Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-13

gathered by this time greeted him with
cries of ''Vive Parmee" and "vive Mercer."
On alighting at the door of the Lxcee Gem
eral Mercier looked very anxious but i'm
mediately assumed a smiling demeanor. He
spoke a few words to the officers at the
gate and laughed, but his laugh sounded
false. and his face, as he ascended the half
dozen steps and disappeared within the Ly-
Gee. took on an expression of anxiety. NJ.
Cassimir-Perier arrived on foot shortly
came Colonel Picquart, who was greeted
with shouts of "viye Picquart," which he
smilingly acknowledged.
Courtroom Was Crowded.
The curtain rose to-day on the same the
ater-like scene as Monday. The judges. in
uniform, were seated on the stage, behind
the dark. cloth covered table, on which.
in row, were their kepis with gay colored
plumes and heavy gold-laced bands.
Every inch of the court was occupied IN
expectation OF sensational scene. There
were more ladies present than on Monday.
The parsonage known as Madame Blanche
tthe white LADY,, who has attended every
move in the Dreyfus affair, was again
present to-day, wearing a superb set of
pearls. But, owing to the expressed OBJ
3ections of Colonel Jouaust, she changed
her conspicuous place, on the right, be-
hind him. for a more modest, but still
noticeable, position in the body of the hall.
There was a large sprinkling of uniforms
smong the audience, and row of soldiers
with fixed bayonets was again arranged
at the bottom of the hall and rendered
honor In the customary manner TO the
Judges as the latter entered or left the
court.
Proceedings Opened Tamely.
The proceedings opened tamely and the
hopes of sensational sitting began to flag
as the morning wore on and matters began
TO get tedious as NJ. Casimir-Pe Perier and
General Mercier reiterated what is already
known. But this was only the calm before
the storm, and when the storm broke it
carried everyone in the court with it into
whirlpool of the widest excitement.
Dreyfus5 on entering the court to-day,
saluted the president with the same SD
oierly mien as last Monday The presi-
dent. Colonel Jouaust, returned the salute,
and said:
sit down, Dreyfus.''
The chair of the prisoner was placed
further to the right of the platform to-day.
Instead Of facing the judges, Dreyfus sat
with his back to the table of his counsel,
thus looking across the platform. straight
at the rail at which the witnesses stood.
Colonel Jouaust. Immediately after the
hod cd
ceedings by asking Dreyfus the following
question:
In January, 1885, the director of the
penitentiary of the Isle de Re, in the
course of duty, searched the clothes you
brought from the prison. He found this
document in an inside pocket OF Your waist
coat"
Dreyfus' Cool Admission.
The president here handed Dreyfus q
paper, and said:
DO you recognize It as having belonged
to you?"
Dreyfus-"Yes. my colonel"
Jouaust-"Whose was it?'
Dreyfus-'Mine"
Jouaust-"WflI Won tell me how and rn6er
what circumstances this document came
into your possession"
Dreyfus-'It is document used during
my trial. In order to discuss the value OF
the bordereau l wished to keep it,
Jouaust-"The military code gives YOU
the right to have copy of the documents
in your case. This document, therefore
was iegitinately in your possession. Why
do you wish TO keep it?"
Dreyfus-"As a souvenir of the text OF
the bordereau."
Jouaust-"That was not proper and, there
fore, 1t was taken from you. merely
Nod 70 l1r lot rTIt-.
do"
Colonel Jouaust then asked Major Car.
riere If he had any observations. to make
in behalf of the government.
The major replied by asking to have DR.
Ransom s report on Dreyfus read, which
the clerk of the court did.
The report deals with the measures OF
surveillance over Dreyfus adopted during
the voyage of the prisoner to Cayenne and
said, among other things, that he was seer
on board seated on a stool and weeping.
A Frightened Witness.
NJ. de la Roche-Vernet, a secretary at.
fached TO the French embassy at Berlin
was the next witness called. Although he
was scared, there was no hesitation in his
replies. He said he acted as the transmit.
ting agent of the ministry of war and min.
istry Of foreign affairs, wherever they were
tHbdSeu III lIie IdilSldCOn OF a PdnlZarQ
dispatch, which was a very minute anG
complicated matter. Several drafts, he ex.
plained, were first made, and, finally, al
official translation was drawn up, which
was the same as since published.
Questioned respectively regarding tht
draft and the translations he said they
were purely hypothetical, the first drafr
only having two words, Captain Dreyfus,
of which the translators were really sure
the sense being to the effect that Dreyfu:
had been arrested and that he had no re
lations with Germany.
NJ. Paieologue, of the French foreign of
fee. was then called and disagreed to som,
of this witness statements, but the net re
suit Of the two witnesses replies to NM
Labori and Demange was that never IL
translation was there any question of re
lations with Germany.
NJ Labori, on eliciting the foregoin,
showed evident satisfaction.
The witness rail was empty for a few
moments, and then Colonel Jouaust sait
solemnly:
Bring in the next witness"
Casimir-Perier on the Stand.
An infantry sergeant seated beneatl
Major Carriere's desk, then walked to tn
middle of the court where, in crimson
arm chair, placed there for distinguishe,
witnesses, sat Casimir- -Perier, formerl,
president of France. The latter rose, con
Quoted by the soldier, and ascended tn
platform. He was dressed in a black frocl
coat, with the rosette of the Legion o
Honor at his buttonhole, and light, chec]
trousers and carried a silk hat in hi