The Indianapolis journal., 1899-08-25
AGAINST ODDS
BOLD AND FEARLESS FIGHT BY La
BoRI IN DREYFUs's BEHALF.
One Man Pitted Against a Battalion of
vindictive Army Officers and
Partisan Court-MartiaI.
JOUAUST'S DISGUISE DOFFED
C0RNERED WITNESSES OPENLY PRO-
TECTED BY BIASED JUDGE.
Mercier Driven Into Such n Tight
Place that the whole Military Clique
Rallied to His Rescue.
EXCITING SCENES In COURT
COL. MAUREL HAULED OVER THE
GOALS BY MAITRE LABoRI,
And a strong Point Scored for the De-
fendant-Rogets UnbIushing Eff
frontery-sensationa Incidents.
Mercier Driven Into Such n Tight
Rallied to His Rescue.
EXCITING SCENES In COURT
COL. MAUREL HAULED OVER THE
GOALS BY MAITRE LABORI,
And q Strong Point Scored for the De-
fendant-Rogets UnbIushing Ef-
frontery-Sensationa Incidents.

RENNES, Aug. A-To-day's session of
the Dreyfus court-martial was marked by
one of the most exciting scenes OF the trial.
The proceedings opened with a skirmish.
entirely favorable to the defense, between
Maitre LAoori and Colonel Maurel presi-
dent OF the court-martiai Of 1894. who adj
mitted reading one Of the secret documents
TO the court, which had not been seen by
the defense. He protested that only one
document was looked at, alleging that this
sufficed to enable him TO form a conviction
that could not be shaken. This protest made
matters worse. because. as NJ. Labori
pointed out. If he perused one it was his
bounden duty to peruse all. Colonel Jouaust
upheld Colonel Maurel in his refusal to in
dicate the nature of the document he read.
but NJ. Labor announced that he would
summon Capt n Freystater. another men,
ber of the tribunal of 1894, and get his ver-
sion of what then passed behind the backs
OF the counsel for the defense. Colonel
Maurel felt his position keenly. and contin-
ually besitatcd before replying to Laboris
questions.
All this, however. was only preliminary
70 a fierce battle that ensued between NJ.
Labori and General Mercier, the latter re-
ceiving reinforcements from General Roget.
General Gonse and General De Boisdeffre,
as well as invaluable assistance from Col.
Jouaust himself. M. Labori took General
Mercier over the whole ground of his previ-
Gus deposition. This led to several sharp
passages at arms between the advocate and
Colonel Jouaust, who upheld Mercier in re-
fusing TO reply to several questions which,
in the general opinion Of those in the court
room, were distinctly pertinent. Whenever
General Mercier was cornered he declined to
answer. and Col. Jouaust invariably sup
ported him. NJ. Labori protested most ener-
setically. His words and manner breathed
the deepest Indignation, but the president
of the court-martial was inflexibe.
The Intervention of Generals Gonse, Roget
and De Boisdeffre and Major Lauth, who.
In rapid succession, mounted the stage or
rose In their seats and interposed remarks
was very exciting. and carried the specta-
tors along on a wave of breathless interest.
One after the other OF these officers, who
were to-day in full uniform, would jump
UP and cry, 81 demand to be heard" and
without further waiting, ascend the steps
OF the platform and begin statement in
support OF a brother officer. Some times
four officers were on the stage at the same
moment. 1t was a marvellous display Of mil
itary clannishness. At one time a perfect
babel Of voices reigned for several min
utes. until Colonel Jouaust intervened and
restored order.
JOUAUST SHOWS HIS HAND.
NJ. Labori's cross-examinatio ton was sue
cessful so far as IL went, but Col. Jouaust
prevented him pressing his advantage to
the utmost. In fact Jouausts hostile atti-
tude toward the counsel for the defense
then and during the cross-examination OF
the witness NJ. De Grandmaison evoked the
severest criticism on the part Of the public
present and BODIES I'll for Dreyfus. Not only
Colonel Jouaust. but the other judges. dis
played considerable impatience during La
boris scathing cross-examination, shifting
restlessly in their seats and drumming the
table with the tips of their fingers.
General Mercier faced Laboris fire with
calm demeanor. standing on the platform,
his hands behind his back and his face
only half turned toward his questioner.
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.
General Roget faced the court with an
air of unblushing effrontery. His handsome,
but unsympathetic features expressed the
heel and with arms crossed faced Labori
or the audience or the judges. He Is ex-
tremely vain and is always striking atti-
tudes for the benefit of newspaper artists.
quite q number OF whom regularly attend
the sessions. His impertinent behavior was
strikingly illustrated to-day. when he in
terrupted NJ Labori's examination of Gen.
Chamoin, which had resulted in Labori
scoring heavily against Mercier, with the
exclamation: This examination is a waste
OF time"
AS a matter OF fact. the examination of
Chamoin showed Mercier in a very bad
light, as II brought out that he had pri-
vately communicated to Chamoin, on the
first day OF the secret sessions, a report
on the Panizzardi dispatch for insertion in
the secret dossier. General Chamoin ad-
mitted that he did wrong in accepting the
report. but pleaded ignorance in judicial
matters The report consisted OF three
pages. OF which the second and third.
chamoin declared. contained fantastic and.
In fact. false representations.
LAME EXPLANATION.
n Labori brought General Mercier 10 the
bar In reference 10 this. Mercier admitted
that the reports emanated from Du Patty
de Clam. but claimed that he himself did
not understand its contents, though he
thought II would be interesting and per-
haps useful TO Chsmoin. This explanation
was regarded as very lame. and combined
with other shady actions would damn
Nercier az witness In the eyes OF any i'm
partial tribunal.
~. Labori asked General Roget to give mis-
opinion OF Esterhazy's role and his visit 10
the German embassy Oct. %. 1881. Roget
replied In the tone of studied disdain which
hs habituaily adopts toward counsel for