The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-13
MRS. CRAwFORD's VIEW OF 1T.
Tells by Cable OF the Scenes in the
Dreyfus Drama.

Copyright by the Associated Press)
RENNES, Aug. 12.-This has been
tremendous day. M Casimir-Per1er
gave to the military court a history of
the Dreyfus case. He spoke in an ami
mated manner, with strong emotion,
and often in a strong tone of 1ndlgna-
ton. He appeared to greater advan-
tage than 1 ever remember to have seen
him before, and was honest and truthful,
though not free from pose, unless when
anger about the lies told about him rem
dered him quite natural. When the
president of the court said: "Tell what
you know of the Dreyfus affair."" M.
Casimir-Perier seemed unable to speak.
AS a matter of fact the blood rushes to
his heart when he is deeply moved, par
alyzing for short time the organs
of speech.
Gen. MERCER was allowed to sit while
giving his deposition, If longwinded,
fiat explanations and remarks can be
called q deposition. He is of quite an
other type from NJ. Casimir-Perier. His
full dress uniform failed to make him
look soldierly. He has the carriage and
countenance of trtckster
Esterhazy is like a brigand; MERCER
like a dishonest grocer, who adulterates
his wares His eyes are more slight,
surrounded by puffy rings. They reveal
nothing that is going on behind them.
The instinct of self-preservation and the
small, mean passions that administer to
It, are alone expressed in his withered
countenance He spoke for hours, in a
scarcely audible voice. Once the tap
was turned the gibberish, or drivel, went
on. There was hardly any incident in
his testimony beyond the assertion that
he sent secret documents to Col. Maurel
with a not strict order, but an implied
order to show them to the other Judges
of the 1894 court-martiel. Apart from
this admission his deposition, like that
of Gen. Roget, before the court of cas-
sation, was full inuendo, of phrases, and
of ut is not impossible or 'ft may be-
and such like verbal antiquities.
Failing to demonstrate the guilt Of
Dreyfus, Gen. MERCER turned toward the
prisoner, at the conclusion of the dull
est speech I ever heard, and said:
eff 1 had the slightest doubt Of the
justice of the 1894 sentence, I would now
say to the prisoner captain, 1 have
wronged you"
Dreyfus for the first time, burst the
bounds of his strict self-control. The
blood rushed into his face and, starting
to his feet, he cried: But that is what
you ought to say"
This brought down the house and the
bar The press and the public applauded.
Dreyfus stood while the ''bravos' were
cowed look returned, and he sat down
rapidly in the square military position
he thinks respectful to the court.
Gen. Mercier's deposition was in such
contrast to the graphic powerful story
of M Casimir-Perier, which had through
out the ring of truth, that the general
was hooted when he left the .tand.
Gen MERCER and M. Casimir-Perier will
be confronted on Monday. 1 pity him.
Think of the sorry paving horse sent to
the lion.
Mondays session will be, as was to-
days, thrilling, a sign that the tide is
turning Col. Jouaust, the president of
the court who was SO stiff with Dreyfus,
ignoring his salutes, today returned them
There were other dispositions of great
Importance, though they were not sensa-
tional. Their Importance lay in their
covering the anti-Dreyfusites with con-
fusion by mailing their lies to the counter
I like to look at the counseFs bench.
Maitres Demange and Labori and two
more advocates were there. You could
fancy Roentgen rays of intellectually
and strength of purpose to emanate from
that bench. The military judges look as
contemplate besides these warriors of
talent The judges have something in
them reminding one of ESterhaZy They
run in a groove and are bandaged up in
a consideration Of military usage. One
could prefer the treachery of French
civilian justice to the blockheadness Of
military judge. The civilian judge seems
to work the confessions out of a prisoner,
but the military judge disdains this, and
he does not mind letting the prisoner feel
he thinks him guilty. The military Judges
will have to for decency sake acquit Drey-
fus but they will do so reluctantly and
with hearts filled with gall. They are
not to be contented with the evidence, but
it will overbear them.