The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-23


or iudiRereut people. who have houored
me with these signs of sympathy, Of
which 1 am deeply sensible. and thank
you. AIr. President. aud members OF the
court martial and also all these emil
nent men. though have not the honor
of knowing them. except In the course
Of these long struggles in which we
have met. and in the progress OF which
the faces Of adversaries and by smiling
a little, like the faces. or at least like
those Of old acquaintance who have
expressed their sympathy. I thank
you, friends and colleagues, even the
humblest correspondents who have dore
me the honor to write to me without
giving their addresses, because of their
marks Of sympathy, though coming
from the humblest abodes. were also
the most sincere and the most touch
ing.
II resume my place in court, rather
to hear than speak. If am less ac-
tive shall bring no less conscientious
ness nor less good temper in my work.
1t IS a difficult task we are all perform
ing. You who are the arbIters and
who viii render justlce-we. the auxil-
iaries. But all Of this will help US
on, for we shall have the sense Of duty
done.
LET US now continue the proceedings
in which we have yet to pass through
many vieissitudes. Thanks to the full
ness Of these investigations. we shall
see emerged from them perfect truth
and complete justice making for
peace"
In conclusion, n. Labor said that
they now had the right to hope. and
declared that protests and recrimina-
lions after the success Of the work OF
justice must be regarded as inadmissi-
BILE. and that 1t must be known that
error has ever larger share in hui
man aHairs than trcachery." Cap
plause.} As the eminent lawyer. whose
face showed emotion and fatigue. seat
ed himself there was prolonged hand
clappIug.
Madame Rejane. the celebrated act
ress. was among those present in court
to-day. She made the trip to Rennes
especially to see the trial and return of
II. Labor In the case, and she was
one OF those who applauded most heart
ily his entry into the court room.
The first witness to-day was 81. Gre
nier. the former project Of Belfort- His
testimony was favorable TO Dreyfus,
and distinctly hostile to Esterhazy.
Major Rollin. of the intelligence de-
partment. was asked by NJ. Labor
during the course OF the formers tes-
tinouy. how certain document. Of a
later date than Mercler's mialstrY
came into General Mercier's possession.
Rollin said 1t was not his business to
explain. but counsel insisted on asking
whose business 1t was.
Finally n. Lahori asked Colonel Jou-
aust to request General Mercier to
explain. The general arose and said
he declined to answer. VI. Labori in
sisted. but Mercier still refused to an
swer. and Major Carriere. the govern
ment comnlssary, supported him. on
~, S-,o,,,,d that The examination was
entering upon a matter which ought
not, in the interest OF the country. to be
discussed publicly.
N. Labor then declared in loud
voice that he would reserve to himself
the right TO take the necessary meas
ures to obtain the desired information
Tn next point vas made by Dreyfus In
his reply to Major RollIn. The latter
had remarked that all the prisoners
papers were seized when his rooms
we're searched in 1894. and Colonel Jou-
aust said that certain papers from his
,e,x book. the school Of war were found
missing. To this the prisoner retorted:
mot In 1894, my colonel"
This caused sensation. as the op-
vious Interpretation was that the pa
pers were torn out at the war Office.
and that then the fact was used
AGAINST him as an insinuatIon that he
had communicated the missing pages
to foreign agents.
4 former secretary Of war named Fer
ROT. next testified to seeing Dreyfus
prying into other officers work during
their absence. and the prisoner replied
ezeltedly that Ferrets statements were
connections By a former minister OF
war. which caused Il sensation. Then
IN a cooler manner. the prisoner made
n statement explaining the difficulties
in the way OF a civilian such as Ferret
entering the Offices OF the general
stan.
General Gonse thcreupon presented
two letters. to the effect that the wri-
tors. both civilians, obtained easy ad-
mittanee 10 the Offices.
Drcyfus retoried that the regulations
were very strict in this respect. and