The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-08-31
Changed Attitude Of General
MERCER Puzzles Onlookers at "
Rennes. "
Many Believe He Is Preparing to
Get Under Tome Sort of
Cover. 49,:
Experts Of the First Glass Testify
That Esterhazy Wrote the
Bordereau. ~f..

RENNEs, Aug. 3l.--At the opening OF
the third session Of the fourth week of
the Dreyfus trial, NJ. Paul Meyer, mem
Der OF the institute and director of the
school OF ancient manuscripts, was the
first witness called. He deposed in
favor of Dreyfus.
After hearing NM. Molinier and Giry
and M. Picot, member of the insti
tute, all of whom testified in favor Of
Dreyfus, General Deloye testified against
the prisoner on the artillery references
in the bordereau. Then the court, On
the application of the government com
missary, Major Carriere, ordered that
the opening part Of the next session be
behind closed doors for the purpose of
discussing documents relating to the
artillery.
Mercier's Changed Position. (
The evidence of NM Meyer, Molinier
and Giry, all of whom were handwrit-
ing experts Of the first water, was a
strong point for Dreyfus. They were
most emphatic in declaring the border
eau was written by Esterhazy and
created better impression than M.
Bertillon by not introducing the fan
tastic diagrams which the latter deemed
necessary. The action of General Mer-
cier in asking to be allowed to answer
M. Molinier, and then getting up and
confirming the experts statement that
Esterhazy changed his handwriting
since 1894, puzzled the audience. That
Esterhazy should deem it necessary to
change his handwriting since the date
of the bordereau, which appears at first
sight to indicate that he wrote it, and
that MERCER should support Professor
Molinier also caused discussion as to
the generals motive. There are some
people who see in Mercier's unsolicited
testimony Tuesday supporting the hon.
orable nature of NJ. Matthew Dreyfus'
visit to Colonel Sandherr, in 1894, in
behalf of his brother, and the generals
latest move, an indication Of some
change Of attitude, perhaps prelude to
candid avowal of his mistakes Of 1894.
On the other hand, many persons think
General MERCER, fearing that such pro-
ceedure will discredit him altogether
with the judges, has conceived the idea
of giving way on certain points, which,
moreover, are almost incontestable, and
thus, to some extent, reinstate himself
by an affectation of impartiality
He Talked With Schneider.
NJ. Picot related an interesting con-
versation which he had with the Aus
tro-Hungarian military attache, COL
onel Schneider, mention of whose name
evoked a prompt protest from Major
Carrlere in the name of the government
and state. Colonel Schneider, accord.
ing to this witness, admitted that Es-
terhazy acted as spy and wrote the
bordereau.
General Roget, with his usual shrewd-
ness, seized upon NJ. Picot's statement
that Colonel Schneider expressed aston
ishment that the French officers should
have the bad taste to question the word
OF foreign officers, to mount the plat
form and make short speech regard.
ing the attitude Of French officers. con.
Guiding with the remark:
Il interviewed because when French
officers are attacked, they have the
right to defend themselves"
These words will be published all
over France and will tend to make Gen.
eral Roget more popular with the army
Major Carriere then made his applica.
ton to have the court sit behind closed
doors at its next session, explaining
that he desired to submit tc the court
certain documents prepared by the
gunnery bureau, containing informa.
ticn which it was not desirable to dis.
cuss in public.
The court, after delberation, grant.
the application and also acceded to the
request Of the defense that their wit
ness, Major Hartmann of the artillery,
be allowed to be present, as he would
give important testimony showing that
Dreyfus could not have written the
paragraphs in the bordereau concerning
artillery.
AGAIN UNDER ARREST.
General Jiminez Held by the Military
Authorities at Santiago.
"a