The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-25

1896 or 1897 that information on the
subject was being divulged. The exist
ence of treachery in regard to the dis
| tribution of heavy artillery among the
army corps was unknown until 1895.
Continuing, NJ. Labori asked why Gen
eral MERCER did not have a report pre-
pared regarding the confessions Dreyfus
is alleged to have made to Captain
| Lebrun-R enault
| Mercier: ''The question of the confess
sions was of no Importance until re-
vision of the case seemed impossible
NJ Labori: what does General Mer-
cier think of Esterhazy and the part he
playedY'
MERCER: 81 do not know Esterhazy
and / do not think about him at all.
NJ Labor: did you know him at his
] trial i'm 1882
General MERCER: mo"
| Colonel Jouaust: General MERCER
was not Minister of War then"
NJ Labori: This is most interesting.
| General Mercier declares that he knows
nothing of the trial of 1894"
General MERCER: II know nothing of
| it. ! leave that to the court martial
| which tried Esterhazy. | have only to
| answer in court for my acts, aud re-
fuse the right to question me about my
thoughts" (Sensation)
Colonel Jouaust, addressing NJ. Labo-
| ri, said:
You are reverting to the evidence of
General MercierY
NJ. Labor: MY object In interrOgat-
ing the witness is to revert to his evil
dence."
General MERCER: II protest against
the word 'interrogatory,' for | am not
a prisoner"
(Note-InterrOgatory, in French law.
generally applies to the examination of
an accused person by magistrate.)
NJ. Labori: 1T is not a question of
interrogatory. / used the word in most
respectful sense. Will General Mer-
cier say what he means for the charge
preferred against the partisans Of Drey-
fus of having spent thirty-five million
francs What was this sum used for?
The amount is simply ridiculous
General MERCER: II might just as
well ask you" (Sensation).
NJ Labor: do you mean 10 suggest
that it was spent in advertisements and
in buying conscienceS|
General MERCER: Il say nothing
whatever. ANNTN
''As the questions of counsel
touched upon the secret dossier and ii
certain document in blue pencil General
Gonse General Roget, NJ. Gribelin and
Major Lauth also participated in the
discussion, which almost degenerated
into wrangle."
The Government Commissary, Major
Carriere protested against such discus
sion and Colonel JUuaust ordered silence
Major Lauth said he believed clue
to the blue pencil document existed be-
fore the trial of 1894. and NJ Lahori
asked why. in that case. it was not
produced at the trial, since it incrimin-
ated the prisoner?
General MERCER said he did not know
of this clue, and Major Lauth disclaim-
ed all responsibility in the matter as he
was not connected with the preliminary
inquiry.
General Gose said the document had
been in the possession of Colonel Sand
herr (Sensation,l and it was by him
placed in the secret dossier for compare
son with other papers.
NJ. Labor asked for explanations in
regard to the commentary on the secret
dossier, and General MERCER admitted
he destroyed it in 1897.
General Chamoin was drawn into the
discussion and said he communicated
the translation of the Panizzardi tele-
gram to General Roget while enjoining
| absolute privacy on the subject.
When asked if he accepted response
bility for this document, General
Chamoin replied in the affirmative, ad
ding, however, the admission that he
had made a mistake.
Colonel Jouaust animated that the
court ought to take no notice of the
document in question.
Dreyfus here gave n detailed story of
how he employed his time at Bourges
from October, 1885, to February, 1890.
He said that he was preparing for his
examinations. and had no time to go to
cafes or to think of anything outside of
his duties. This was reply to General
Mercier's assertions that he could have
learned the secret of the pneumatic
brake there
General Risbourg, who was command
er of the Republican Guard in Paris,
in 1894, was the next witness. He de
scribed the scene with Captain Lebrun-
Renault, when the witness learned Of
Dreyfus' alleged confessions to Captain
Lebrun Renault the day after the
prisoners degradation.
After being asked the usual question,
Dreyfus protested against General Ris-
bourg's evidence.
Dreyfus then proceeded to give the
true version of his words on the occa-
sion of the alleged confession and dwelt