The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-25
LAB0Rl AND MERCER TILT.
BUT THE GENERAL is SUPPORTED
BY THE COURT.

Worst of It-ROget Showed Effront-
ery-InterventiOn of Officers Was
Almost Constant.
Rennes, Aug. 24-To-day's session of the
Dreyfus courtmartial was marked by one
of The most exciting scenes of the trial
The proceedings opened with a skirmish
entirely favorable to the defense over col.
Maurel, president of the courtmartial of
1894, who admitted reading one of the Sc
cret documents to the court, which had
not been seen by the defense He protest
ed that only one document was looked at
alleging that this suniced to enable him to
form a conviction that could not be
shaken.
This protest made matters worse. be-
cause, as NJ. Labor pointed out. if he pc
rused one it was his bounden duty to pc
ruse all. Col. Jouaust upheld Col. Maurel
in his refusal to Indicate the nature Of the
document he read, but M Labon an
nOunced that he would summon Capt
Freystatter, another member of the tri-
bunal Of 1894, and get his version of what
then passed behind the backs of the coun-
sci for the defense. Col. Maurel felt his
position keenly, and continually hesitated
before replying to VI. Laboris questions.
All this. however, was only preliminary
to fierce battle that ensued between La
bori and Gen. Mercier, the latter receiving
reinforcements from Gen. Roget Gen
Come and Gen. DeBoisdeffre. as wen as in
valuable assistance from Col. Jouaust MIN
self.
NJ. Labori took Cen Mercer over the
whole ground of his previous deposition.
This led to several sharp passa ges al arms
between the advocates and Col Jouaust,
who upheld MERCER in refusing to reply to
several questions which, in the general
opinion of those in the court room were
distinctly pertinent.
Whenever Gen Mercier was cornered. he
declined to answer, and Col. Jouaust in
variably supported him. NJ Labori pco-
tested most theoretically. His words ard
manner breathed the deepest Indignation,
but the president of the courtmartial was
inhexible. The Intervention Of Gems Gonse
Roget, DeBoisdeffre and Maj Lauthe
who in rapid succession, mounted the
stage or rose in their seats and interposed
remarks. was very exciting and carried the
spectators along on wave of breathless
interest. one after The other these Off
GERS, who were to-day in full uniform,
would jump up and cry 81 demand to be
heard" and without further waiting, as
cend the steps of the platform and begin
a statement in support of a brother officer.
Sometimes four officers were on the stage
at the same moment. 1t was q marvellous
display of military clannishness. At one
time a perfect babel of voices reigned for
several minutes until Col. Jouaust inter-
vened and restored order.
Jounaust Was Partial.
NJ. I.abori's cross-examination was sue
cessful so far as il went, but Col. Jouaust
prevented him pressing his advantage to
the utmost. In fact, JOuausts hostile at
titude toward the counsel for the defense
then and during the cross-eXamination of
che witness, NJ. De Grandmaison, evoked
the severest criticism on the part of the
public present and BODIES i'll for Dreyfus.
Not only Col. Jouaust, but the other
Judges displayed cons derab.e impa tience
during Labori's sCathing cross-examina-
ton, shifting restlessly in their seats and
drumming the table with the tips of their
fingers.
Gen. Mercier faced Laboris fire with
calous demeanor standing on the plat
form, his hands behind his back and his
face only half-turned toward his ques-
toner. once or twice a savage look in
the eyes, an elevation in the tone and a
swaying to and fro of the body revealed
the inner fires of resentment. Gen. Roget
faced the court with an air of unblushing
effrontery. His handsome, but unsympa-
thetic, features expressed the bitterest
scorn as he spun on his heel and, with
arms crossed, faced Labor, the audience
or the judges He is extremely vain and
is always striking attitudes for the benefit
of newspaper artists, quite a number of
whom regularly attend the sessions. His
imperdnent behavior was striking.y Illus
ted to-day when he interrupted NJ. La
boris examination or Gen Chamoln
which had resulted in NJ. Labori's scoring
heavily against Mercier with the excla-
ma tion: This examination is a waste of
time"
As a matter Of fact the examination of
Chamoin showed Mercier In a very bad
light, as il brought out that ne had priv
ately communicated TO Chamoin, on the
first day of the secret session. a report on
the Panizzardi dispatch for insertion in the
secret dossier. Gen. Chamoin admitted
that he was wrong in accepting the re-
port but pleaded ignorance In judicial
matters. The report consisted of three
pages, of which The second and third, Cha
nloin declared, contained fantastic, and,
in fact, false representations.
NJ. Labori brought Gen. Mercier to the
bar in reference to this. Mercier admitted
that the report emanated from Du Patty
de Clam, but claimed that he himself did
not understand its contents, though he
thought II would be interesting and Der-
haps useful to Chamoin. This exp,aDatlon
was regarded as very lame, and, combined
with other shady actions, would damn
MERCER as witness in the eyes of an i'm
partial tribunal
The correspondent Of the Associated
Press saw Nine. Labori Fhis afternoon ana
conversed with her regarding her hus-
bands condition. She said he was pro-
crossing rapidly. though still suffering
considerable pain. THE way he Is ro-
covering" she exclaimed, Seems to me
almost miraculous"
The Proceedings Open.
At the opening Of the proceedings. Col
Jouausi ordered that the evidence Of Pc
not. friend OF the late Col Sandherr,
chief OF the Intelligence department, he
read by the court, which was done. This
testimony. as given before the Court Of
Cessation. set forth that Co Sandherr
tod NJ Ponot that tho brothers Of Drey-
fus had offered 10000 francs 10 settle the
case, adding that Sandhorr was 70 In
consed at the proposal that he ordered
them out Of his office.
Maitre Demange, as cOunterblast read
"a nofe written lV R4udnerr on the daV bfs