The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-24
DREYFUS TRIAL GOESON
Production of the Flimsiest Trash
For the Prosecution. -
FIERCE DENIALs BY PRISONER,
Much of the Testimony Would Indi-
cate That the Prisoner Was Charged
with Other Offense Than Treason.
Mercier May Go to Prison.

cate That the Prisoner Was Charged
with Other Orense Than Treason.
Mercier May Go to Prison.
Rennes. Aug. 24-The session Of the
court martial yesterday was compara-
lively uneventful The dispositions were
not productive of any really thrilling
incidents. The systematic production
of the ilmsiest trash. which the prose-
cution deems profitable to inf1ict on the
judges, and which the latter accept. as
evidence, was proceeded with. Much Of
the ridiculous testimony of the morn
ing was devoted to an attempt to blast
Dreyfus' private character, though.
when Maitres Labori and Demange had
finished with the witnesses, their bub-
bles of tittle-tattle were badly pricked.
Much of the time was occupied in
reading the testimony Of Esterhazy
and Mile. Paws before the court Of cas-
sation, during which many of the all
dience left the court M. Labori again,
distinguished himself in laying bare
the weak points of the evidence. He
was less fierce. however. than the pre-
vious day, though quite aggressive
enough to arouse the latent hostility
of the Judges, which showed itself in
various little ways M. Labori Is no
favorite either with Major Carrlere.
the governments commissary, and the
latter makes no serious effort to con-
ceal his feelings towards the lawyer.
The only dangerous opponent OF
Dreyfus was General Gonse, who
mounted the stage with a quick step
and apparently light heart. But, he
left it badly mauled by M. Labori. Cen
eral Gonse began by declaring he came
to defend his honor against those
"driveling" against him. But when
his cross examination was finished he
returned to his seat with his tail be-
tween his legs, for M. LabOri had
driven him into corner on the at
tempts of the general staff to shield
Esterhazy and had shown that the gen.
eral staff. for which Gonse was re-
sponsibe, had engineered Esterhazy's
escape from the hands of justice. The
confident tones of the general had by
then dwindled into the proverbial still,
small voice. and his defiant bearing
had changed into the abashed air of
schoolboy caught telling lie.
. Two good samples of the men put up
to sully Dreyfus' private character were
the third and fourth witnesses. First
Major Du Chatelet repeated an al
legged conversation of Dreyfus regard
ing a lady at whose house Dreyfus Is
alleged to have gambed and lost
money. But when cross-examined Du
Chatelet's memory failed him entirely.
especially when asked the name of the
lady the street she resided in and the
sum Dreyfus lost.
Next NJ. Dubreuil showed equally as
forgetfulness on essential
points of his evidence concerning Drey-
fus' acquaintanceship with foreign at
tache, and when M. Demange capped
his successful examination OF those
points by promising to show M. Du-
breuils record in the law courts is far
from clear the witness left the stand
badly dscredted
M. Dubrieul said he was greatly as
tonished at the suspicious familiar
ity" between the attache and Dreyfus,
and that, perceiving they disapproved
of his presence, NJ Dubrieul ceased his
visits to M. Bodson. When the latter
asked the reason for this, saying, ac-
cording to the witness. that Dreyfus
was the friend and even the lo"er of
his wife, and asked witness advice as
to how to get rid of her, witness asked
M. Bodson If he had proofs. and Bod
son replied: proofs? Yes. have even
proofs enough to drive Dreyfus out OF
the French army"
Dreyfus protested excitedly against
the evidence of M Dubrieul who Is a
Partisan friend of M. de Beaurepaire,
but Colonel Jouaust eXhorted him to be
calm promising the prisoner chance
10 reply. This arrived shortly after
wards, and Dreyfus thundered out: II
won't speak here of Monsieur or Ma
lame BOdson, except to say that my
relations with Madame Bodson ceased
n 1856 or 1887, since when have never
seen her. wish simply to assert that
The witness Is lying. | never dined at
NJ. Bodson's with any civil or military
attache The matter must be cleared
up. People must produce definite facts
here, and not mere tittle-tattle. The
name OF the person with whom ! am
alleged to have dned must be ascer-
aimed. 1t must be known here who Is
lying and who is speaking the truth.
General De Dionne. governor of the
military college, testified to Dreyfus'
'haracter at college. The prisoner. he
'aid, displayed great intelligence, but
lad deplorable temper. He recalled
remark of Dreyfus that the people of
Alsace-L Lorraine would be much hap
bier under German rule than under the
'ule of France.
The prisoner, referring to the re-
mentioned by General De
Dionne, explained that during his first
;car at the military college he attained
,ery high marks; that the second year
10 almost held his place. when, he
.dded, he heard that a member of the
Examining board had declared at
BOARD meeting that, without knowing
he pupils, he put mark five opposite
he name of Dreyfus simply because
hey did not want a Jew on the head
luarters staff. Regarding his alleged
about AlsaCe- Lorraine. Drey-
us declared that the statement was
he very opposite of his real sentl.
nents.
Immediately after Colonel Schneider.
.ttachc of the Austrian embassy, re-
urnpd to Paris he wrote another let.
TT ~ L lbdlU tbHii iHlllS ilh ltpuuld-
ion of the forgery used by MERCER at
tcnncs, and continued;
"On Nov. 80, 1897 my opinion was
absolutely contrary to that expressed
n the document In question. The ad-
ition of that date and my signature
o the text attributed to me constitutes
forgery even (which am unable
o Judge without seeing 1.-THE text
,manated from me at different date"
The firm attitude of Colonel Schnei-
Ter, who is undoubtedly backed by
AUSTRIA. is a sJurce of great JOY to the
)reyfusites. They see In his action the
litter downfall of Mercier, who, they
eclare. will be put in Il military prison
within a week.