The San Francisco call., 1899-08-15


| L L morning session of the Dreyfus
court martial of it's paramount
interest. The murderer apparently
chose to-day for the attempt because
it was anticipated that NJ. Labor
would crush General MERCER. the for
mer Minister of War, with his cross
questioning.
The news of the shooting of NJ Labor
caused an immense sensation in the
courtroom, where the usual audience
had assembled awaiting the coming of
the Judges. NJ. Labori's absence had
just been announced when suddenly NJ.
Jaunay, syndic of the judiciary press,
rushed into the room and shouted: M.
LabOri has been shot!"
All present gave a gasp of horror and
surprise, and every man jumped to his
feet and a Volley of questions was
hurled at NJ. Jaunay's head, who, cry
ing That is all 1 know" rushed out of
court again, followed by a number Of
his hearers. Those who remained ex-
citedly discussed the crime and ViGor-
ously denounced the authors.
Colonel Jouaust, president of the
court, when the news reached him, sus-
pended court until 7:15 a. m. 1t appears
that Nine. Labori herself broke the
news to the court and informed M.
Jaunay of the crime, having rushed
from her husbands side crying for
doctor and shouting that her husband
had been shot.
There was an eager struggle for seats
in court to-day and $40 were seated.
There were the usual military honorS.
Immediately after the prisoner arrived
the president announced that in conse-
quence of the applause and otner eX-
! pressiOns of opinion on Saturday he has
| decided that if there was any further
interruption the court would be cleared
! During the adjournment of the court
in consequence of the announcement OF
the attempt on the life of NJ. Labori
the audience engaged in violent alter
cations over the incident.
| M MERCER, editor of the Gaulois, eX-
pressed the opinion that all the news
papers ought to regard themselves as
responsible for the outrage, Whereupon
NJ. Savarrine loudly protested, saying:
NO, it is you who ought to be held
responsible for what has happened
The clamor finally became so violent
that gendarmes were forced to separate
| the combatants and take away the
sticks of all those present, but calm
was finally restored, and the session
| was resumed.
| When the court-martial was resumed
General MERCER was confronted with NJ
! Casimir-Perier, the former President of
France. The latter declared that NJ Mer-
ciers story, told on the witness stand Sat-
urday. of the imminence of war between
GeTmany and France in 1894 was grossly
exaggerated, and complained of the action
of the Minister of War (Mercier) in NOV
ing 60 900 troops TO the frontier without
consulting him. AS it was NJ. Labor S
task to take General MERCER in hand, and
| NJ. Demange, associate counsel, was quite
| unprepared for the task, the few queS
| tions the latter put We're practically of
little effect, and General Mereier @ escaped
deeply affected by the attempt to assas-
| sinate his colleague, and was quite un-
| able to do himself Justice.
! General MERCER was recalled. and in re-
| ply to the president of the court he reit-
| Grated his belief that Major Count Ester
ration, was not the author of the bor
dereau. which the witness claimed was
written on tracing paper and was found
| in an embassy.
The president asked NJ Casimir- Perier
to explain the circumstances of the con-
fession Dreyfus is alleged to have made
to Captain Lebrun-Renaud.
NJ. Casimir-Perier persisted in his state
ment of Saturday that he had never re-
ceived any condolences of this character
from Captain Lebrun- Renaud- He add
! ed that NJ. Dupuy, the then Premier, was
present when Captain Lebrun-Renaud
called at the Elysee Palace; uou
here is a letter from M. Dupuy which
ask may be read"
| The letter asserted that captain Le-
brun- -Renaud. when questioned by M. Du-
! puy. replied that General Mercier had sent
! him to the President to receive a dressing
down for his indiscreet disclosures to the
General Mercier here interposed, say
! ing: Captain Lebrun- Renaud spoke to
me in regard to the confessions IN the
presence of General Gonse, who will tes-
! tify thereto. II was then that | ordered
| him to go to the President of the repub
h Referring to Genera. Mercier's declara-
| stand NJ. Casimir-Perier said:
| "General Mercier had no right what
ever to intervene in a diplomatic conver-
| sation | would have prevented such in
| terference 1t was / alone who conferred
! preston I derived from the conversation
was one of complete calm; otherwise the
incident would not have been closed by
! the framing of a note We had no tele-
! gram from Berlin that evening. 1t was
| n regard to the note the Minister referred
to Berlin. If there had been any news in
regard to the matter on the evening of
| the 18th we would not have waited until
| the 9th to publish the matter: There was
| no dispatch addressed to the friendly pow
| ers relative to the incident. The incident
| has been ma gnifed. Besides, in the event
of diplomatic complications the President
would have communicated with the Min
! lister of Foreign Affairs.
| General MERCER replied that he went
to the Elysee Palace as Minister r Of OF War War,
could testify in regard to the orders re-
| ceived.
NJ. Demange seized upon this declara-
ton and insisted that General MERCER re-
! peat the statement that he had given or
| ders to General de Bosdeffre on the 9TH
| relative to mobilization.
| NJ Casimir- -Perier resumed his test-
| mony and said he did not reply to GER
| tain Of General Mercier's. inslnuations
"I do not wish to answer them said
the former President. THE circum-
! stances are too sad and too tragic for me
| TO trv to envenom the discussion"
II am master of myself and of my con-
| science" +" continued the witness. Il would
only state that General Mercier has made
| every effort to mix me as deeply as pos
| sihle in this affair But [ have remained
| aloof I affirm, during the progress of the
! investigation.
The former President then complained
| of the incorrect behavior of his subor-
! dinate toward the chief of the state
LAS an instance" said M. Casimir-