The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-13
THE TRIAL OF
CAPTAIN DREYFUS,

CONTINUED from First Page.y
crossed my mind
m. Demange here asked me at the
time of trial, in conveying through M.
Waldeck-Rousseau my request for a
public trial, that this publicity should
only be on condition that the question
of the origin of the documents re-
manned secret. I gave my word of
honor not to raise this question and in
that I bow before the superior interests
of my country. I never had an idea
that an engagement was made between
the President and myself. Never,
never"
Jouaust-Then you declare false these
letters in which it is said the President
of the republic entered into certain en-
gagements with you?
Dreyfus replied: I'm any case the
sense has been completely distorted"
M. Casimir-P erier gave his evidence
with a blanched face, but in the de-
termined tone Of a man who means
every word uttered, which inspired con-
fidence in his words.
The members of the court-mart1al
listened to him respectfully. When his
testimony was ended M. Casimir-Perier
was conducted back to his seat by
non-commissioned officer, and all eyes
were directed toward a door to the
right. There was a moment of painful
suspense and then General MERCER en-
tered the courtroom and was conducted
to the stand by a soldier.
He lifted his right hand before the
crucifix and swore to tell the whole
truth. He appeared to be broken IN
health. He spoke with a hoarse voice,
coughed frequently, and asked to be
allowed to be seated. MERCER was at
tired in the undress uniform of a Cen
eral, black tunic and red trousers.
AS he sat down he placed brilliant
crimson and gold KEPT on shelf at
tached to the witness rail, where it re-
manned, a striking patch of color, dur
ing the time he gave his testimony,
which lasted from $40 a. m. until noon.
He leaned forward while speaking, his
hand sometimes resting on the rail- but
more often he was nervously twitching
his fingers and twisting pair of white
gloves, which he DOTTED on entering the
court. To a stranger the appearance
and bearing produced a far from ia
vorable effect. He gave the impression
of stiffness, his forehead was wrinkled.
his eyebrows were contracted, and his
eyes peered through Sits between puffy
cheeks His cheeks were salloW ana
he spoke almost inaudibly and in
weak, monotone pitch of voice, which
produced a soporific effect upon those
who were not able to distinguish his
words, but who We're within hearing OF
his voice.
This monotone, with hardly a break,
except when the clerk read the various
documents MERCER presented to the
court, lasted nearly four hours, with
ten minutes suspension at IL, when
there was general feeling that the
witness was going to provoke, as the
Dreyfusards predicted an utter fiasco.
General MERCER wore on his breast
the decoration of Grand officer of the
Legion of Honor. While he was under
examination, General MERCER asked
Colonel Jouaust to allow him to present
document showing how an espionage
system was organized in France by
Colonel Schwartzkoppen, the former
German military attache at Paris. The
document referred to the Notifications
Of the Mouse.
General MERCER then entered into an
explanation tending to prove Schwartz
koppen was at the head of the German
espionage system in France and after
ward had the favored letter containing
the words, "Cette Canaille de D."
read
In the meanwhile Dreyfus watched
MERCER through his eyeglass, but ap-
parently quite unmoved. The witness
who displayed the deepest interest was
NJ. Casimir-Perier, seated in front of
row of private seats. He leaned for
ward with his hands on his knees, ex-
cept when excited, when he lifted up
his hands in an expressive gesture of
disgust or Impotence.
MERCER, who had his back turned to
the former President, saw nothing of
this, but after he had completed his
testimony and had reiterated all the
charges contained in M. d'Ormesch-
ville's bill of indictment, MERCER pre-
sented document to be read by the
clerk which proved to be the alleged
Dreyfus letter concerning the alleged
engagement entered into with NJ. CAST
mir-Perier, which the latter had so
holly denounced. The last breath had
barely. left the clerks lips when NJ.
Casimir-Perier jumped up and shouted:
That's the letter I read in the news
paper"
General Mercier, startled, turned
round and muttered excuses, saying he
did not believe a President Of the re-
public would enter into such an en-
gagement.
To this M. Casimir-Perier retorted in
a tone of bitterest sarcasm:
Thank you, General, for this testi-
monial."
At the end of his evidence General
MERCER said he believed that the only
motive of Dreyfus' treason was that
Dreyfus had no feeling of patriotism.
This cruel utterance brought forth
Kisses from the audience, whose blood
had been sent up to fever heat by the