Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-25

DfOtnerS or DreyfuS took place. IL ap-
peared from this note that the brothers
imagined that plot was being Matched
against Dreyfus because he was a jew
They maintained the Captains innocence,
and declared that they would do
everything I'm their power 10 Obtain his
| reinstatement, saying that, If necessary,
they would spend their whole fortune to
arrive at the truth.
MAUREL on WITNEsS-sTAND.
There was considerable stir in court
when the name Of Colonel Maurel who
was president OF the Dreyfus court-mar-
tial of 1885, was called. and the
Colonel appeared at the witness bar. He
started by emphatcally denying that any
communication verbal or written. was
made to the members OF the court during
the course OF the trial. He said they
only knew the case from the documents
IN the dossier and the testimony given.
Replying to N. Labor. Maurel said he
did not know General MERCER, and had
never seen him since the trial until June
last.
NJ. Labori Can Colonel Maurel tell us
to what he attributes the secret commu-
nication of the dosser?
Colonel Maurel: l have not the slight
est idea.
NJ. Labor: Can you tell US the name
OF tho officer who brought you the pri-
vate letter?
Colonel Maure: 1t was Du Patty de
| Clam. (Sensation)
VI. Labori Were there any documents
/ in this secret dossler? Can you state
what they were?
PREJUDGNENT OF CASE.
Colonel Maurel: l only saw one Of
! them. / did not look at the others be-
cause my nina was already made up.
NJ. Labor: Had the other members OF
the court also made up their minds?
Colonel Maurel: Yes.
Witness added that two members Of
the court confded to him on this subject
NJ. Labor: Can you tell us how. know
ing. as a Judge that II was your duty to
seek conscientiOusly for information, and
TO expect sincere communications from
the public prosecutor, that is to say,
communications setting forth all the
points in the case both for and against
tho prisoner. you could be of the opinion
that your mind was Loyalty made up af-
ter reading a single document? Prolong-
ed sensatiOnD
THE CONVINCING DOCUMENT.
Colonel Maurel replied that he could
not answer. because II he did he would
have TO speak Of the first document In
the dossier. which convinced the court
of the prisoners guilt"
At this point NJ. Labor said he would
Ike to confront Colonel Maurel with
Captain Freystatter. another Of the
Judges at the cOurt-martiel in 1894 But
Freystatter was not present, and Colonel
Maurel promised to wait few days and
give the Captain an opportunity of at
| tending.
LABORI CORNERS MERCER.
lively incident followed. NJ Labor
asked leave 10 interrogate General Mcr-
cIer. The government commissary, Ma
| jor Carriere. took occasion 70 remark
| that while counsel had the right TO
ask questions, he had no business to
draw deductions. to which the lawyer
dryly replied that he had always acted
with a full understanding Of the restric-
lions imposed upon counsel, and that he
! had no need Of lessons from Major Car
uere, and would not accept them.
General MERCER was then recalled.
VI. Labori said he desired To know n
General MERCER admitted ordering Colo
mel M3urel 10 communicate secret docu-
ments to the court-martial of 1891
General MERCER: knew / did not have
| the right TO give formal orders 10 that
| effect, but ] gave verbal orders. in i
manner 5ufi GENTLY clear. (Sensaiion)
The General refused 10 reply 10 many
! of the questions. For instance. he de-
cllned to say whether he had examined
| the proofs advanced agaiusf Dr-fIus
VI. Labor: In short. you considered Il
in the nature Of a sensible move TO have
| Dreyfus prosecuted and sentenced. Did
you examine previously the charges
against Dreyfus2
General Mercer: ] only examined the
| nature Of the documents.
NJ. Labor: Was il not necessary. for
| that purpose, to fix the date If the bOrd 20
rcau?
General MERCER: do not think SO.
NJ. LabOri pointed out the contradc-
tons in the evidence OF the officers Of
the headquarters staff. regarding the I'm
pcrtance and nature # the contents OF
the bordereau. and asked General Mer-
cier where Dreyfus could have obtained
particulars about the pneumatic brake
WARMTH or BOTH SIDES.
The General holly objected 10 being
asked to repeat his evidence, and NJ.
Labor. equally warm, said:
Il am only asking for definite state
ments"
MERCER then said he thought Droyfus
might have had cOgnIzlnce Of the braAe
at Bourges. adding: I'm any case he mad
a better chance TO obtain such knowledge
than Esterhazy could possibly have had."
NJ. Labor: General MERCER says Drey-
fus might have had cOgnizancc. | desire
10 emphasize that expression. We shall
row prove that Dreyfus could not have
had cognizance Of the brake.
SECRET or BRAKES CONSTRUC-
TON.
Counsel proceeded TO demonstrate how
vigorously the secret Of the construction
of the brake was guarded, and asked why,
in 1894, the charges regarding the Room
Melinite shells were not dwclt upon.
General MERCER: That arises from the
simple fact that IT was not known ill
1896 or 1881 that information on the sub
iect was being divuged. The existence
Of treachery in regard TO the distribution
OF heavy artillery among the army corps
was unknown until 1895.
Continuing, NJ. Labori asked why Gene
raj MERCER did not have a report pre-
pared regarding the confessions Dreyfus
is alleged 20 have made TO Captain Lee
brun-Renault.
MERCER: The question of the confess
sions was of no Importance until revi-
sion of the case seemed impossible.
NJ. Labor: What does General MERCER
think Of Esterhazy and the part ne
played? ......,,.
DOESN'T KNOW ESTERHAZY.
MERCER do not know Esterhazy, and
| do not think about him at all.
NJ. I.abori: Did you know him az his
trial in 1898?
General MERCER: No.
Colonel JOuaust: General MERCER Was
not Minister of War then.
NJ. I.abori This is most interesting.
General MERCER declares he knows no.
thing of the trial of 1898.
MERCER: | know nothing Of II. l leave
that 10 the court-martial which tried Es-
tnrhnz.. haNn only 10 ansMer I'm count