The Red Cloud chief., 1899-08-18
PtR|ER AND MERCER AGAIN
The Shooting Of Labor Delayed the
Court Martial Little.
TESTIMONY IS SENSATIONAL.
Ex-President aud Ex.ssorstsry ConG,c,
Ags,a An Important Point Espiaiued
for Dreyfus-wouida't Permit Them
SELVES to Believe Him 1nnocent

RrNNEs, France, Aug Is - The
shooting OF NJ Labori, leading coun-
sci for Captain Alfred Drcyfus, robbed
the morning session of the Dreyfus
court martial OF It's paramount inter
est. The murderer apparently chose
to-day for the attempt because 10 was
anticipated that NJ. Labori would
crush General Mcrcier, the cx-minister
Of war, with his cross-qucstiouing,
When the court-martial was re-
sumed General Mcrcier vas confront
ed with NJ. Casimir. Perier, the ex.
president OF France lie declared that
Mercicr's story, told upon the witness
stand Saturday, Of tho imminence OF
war between Germany aud France In
1874 was grossly exaggerated, and
complained that Mercicr, then minis
ter OF war. had moved 60, 900 troops to
the frontier without consulting him.
As IL was NJ. Labori's task to take
General Mercicr in hand aud NJ De-
mango, associate counsel, was quite
unprepared for tho task, the few
questions the latter put were practi-
cally OF little effect and General Mer-
cier escaped cheaply. Moreover, nj.
Demange was deeply affected by the
attempt to assassinate his colleague,
and was quite unable to do himself
justice.
When court r~eassembled ut 7:20
o'clock, General Mercier was recalled
and reiterated, In reply to the presi-
dent Of the court, his belief that Ma
jor Count Esterhazy, in spite OF the
latter's own declaration, was not the
author Of the borbcreau, which, the
witness claimed, was written on trac'
ing paper and was found in an en-
bassy.
The President asked M. Casimir
Pcricr to explain the circumstances
OF the confession Dreyfus Is alleget
to have made to Captain Lebrun Re
nault. nj. Casimir- Perier persisted Ia
his statement of Saturday, that hs
had never received any condolences o.
this character from Captain Lebrur
Renault. lie added that M. Dupay
then premier, was present whom Cap
tain Lebrun Renault called at the
Elysee palace.
Moreover" said M. Casimir- Perier
there Is q letter from NJ Dupuy
which I ask may be read" .-A
The letter Gssrtod that Capital,
Lebrun Renault, when questioned b!
NJ. Dupuy, replied that General Mer
cier had sem him to the president I
receive q dressing down for his indis
Greet disclosures In the Paris Figaro
General Mcrcier here interposet
saying:
Captain Lebrun Renault spoke :
me In regard to the confessions In tn
presence Of General Gonz, who will
testify thereto. II was then that
ordered him to go to the president.
Regarding General Mercier's declar
ations Saturday on the witness staad
M. Casimir. Perier said: General Mer
cier had no right whatever to inter
rene In q diplomatic conversation.
would have prevented such inter
ference. It was I alone who con
ferred with the minister aud l declar
that the impression | derived fror
that conversation was one of complet
calm; otherwise tho incident woul
not have been closed by the framin,
Of q note.
1--WE had q telegram from Berli
that evening. 1t was In regard to
note the minister referred to Berlin
II there had been any news In regar
to the matter on the evening OF tn
9th we should not have waited unit
tho sth to publish the note. Their
, was no dispatch addressed to q frient
ly power relative to the incident. Til
incident has been mngnihed. Beside
in the event Of diplomatic compile,
, tions, the President would have con
municated with the minister OF TO
eign affairs"
, General Mercler replied that In
went to the Elysee palace as minist'
| Of war. He recalled that General
Q Boisdeffrc could testify In regard
this visit. M. Demange seized upo
this declaration and insisted thl
General Mercier repeat the statsmeI
, that he had given orders TO Gener
a Boisdeffre on the 9th relative to m
I b~ilization.
a M. Casimir- Perier resumed his te
timony and said he did not reply
certain of General Mercier's insinu
tions.
II do not wish to answer them
I said the ex-president 1.-The circuI
stances are too sad and too tragic 4
me to desire to envenom the discu
sion. i am master Of myself and
o my conscience. / would only sta
Q that General Mercier has made eve
It effort to mix me as deeply as possit
l. In this affair. But l have RENAME
n aloof. I affirm, during the progress
, the investigation"