Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-08-24
LABOR| APPLIES LASH
Col. MaureI UnmercifuIly Per-
forated in Dreyfus
Trial.
LEFT STAND PALE AND SCARED.

Mercier Subjected to Pointed Questions,
Many OF which He Refuses to Answer.
But Makes Some Important Admissions
Movement of English Troops to Cape
town.
Rennes, Aug. 24.-Among the first
witnesses today in the Dreyfus case
was Col. Maurel, president of the first
Dreyfus court martial. As Labori
lashed him with pointed questions the
colonel hesitated and then answered in
a short. chOppy manner. When La
b9ri finally disposed of him. the wit
ness left the platform with pale face
and scared look.
Labori then put Il series of pointed
questions to Mercier with reference to
the communication of the secret dos
sier for court martial and his attitude
in '94. The general refused to reply
to all questions and there were sharp
passages between the counsel and
Jouaust, who upheld Mercier, while
the dialogue between the general and
LabOri became acrimonious.
One Admiration Made.
Mercier admitted that Sandherr
suppressed the documents during the
first court martial. There were oU:-
side tilts between the general and
Labor. but nothing sensational devel-
oped in the other witnesses.
Dreyfus denied several stories re-
lated by the witnesses and the court
adjourned for the day.
Rennes. Aug. 2f-The session of the
Dreyfus court yesterday was compare
lively uneventful The depositions
were not productive of any really thrill
ling incidents. Much of the testimony
of the morning was devoted to an at
tempt to blast Dreyfus' private charac-
ter. though when Maitres Labori and
Demange had finished with the wit
nesses their bubbles of tittle-tattle
were badly pricked. Much of the time
was occupied in reading the testimony
of Esterhazy and Mile. Pays before the
court of cessation. during which many
of the audience left the court. NJ. La
bori again distinguished himself in lay
ing bare the weak points of the evil
dence. lie was less fierce, however.
though quite aggressive enough to
arouse the latent hostility of the
Judges. which showed itself in various
little ways.
Has No Love for the Chief Counsel.
Carriere. the governments commissary.
and the latter makes no serious effort
to conceal his feelings toward the law
yer. NJ. Labori bore little traces of the
effects OF the outrage upon him. He
rose. sat down and moved his body and
limbs apparently without much diff
Guilty. Occasionally he put his hands to
his back. as though suffering pain. His
wife followed his every movement with
her eyes. Madame Rejane. the actress.
was again an interested spectator in
court, especially when NJ. Labori was
on his feet and his voice was vibrating
through the hall. During some of the
depositions NJ. Labori appeared very
nervous. He was unable to remain still
an instant. twitching his fingers and
shaking the papers in his hands. Coun-
sci was almost too impatient to wait
till the witnesses concluded their testi-
mony.
Gonse willis Before Labor.
The only dangerous opponent of
Dreyfus yesterday was General Gonse,
who mounted the stage with a quick
step and apparently light heart. But
he left it badly mauled by NJ. Labori.
General Gonse began by declaring he
came to defend his honor against those
''drivelling" against him. But when
his cross-examination was finished he
returned to his seat thoroughly discOm-
fitted. for NJ. Labori had driven him into
a corner on the attempts of the general
staff TO shield EsterhaZy. and had
shown that the general staff. for which
Gonse- vas -responGt.?- had cag-r2ered