The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-08-16
DREYFUS THRILLS THE AUDIENCE.
FACES HIS ACCUSER.
Gen. mercier Gives Ms Testimony and Is
Kissed y.President casimer.P .PerietTes-
tihes- -RevoIu.ionists Arrested.

CasimirPcrie ex-President OF
| France, testified in behalf of Dreyfus
at the public trial held in Rennes last
| Saturday.
Casimr- Perier. with emotion, denied
| all the false testimony that drew him
in and that convicted Dreyfus.
For the honor of the magistracy
and the honor of France" the EXPIRES
ident exclaimed in ringing voice, II
| feel compelled to speak the truth in
defense of an innocent man."
Again he said with feeling to the
president of the court martial:
81 have sworn to tell the truth. /
now place myself at your disposal.
| will answer any questions. My sole
desire is to assist In search for the
truth"
After beiig sworn the ex-President
was asked by the Judge, Colonel Jou-
aust to tell the truth In the Dreyfus
affair.
Casimir- Perier in loud voice said:
Monster le President. You ask me
to speak the truth and all the truth.
] have sworn to do It. | will not leave
this place without saying all. l in
| tend to do this. not because | can add
anything useful to what | have already
said, but out of respect to my con-
| science and the judges, and to take
the opinion of men of good faith. l
Will not leave this place until | have
| left an unalterable conviction that l
know nothing which might throw light
ON the case and that | have said all
| ] know"
The former President then repeated
the evidence ne had given befor the
| Court of Cessation.
| Various questions were then asked
NJ. Casimir- Perier by the assistant
Judge and NJ. Demang on the subject
| Of Captain Lebrun- -Renaud's state
ment that Dreyfus had confessed to
| him, and the witness said emphatic
ally that he never had from Captain
| Lebrun- Renaud any communication
such as confession during the Cap
| tain's visit to him.
VI. Casimir- Perier gave his evidence
with a blanched face, but in the de-
termiEed tone of man who maintains
every word uttered which insp red
confidence in his words.
After the Presidents testimony
| General Mercier, the chief accuser,
was brought into the court room.
Mcrcier presented n document to be
read by the clerk. which proved to be
the alleged Dreyfus letter concerning
the alleged engagement entered into
with NJ Casimlr-Perier, which the lat
| ter had so hotly denied.
At the end of his evidence General
Mercier said he believed that the only
| motive of Dreyfus' treason was that
This cruel utterance brought forth
Kisses from the audience, whose blood
| had been sent up to fever heat by the
| witness savage attacks on Dreyius.
General Mcrcier. not needing the
Kisses, terminated by remarking:
| "ff the least doubt crossed my mind,
gentlemen, I would be the first to de-
| clare IL to you and say To you. Captain
| Dreyfus, l am mistaken, but in good
| faith"
Then Dreyfus electrified his hearers.
| He Jumped to his feet as though the
words had galvanized him into new life
and shouted with a voice which re-
sounded through the hall like trumpet
note:
THAT is what you onght TO say"
The audience burst into a wild cheer,
| whereupOn the ushers called for silence.
| General Mercier then stammered:
Il would come and say Captain
! Dreyfus, l was mistaken in good faith,
| and | come with the same good faith
to admit II, and I will do all in human
power to repair the frightful error"
The prisoner then shouted:
why don't you, then? That is
your duty"
At this point there was another burst
OF applause. General Mercier, after a
pause, when the excitement was partial
| ly Gained, said:
| "Well, nc. My conviction since 1894
has not suffered the slightest weaken
ing. 1t is fortified by the deepest study
| OF the dossier and also by the inanity
of the means resorted to for the pur-
pose of proving the innocence of the
| condemned man of 1894. I'm spite OF the
| evidence accumulated and in spite of
| the millions Of money expended"
Colonel Jouaust then said:
Have you flnished?"
| General Mercier replied: "Yes"
Then followed a thrilling demonstra-
| ton against General MERCER. AS he
turned to leave the court the audience
rose en- masse and hissed and cursed
him. those at the back Of the court
standing on chairs and benches in order
to better hound him down. The gen.
darmes placed themselves between the
General and the audience, which show
ed a strong disposition to maltreat the
former Minister of War.
The excitement in the Dreyfus case
| throughout France is intense but 1t
has been overshadowed by the start
ling arrest of almost a score of Ma
tlonalist leaders. Among them were
M. Paul Deroulede. founder of the
| League of Patriots and a member of
the Chamber of Deputies for the An
gouleme division of Charente. A
number of members of the Anti-Sem-
ite and Patriotic Leagues We're also ar
rested. A semi-ofiicial note reads as
| follows:
"A certain number of arrests were
made as the result of a magisterial in
quiry and by virtue of article so, of
the penal code, regarding a conspiracy
organized for the purpose of accom-
plishing change in the form Of gov