who were in full
uniform, would jump up and cry, Il
demand to heard, and without further
waiting ascend the steps Of the plat
form and begin statement in support
OF a brother officer. Some times four
officers were on the stage at the same
time 1t was q marvellous display of
military clannishness. At one time a
perfect babel Of voices reie,4led for sew
eral minutes.
Labori Gagged by the Court.
NJ. Labori's cross-examination was
successful SO far as it went, but Colonel
Jouaust prevented him pressing his ad-
vantage to the utmost. In fact Jou-
aust hostile attitude toward the coun-
sci for the defense then and during the
cross-examination of the witness, M.
Degrandmaison, evoked the severest
criticism on the part of the public pres.
ent and bodies i'll for Dreyfus. Not
only Colonel Jouaust but the other
judges displayed considerable impa
| tience during Iabori's scathing cross
examination, shifting restlessly in thei,
seats and drumming the tables with the
tips of their fingers.
Roget In a Shameful Role.
| General Roget S impertinent behavior
was strikingly illustrated when he in
terrupted NJ Labori's examination ol
General Chanoine, which had resulted
in Labori' S scoring heavily against Mer
cier, with the exclamation, ''This exam
ination is waste of time"
AS matter Of fact the examination
of Chanoine showed Mercier in a very
bad light, as it brought out that he hat
privately communicated to Chanoine OF
the first day of the secret sessions 8
report on the Panizzardi dispatch fol
insertion in the secret dossier. Merciel
admitted that the. report emanatet
from Du Patty de Clam, but claimed
that he himself did not understand it,
contents, though he Thought it woult
be interesting and perhaps useful t,
Chanoine. This explanation was re
garded as very lame, and combine,
| with other shady actions, would damn
Mercier as a witness in the eyes of an.