Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-25

BY SEVERAL OF THE MILITARY
WITNESSES MOUNTING THE
PLATFORM AND ATTEMPTING
TO TALK DOWN DREYFUS'
COUNSEL.
RENNES, August 24.-When the
Dreyfus trial opened to-day at $40 a.
M, Col. Jouaust, president of the court,
ordered that the evidence given by NJ.
Penot, a friend of the late Col. Sand
herr, chief of the intelligence depart
ment be read by the clerk of the court.
1t was to the effect that Col. Sandherr
said the Dreyfus family offered him
10000 francs on condition that ne
would clear Dreyfus.
Maitre Demange, for the defense, dis
posed of this allegation by reading the
actual note on the subject written by
Sandherr, threby proving that the col
onel's remarks had been distorted,
Dreyfus' brothers having only said:
eve are convinced of the innocence of
our brother and will spend our entire
fortune to discover the TRUTH
The testimony Of the first witness Of
the day, NJ Linolle, a former official of
the government, was also in favor of
Dreyfus, as it was in direct contradic-
ton Of what NJ. Du Breuil deposed yes
terday regarding the alleged intimacy
of Dreyfus with the German attache at
the house of NJ Bodson, a mutual
friend
The president of the court then called
he next witness, Col. Maurel, who was
president Of the reyfus CONTINENTAL
in 1894.
COMPLETE SILENCE
fell upon the court as the infantry SER
geant who was acting as usher con-
Quoted Maurel to the witness bar. The
colonel was attired in a black frock
coat and wore the red ribbon of the
Legion of Honor. His face showed
anxiety. As NJ. Labori dashed him
with pointed questions the colonel hes
.tated and then answered in a short,
choppy manner, and when NJ Labor
nnaiiy disposed of him the witness left
the platform with the pale face and
scared look OF man who has awaken
ed from a nightmare Counsel had
drawn from the colonel a confession
that the secret dossier was communi-
Gated to the judges of the courtmartial
of 1894 by Col. Du Patty de Clam. This
ayowal produced a sensation in court,
and Maurel's declaration that he read
only one of the documents did not af-
feet the main fact, while his protesta-
ton that the reading of the document
had no effect upon him as his mini
was already made up, was nullified by
his subsequent declaration that this
one. document sufficed to convince him.
NJ. Labori then put series of search
ing questions to Gen. MERCER with ref
erence to the communication of the
secret dossier for the courtmartial and.
his attitude in 1894 and an interesting
scene ensued. The general refused 20
reply to all the questions and there
were sharp ages-at-arms between
counsel and Col. Jouaust. who upheld
Gen. MERCER. while the dialogue be-
tween the general and NJ. Labori
BECAME ACRIMONIOUS.
Counsel became very heated and show
ed it in his voice and gestures. The
general, however troubled as his mind
might be, seldom departed from the
eallous demeanor characteristic OF
him.
the part Esterhazy played MERCER
said he did not know Esterhazy and
only saw him once, ut the Zola lial
THAT is very interesting" exclaimed
NJ Labori But surely Cen. MERCER
was present at the Esserhazy trial?'
The general replied that he was not
there and that he knew nothing about
the evidence in the Esterhazy prosecr-
ton. What" cried NJ. Labori. Gen.
MERCER. who was the chief accuser Of
Dreyfus, did not even follow the pro-
eeedings in the Esterhazy trial?"
A murmur of surprise and indignant
comment came from the au3ience, but
Col Jouaust suppressed it.
Counsel then brought Gen MERCER TO
his assertion that thirty-fre million
francs were spent by tie defenders Of
Dreyfus and asked the general to say
how he knew this. who spent it and
other awkward questions. which the
general was unable to answer
A question as to how the borderequ
arrived at the offices Of the general
STAFF. its date, ETC., was thea introduced,
which led TO strange scene for a court
of law. Gen. Roget, on mounting The
platform to give explanations, was fol-
lowed by Gen. De Boisdefre, NJ. Girl
belin, Major Lauth and other military
witnesses, all holding up their hands
tG signify that they desired TO speak,
while at the same time NJ. Labori
WAS FIRING QUESTIONS.