The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-08-25
DREYFUS TRIAL TESTIMONY
M. L4BORI AGAIN CORNERS GEN.
 EBAL MERCIER.

tolonel Mnurel, President of the 1894
 CourtmartiaI, Tcsttncs That Du Paty
 -Empcror William Is Mcntioned--
 Shady Story Of n Witness About Note
 He Found In the Katser's Bedroom.
 RenneS, Aug. 24.--When the fourth session of the third week of the second trlal by courtmartial of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, charged with treason, opened at the Lycee here at $40 a. m. to-day, Col. Jouaust president of the court, or dered that the evidence given by M. Penot, friend of the late Col, Sand herr, chief of the intelligence depart ment, be read by the clerk of the court. It was to the effect that Col. Sandherr said the Dreyfus family offered him 150,0OO francs on condition that he would clear Dreyfus
 Maitre Demange for the defense, dis posed of this allegation by reading the actual note on the subject written by Snndherr, thereby proving that the coloneps remarks had been distorted. Dreyfus's brother only having said: "We are convinced Of the innocence of our brother and will spend our entire fortune to discover the truth"
 The deposition of the Royalst Deputy de Grandmaison, which consisted of a clap-trap trade against foreigners in tervenng in the affair and the little tattle, quite outside of the case, deliv- cred in grandiloquent style with pero- ration worthy of an election harangue, ending with the preposterous words, addressed to the judges: If you think Dreyfus innocent, acquit him. But if you decide he is guilty, you must pro-. nounce his condemnation"
 The deputy accompanied this instruc- ton to the court with sweeping gestures and turned to leave the stage, amid roars of laughter from the audience, which drew fierce stage-villain look from him that again convulsed the court.
 M. Labori, however called the deputy back. He wanted to examine several of M. de Grandmaison's statements, but
 
 questions to be put. at which counsel became tremendously indignant, in sisted upon his right to do so, and a warm altercation ensued between the president of the court and counsel. The former, however, maintained his decis- ion, which was indisputably unfair to Dreyfus, and M Labori sat down, gagged and boiling over with indigna- tion, which feeling was shared by ma jorfty of the people in court.
 The testimony of the first witness of the day, M. Linolle, former official of the government, was also in favor of Dreyfus, as it was in direct contradic- tion of what M. Dubrieul deposed yes terday regarding the alleged intimacy of Dreyfus with the German attache, at the house of M. Bodson, a mutual friend
 The president of the court then called the next witness, Col. Maurel, who was president of the Dreyfus courtmartial in 1894 VIE
 Complete silence fell upon the court as the infantry sergeant who was act ing as usher entered the hall and con- ducted Col Maurel to the witness bar. The colonel was attired in a black frock coat and wore the red ribbon of the Legion of Honor at his buttonhole. His hair is gray and he has a regged, iron gray mustache His face showed anxiety. As M. Labor lashed him with pointed questions the colonel hesitated and then answered in a short choppy manner, and when M. Labori finally disposed of him, the witness left the platform with the pale face and scared look of a man who has awakened from a nightmare Counsel had drawn from the colonel a confession that the secret dossier was communicated to the judges of the courtmartial of 1894 by Col Du Paty de Clam. This avowal produced a sensation in court and Maureps decla- ration that he read only one of the doc- uments did not affect the main fact; while his protestatons that the reading Of the document had no effect upon him as his mind was already made up, was nullfied by his subsequent declara- ton that this one document sufficed to convince him. M Labori then put series of search ing questions to General Mercler, With | reference to the communication os the secret dossicr for the courtmartial and his attitude in 1894 and an interesting scene cnsued. The general refused to reply to all the questions and there | were sharp passages at arms between counsel and Col. Jouaust, who upheld General Mereer, while the dialogue between the general and M. Labori | became acrimonious. Counsel became ! very heated and showed it in his voice | and gestures The general, however, | troubled as his mind might be, seldom l departed from the callous demeanor | characteristic of him. The lawyer made l q strong point on the part Esterhazy | played Mercier said he did not know | Esterhazy and only saw him once, at the Zola trial.
 That is very interesting" exclaimed Nj. Labori But surely General Mer- cier was present at the Esterhazy trial?"
 The general replied that he was not there. and that he knew nothing about | the evidence in the Esterhazy prosecu- ton.
 What ?"cried M. Labori. General Mercier who was the chiey acuser of Dreyfus, did not even follow the pro ceedinss in the Esterhazy trial?'