Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-08-25
laimcd, seems to me almost mracu,-
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL

I NJ the opening OF the proceedings
| this morning Colonel Joulust ordered
that the evidence Of Penot. 4: friend Of
the late Colonel SandhGrr. chief of the
| Intelligence Department, be read by he
court. which was done. This testimony
as given before the Court of Cass.ltion
set forth that Colonel Sardherr told
NJ. Penot that the brothers Of Drcyfus
| had offered Sandherr 100000 francs 70
! settle the case, adding that Sandferr
was so incensed at the proposal that
| he ordered them out Of his office.
| Maitre Demange, as n counterblast,
| read 4 note written by Sandherr on
the day OF the interview Of the brothers
of Dreyfus took place. 1t appeared
| from this note that the brothers i'm
agined that a plot was being hatched
| against Drcyfus because he was a
jew. They maintained the captains
| anything in their power to obtain his
| rcinsta tement. saying that if neces-
sary, they would spend their whole
| fortune to arrive at the truth.
STIR IN COURT.
! There was considerable stir in court
| when the name Of Colonel Maurel, who
| was president Of the Drcyfus courl-
| martial of 1894, was called and the
Col. appeared at the witness bar He
started by eHnphaticaNly denying that
any communication. verbal or written.
was made tf the members of the court
! during the course of the trial. He said
| they only knew the case from the do
| cuments in the doSSier and the testi-
muny given.
Replying to NJ. Labori ,Naurel. said
he did not know General Mercer and
had never seen him since the trial un-
| til June last.
| NJ. LaDori 'Can Colonel Maurel tell
us to what he attributes the secret
communication Of the dossier."
Colonel Maurel. IT have not the
slightest idea
| WAS PATTY DE CLAM
NJ. Labori. '+Can you tell US the name
of the officer who brought you the
| private letter."
! Colonel Maurel. 1T was Colonel Du
Patty de Clam" (Sensation)
| NJ. Labor. Were there any docu
ments in this secret dossier? Can you
| state what they were?"
| Colonel Maurel. Il only saw one Of
them. ] did not look at the others be-
cause my mind 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 courr told him as qnuc'a.
| NJ. 1abOri. can you tell us how
| knowing as the judge, that it was your
duty to seek conscentiously for in
fol- nation, and to expect sincere com
munications from the public prosecu
| tor, that is to say, communications
setting forth all the points in the case,
lboth for and against the prisoner, you
could be Of the opinion that Your mind
was entirely made UP after reading
lsngle document?" prolonged sensa-
| tion.)
| COULD NOT ANSWER
Colonel Maurel replied that he could
not answer because. if 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. Labori said he would
like to confront Colonel Maurel with
Captain F'reystatter. another of the
judges at the cour1martial of 1894 Rut
| t>reystatter was not present and Col.
Maurel promised to wait a few days
and give the captain an opportunity Of
! attending.
MERCER RECALLED.
\ lively incident followed. NJ La
bori asked leave to interrosate General
MERCER. The government commissary.
! Major Earriere, took occasion to re-
mark that While counsel had the right
| TO ask questions he had no business 10
I draw deductions, to which the lawyer
drily replied that he had always acted
| with 4 full knowledge of the restrie-
| tons imposed upon counsel and that he
| had no need of lessons from Major Car
riere and would not accept them.
| General MERCER was then recalled.
|
General Mercier ordered Colonel Maui
| rel TO communicate secret documents
! 70 the court of 1894.
Gen. Me:cier: L knew did not have
| the right 10 give formal orders TO that
| effect but I gave verbal orders in a
| manner sufficiently clear" (Sensition.}
! The general refused to reply to many
| of the questions For instance, he de-
| ciined to say whether he had examined
the proofs advanced against Dreyfus.
NJ. iIabori: In short. you ccnsid er.ad
| 1t in the nature Of a sensation to have
| DreEfus prosecuted and sentenced? DID
yon examine previously the charges
against preyfus 2"
| EXAMINED THEIR NATURE.
| Genera! MERCER: II only examined
the nature of the documents betrayed
| M Labor: was it nos necessary for
that purpose to fix the date Of the Dor
| dereau?
| General MERCER: IT do not think so
| NJ. Labor pointed out the contra die
tons III the evidence of the headduar-
ters staff regarding the Importance ana
| nature or the contents of the border
| eau and asked General MERCER where
preyfus could have obtained particu-
| lars ABOUT the pneumatic brake.
The general objected to being asked
/ 20 repeat his evidence and NJ Labor,
equally warm, said:
! II am only asking for definite state
mentS.'
| MERCER then said he thought Dreylus
might have had cognizance Of the
| brake at Bourges, adding:
IN any case he had a better chance
to obtain such knowledge than Ester
navy could possibly have had
| IA!RORI EMPHASIZES.
| ~. Labor: General MERCER SAYS
Dreyfus might have had cognizance. 1
desire to emphasize that expression
We shall now prove Dreyfus could not
have mad cognizance of the brake
1oNnsei proceeded 70 demonstrate
| how riCOrOnSlv "a