The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-25
SCORES
THE WITNESSES
Continued from First Page)

nature OF the documents.
NJ Iabori-Was II not necessary LOT
that purpose TO fix the date fihe boruc
rcau2
General Merdor-I do not think So
NJ. Labor pointed out the contradiction
in the evidence OF the officers Of the head
quarters staff regarding the Importance
and nature OF the contents Of the Dor
dereau. and asked General MERCER where
Dreyfus could have obtained particulars
about the pneumatic brake.
The General holly objected 10 being ask
Cd 10 repeat his evidence, and NJ. Labor
equally warm, said
II am only asking for definite state
ments."
MERCER then said he thought Dreyfus
might have had cognizance Of the brake
al Bolirges. adding: In any case. he
had a better chance 20 obtain such
knowledge than Esterhazy could possibly
have had"
NJ Lahori: General MERCER says Drey-
FMS mich, have had cOpnizqnce. ! desire
10 emphasize that expression. We
now prove that Dreyfus could not have
had cognizance OF the brake.
Counsel proceeded TO demonstrate how
vigorously the secret OF the construction
Of the brake was guarded and asked
why in 1894 the charges regarding inc
Robin Melinite shells were not dwell
upon?
General MERCER: That arises from The
simple fact that It was not known ui
1896 or 1897 that information on the SUBJ
iect was being divuged. The existence
OF treachery regarding the distribution OF
heavy artillery among the army corps was
unknown until 1895.
Continuing. NJ Iabori asked why Gen
eral MERCER dd not have report pre-
pared regarding the confessions Dreyfus
Is alleged 10 have made to Captain L.
brun- Rensult.
MERCER: The questions OF fhe confess
sions was Of no importance until a revision
Of the case seemed Impossible
VI. Labor: What does General MERCER
think Of Esterhazy and the part ne
Played?
A KN OW-NOTHTNG.
Mercier: 7 do not know Esterhazy and
10 not think about him at al.
NJ Labor: Did you know him at his
trial IN 1895?
General Nercier: No.
Colonel Jouaust: General MERCER was
not Minister OF War then.
". Labor: This IS mast interesting.
General MERCER declares he knows no.
thing Of The trial OF 1S9S.
MERCER I know nothing Of II. I leave
that to the cour. martial which tried
Esferhazy. I have only TO answer in
courts for my acts and ! refuse your
right 10 question me about my thoughts.
(Sensation).
Colonel Jouaust. addressing ". Labori
said: you are reverting TO the evidence
Of General Mercier?'
n Labor: Ny object in interrogatng
the witness IS TO revert 10 mis- evidence.
General MERCER: / protest against the
word 'interrOgatory' for ! am not
prisoner.
(Note-lntcrrogatory in French law,
generally applies to the examination OF
an accused person by magistrate)
NJ Labor: 1t is not a question Of inter-
roeatory. / used the word IN most re-
spectful sense. VIII General MERCER say
what he means by the charge preferred
against the pariisans Of Dreyfus Of hav-
ing spent thrty-fve million francs? what
was this sum used for? The amount IS
simply ridiculous.
General MERCER: I might just as wei
ask you. (Sensation)
NJ Labor Do you mean 20 suggest that
It was spent in advertisements and In
buying consciences?
General Mercer l say nothing what
ever.
As the questions OF counsel touched
upon the secret dossier and a certain
document in blue pencil. General Gonse
General Roget. NJ. Gribeiin and Major
Lauth also participated IN the discussion
which almost degenerated into a wrangle
The government commlssary. Major
Carriere protested against such discus
sion and Colonel Jouaust ordered silence.
Major Lauth said he believed a clue to
the blue pencil document existed before
the trial Of 1894 and NJ. Labori asked why,
in that case. It was not produced al the
trial. since It incriminated the prisoner
General MERCER said he did not know Of
this clue and Major Lauth disclaimed all
responsibility in the matter. as he was
not connected with the preliminary in
quiry.
General Gonse said the document had
been in the possession Of Colonel sand
herr (sensatlon) and 1t was by him placed
in the secret dossier for comparison with
other papers.
M I,abori asked for explanations in re-
gard 10 the commentary on the secret
dossier and General MERCER admitted he
destroyed 1t in 1891.
General Chamoin was drawn into the
discussion and said that he communica-
ted the translation Of the Panizzardi te.e-
gram TO General Roget while enjoining
absolute privacy on the subject
When asked If he accepted the sessions
reliability for this document, General
Chamoin replied that he had made a
mistake.
Colonel Jouaust intimated that the court
ought 10 take no notice Of the document
in question.
Dreyfus here gave a detailed story Of
how he employed his time at Bourges. lie
said that he was preparing for his exaini-
nations and had not time to 20 TO cafes
or TO think Of anything outside OF his du-
ties This was a reply to General Mer-
ciers assertions that he could have learn
ed the secret of the pneumatic brake
here
General Rlsbourg who was commander
OF the Republic Guard in Paris in 1884,
was the next witness. He described the
scene with Captain Lebrun-Renault when
the witness learned OF Dreyfus' alleged
confessions flo Captain LeDrm-Renault
the day after the prisoners degradation.
After being asked the usual question,
Dreyfus protested against General Ris-
bOurgs evidence.
DREYFUS' VERSION.
Dreyfus then proceeded TO give the true
version Of his words on the occasion Of
the alleged confession and dwelt on his
of innocence TO Du Patty de
Clam.
The prisoners remarks deeply impress
ed his hearers.
At the request OF NJ. Demange. Gene
raj MERCER was recalled and was asked
to explain why, having sent De Clam 20
Dreyfus TO discover the amount OF the
injury Dreyfus had done. he had not fol-
lowed up his investigations.