The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-23
LAHORE WAS HIMSELF AGAIN.
GALVANIZED THE DEFENSE INTO
LIFE AND ACTIVITY.
The Gladiator Touched Opposing
Witnesses to the Quick-TriaI Took
on Renewed Interest Under
the Leading CounSeI-Mercier
Was Stretched Upon the Rack
of His Own Evidence and That
of His Associated Witnesses.

Was Stretched Upon the Rack
of His Own Evidence and That
of His Associated Witnesses.
Rennes, Aug. 22.-This was Maitre La
boris day at the Lycee, where Capt. Al
fred Dreyfus is standing trial on the
charge of treason. Labori was the CEN
tral figure of the scene.
AS the Dreyfus drama unrolled before
a crowded court this forenoon Laborfs
tall, viking-like form. draped in long
black gown, bordered with ermine, sitting
in front of the footlights, was the mag
net which, from the moment the curtain
was rung up until it fell at noon, drew all
regard-not merely glances of curiosity.
but the steady gaze of admiration. His
mere presence brought brightness into the
court room and fresh light into the pro-
ceedings.
Labor did what people had expected.
lie galvanized the dormant defence into an
active, living thing. NJ. Demange is con-
ciliatory. He has always seemed to fear
TO tread on the military corn. Labori is a
gladiator and always aims to touch his
foe to the quick. Let there be the slight
est opening in his opponents defence and
he thrusts nome. To-day when M. De-
mango found nothing to'ask a witness, NJ.
Labori's quick eye discovered weak Spots,
and he came forward with searching ques-
tons. He opened to-day with an eloquent
speech, and the audience could have lis
tened for an hour to his rich, melodlous
voice, modu,atod tones and then impas-
stoned outbursts accompanied by ener-
getic and speaking gestures.
Gems. Roget, Billot, MERCER and Bois-
deffre, with the other military witnesses
gave one another anxious glances and put
their heads together to exchange obvious
ly disagreeable impression, as Labori pied
the smaller military fry, who occupied
the witness stand successiVely to-day,
with disconcerting questions. Labor cor
nered Gen Mercier on the Schneider let
| ter. which the latter mad used in evidence
| and which Col. Schneider had repudiated
| as a forgery. The genera! was surprised
| when Labor suddenly demanded that
| MERCER be recalled. He evidently hoped
| the tribunal would support him in refus-
| ing TO explain how he got a copy of let
! ter which was Of later date than his in
| cumbency at the ministry of war But
| LabOri was not TO he denied He Insisted
| that MERCER should give some explana-
clare1 that he would assume all the re
| spOnsbiiity attaching to his possession
| of the document. This, as Labor intend
| ed it should be, was a demonstration of
| communica ton by the general staff Of
! part, at least, of the secret dossier TO an
ordinary soldier, such as MERCER became
Immediately on leaving the ministry OF
| war.
| When Labor had attained his object and
| forced a confession of grave violation of
law on the part Of Gen. Mercier, he gave a
smile of grim satisfaction and then added
significantly: Il shall have other ques
| tons to put TO Gen. MERCER" The scene
was highly dramatic and made a profound
! impression upon all the spectators
| Gen. MERCER must now be spending a
| very miserable evening, for, as the result
| of this admission and with the additional
| charge of communicating secret documents
| to the courtmartial of 1894, he is liable u
| arrest at any moment Indeed, some peO-
pie think il not impossible that he will be
| lying in the military prison adjoining the
cell of Capt Dreyfus before the week is
out.
Another series of questions put by NJ
| Labori concerned LajouX, a spy formerly
in the service of the French war Office. but
| packed off to South America, according tc
| proved a swindler. Labori asked how il
was, if that We're so, that Lajoux was still
| receiving monthly payments.
Commandant Roliln, completely taker
| aback replied that a cessation of pay
ments was under consideration. The i'm
preston conveyed by Laborrs question!
/ and the replies given was that Lajou2
was being paid by the war office TO keeI
| out of the way in the interests of Ester
| hazy whom LaJQux. In a letter read II
| court offering revelations in the Dreyfu'
affair, indicated as the real traitor. NJ
| Labori's cross examination in this matter
| therefore, was distinct advantage to thu
! accused. Labori announced that he in
tended to recall several witnesses.
To his friends NJ. Labor expressed him
| self confident Of being abe to tear tt
| pieces the evidence Mercier, Roget anC
| others have given so confidently before {
| sympathetic courtmartial.
Capt Dreylus to-day pursued the att
tude he took up yesterday, and replied t
! the statements of hostile witnesses viii
| arguments and the presentation Of counte
| facts, only once giving way to his feelini
| and Offering a cry of protest. This Wal
| at the conclusion of COT. Bertin's deDosi
| ton when. with broken voice. the accused
| declared his love of France and the army
Yes" he cried, Il love France ard
| love my army, but it is with sentiment
different from those animating them wh'
| come here to-day TO testify against me. -
NJ. Labor, If anything, was better aftei
| his exertiOns than before them. The eX
element under which he labored seemed
to act as a stimulant, although many
friends, noticing his flushed face fearet
| there might be a relapse. So far from thii
being the case, however, he was able e
gc for a drive with his wife IN an auto
car this afternoon, and, on his return, h
held quite a reception, afterward spendlul
the time until dinner In going over to-day
evidence and preparing for tomorrow.
The scurrilous tactics Of the anti-Drey
fusard newspapers may be Illustrated b.
the paragraph appearing in their organ.
here this evening declaring that the at
tack on Ilabori, which they insinuate diC
very little harm, was made solely to arous
the pity Of the people of Rennes for th'
lamentable lot OF an escaped convict from
Devils Island
Labori Reaches the LySee.
The arrival Of ". Labon a
the Lvcee was the signal 70
scenes Of extraord nary enthusiasm. Tn
crowd about the Lycee building rushed VI
10 his carriage and a number of peopi
eagerly thrusi their hands through th