The age-herald., 1899-08-17
M LABORPS ABSENCE MATERIALLY WAKEENSS DREYFUS CASE;
 THE ACCUSED PRISONER WEEPS IN COURT LIKE A CHILD

of previous proceedings, M. Guerin pro- ceeded to repeat his evidence, as given be- fore the court of cessation, saying that at the end of October after a cabinet council, the premier invited him to his room, where General Mercier joined them, and explained that for some time past documents had been missing from the headquarters staff, and that in consequence of inquiries made suspicion attached to Dreyfus.
 General Mercier, the witness continued, added that he was convinced that Dreyfus ae the culprit. He said he founded his conviction on three facts:
 First-The bordereau, tine author of which was undiscoverable until Colonel Fabre, on returning from the maneuvers, immediately after he saw the document, exclaimed: Why, 1t is Dreyfus' handwritingr
 Second-The nature of the documents enumerated in the bordereau in conjunction with Dreyfus' employment in different de- partments proved conclusive, according to General Mercier, that Dreyfus did nave cognizance of all these papers, and he alone could have disclosed them.
 Third-Ine dictation test and Dreyfus' perturbation at the time.
 General Mercier M. Guerin then said, m consequence of these convictions de- clared his intention to ask the cabinet to authorize the prosecution of Dreyfus.
 Special Cabinet Meeting
 A special cabinet meeting met November l. 1891, to consider the matter. The wit ness forgot whether M. Casimir-Perier or M. Dupuy presided. General Mercier handed the cabinet nothing but the bor- dereau.
 After the minister of war had related his reasons for his suspicious, the cabinet unanimously authorized the prosecution of Dreyfus.
 M Hanataux alone made some reserva- Hon s,.Is A. place where the document was found but it was agreed in the event of courtmar- tialins Dreyfus measures should be taken 10 prevent mention of the name of any power
 From that day the witness had learned nothing Whatever of the case personally as It vas in the hands of the military authorities.
 M Guerin at that time, had never heard or the secret documents and none was ever Communicated to the cabinet He afterwards learned the existence of secret documents during the Zola trial and only learned of the alleged confession of Drey- fus to Captain Lebrun Renaut from the newspapers.
 General Mercier never mentioned the aI- legged confession to the cabinet.
 Colonel Jouaust then questioned the wit ness, saying:
 M. Colbert an expert, has declared you summoned him to your office to give you information about the Dreyfus affair. Do you remember'the occurrence? Did he not say on entering, pointing to the clock: Monsieur le Ministere de Justice I fear lest at this hour a grave mistake is being comnitted?'
 'Is It not a fact that you did not reply. but when M Colbert was leaving recom- mended him to observe extreme caution. as tile government was desirous of keeping the treason secret, dreading particular in- discretlons upon the part of the press, and, above all, upon the part of the 'Libre Pa role, IS the suspected officer was a Jew?' M. Guerin replied: "I cannot affirm whether or not I received M. Colbert but what can affirm is that if he came did not employ the language mentioned, and I made none of the statements he attributes to me-"
 M. Lebon, former minister of the colonies, was then summoned to testify regarding his treatment of the prisoner.
 He said that when the cabinet was asked to intervene in favor of a revision he thought the executive should not interfere with the judiciary and his respect for the chosen judge was strengthened by his per- sonal opinion of the culpablity of the con- demned
 "On my soul and conscience" declared M Lebon dramatically, "I regard the meas ures took relative to the prisoner on Dev- ils Island as warranted, and If had to re- peat them I would not hesitate.'