The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-25
Ills vigorous Cross Examination of Wit.
nesses tor the Prosecution.
HE SOON HAS MERCER AT BAY
He Gives Some Other Telling Blows-The DISTINGUISHED Advocate
Lustiy Applauded by the Audience a s He Enters the Court
Room-Dreyfus Makes Some Strong Points Against His
Accusers-Some of the Crookedness of the War
Ministry Shown Up-A Letter From a
Noted Government Spy.

ANS - :" 49, WV
ing counse for the defence, who was
murderously assaulted August 14th, |
was present in court this morning at the |
opening of the Dreyfus trial. The ar |
rival Of M. Labor at the Lycee was |
n signal for scenes of extraordinary |
enthusiasm. The crowd about the Ly- |
Gee building rushed UP to his carriage ,
and a number of people eagerly thrust
hands through the windows to greet
the distinguished lawyer.
When M. Labor descended he was
surrounded by friends and a hundred
hands pressed his, while he was as
sailed with all sorts of questions, to
which he smilingly replied: Il am going
on we'll, my friends, thank you. Thank
YOU"
LAS M. Labor, still accompanied by
Madame Labor and a physician, en-
tered the room, the audience greeted
him by standing and there was a gen.
eral roar Of applause, accompanied by
the clapping of hands. which was dis
tinctly heard in the streets. Tears
sprang to the eyes OF the wounded man,
who was evidently affected by the warm
welcome accorded him.
Among those who greeded NJ. Labor
were Generals Billot and Mercier, who
courteously inquired as to his condition.
The lawyer looked very we'll consid-
ering his recent experience. He walked
quite briskly, but held his left arm
close to his side, in order not to disturb
the wound. He was conducted to a
light, we'll cushioned arm chair, in
stead Of the ordinary cane bottom chair,
behind the table set apart for the law
yerS. Nine Labor, who entered the
court room ahead of her husband, also
received a hearty greeting. AS h
took a seat in court she was surround
ed by friends who overwhelmed her
with congratulations on her husbands
recovery, to which she smilingly re-
.sDOnded.
At first the audience seemed to be
apprehensive that Colonel Jouaust,
president of the court, might treat the
applause of NJ. Labor as a
ton which would warrant him in clear
ing the court. 1t began, therefore,
with a few timid clapS of the hands,
but was soon followed by general ap-
plause upon the part of the whole audi
ence, witt the exception Of a few stand
ing at the back of the court room.
AS NJ. Labor shook hands with Cen
erals Billot and MERCER, who smilingly
congratulated him on being able to re-
appear in the case, the lawyer thanked
them for calling at his residence while
he was in bed.
Dreyfus entered the court room soon
afterwards, and having saluted the
judges, turned to NJ. Labor with out
stretched hand, a smile of keen pleas
ure lighting up his pale and usually
impressive features. The lawyer took
the prisoners hand, shook it warmly;
WhereupOn DreyfuS gave him another
look of gratitude and took his seat in
front of his counsel's table, with his
back toward them.
Colonel Jouaust next read from a
paper an address to Nj. Labor, the
tone of the president being quite SYM
pathetic. The lawyer made an impas-
stoned reply. He was deeply affected
and his voice was clear, though not
so strong as before he was shot. He
was very nervous and excited, and
sWayed to and fro as he delivered his
reply. Ills hearers were profoundly
impressed.
NJ. Labori's reply to the president
considerably fatigued him and he sat
down flushed and holding his side. He
afterwards once or twice nerVOusly
twitched his fingers and an expression
fitted over his face as though he
were suffering.
Madam Rejane, the celebrated ac-
tress, was among those present in court
today. She made the trip to Rennes
especially to see the trial and return
of NJ. Labor into the case and h was
one of those who applauded the most
heartily his entry into the court room.
The first witness today was M. Gre
nier, the former project of Belfort. His
testimony was favorable to Dreyfus and
distinctly hostile to ESterhaZey.
LABORI DECLARES HIMSELF.
Major Rollin, Of the intelligence de-
partment, was asked by M. Labor.
during the course Of the formers testi-
mony how a certain document of a
later date than Mercier's ministry, came
into General Mercier'S possession. Roll
lin said it was not his business to ex-
plan, but counsel insisted, asking whose
business it was.
Finally M. Labor asked Colonel Jou-
aust to request General Mercier to ex-
plain. The general rose, and said he
declined to answer.
NJ. Labor insisted, but Mercier still
refused to answer and Major Carriere,
the government commlssary supported
him, on the ground that the
ton was entering Upon a matter which
ought not, in the interest OF the country
to be discussed publicly.
NJ. Labori then declared in a loud
voice that he would reserve to hlmSel1
the right to take the necessary meas
ures to obtain the desired lnforna-
ton.
DREYFUS MAKES A POINT.
Inc next point was mace Dy OreyluS
in his reply to Major Rollin. The lat.
ter had remarked that all the prison
ers papers were seized when his rooms
were searched in 1894, and Colonel Jou'
aust said that certain papers from hi:
text book, the School of War, wer'
found missing. To this the prisoner re.
torted: Not in 1894, my colonel"
This caused some sensation as tn,
obvious Interpretation was that tn
pages were torn out at the war office
and that then the fact was used agains
him as an insinuation that h had com
municated the missing pag to foreign
agents.
A former secretary of the war office
named Ferret, next testified to seeing
Dreyfus prying into other officers worl
during their absence, and the prisone,
replied. excitedly, that Ferret's state
ments were connections by a forme
minister Of war, which caused a sensa
tiOn.
Then. in a cooler manner, the pris
oner made a statement explaining tn