The record-union., 1899-08-24

RENNES, Aug. 23.-The session OF
the court to-day was comparatively
uneyentful. The dispositions were not
productive of any really thrilling Incl
dents. The systematic production OF
the fiimsiest trash which the prosecu-
ton deems profitable to inf1ict on the
Judges, and which the latter accept as
evidence, was proceeded with. Much
of the ridiculous testimony OF the
morning was devoted to an attempt to
blast Dreyfus' private character
though, when Maitres Labor and De-
mango had finished with the witness,
their bubbles of little tattle were badly
pricked.
Much of the time was occupied In
reading the testimony of Esterhazy and
Mile Pays before the Court of CASA
ton, during which many of the audi
ence left the court
M Labori again distinguished him
self in laying bare the weak points OF
the evidence. He was less fierce, now
ever, than yesterday, though quite az
gressive enough to arouse the latent
hostility of the Judges, which showed
itself in various little ways. M. Labor
is no favorite, either, with Major Car
riere, the Government Commissary, and
the latter makes no serious efforts to
conceal his feelings toward the lawyer.
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
ficulty. Only occasionally he put ms
hands to his back, as though suffering
pain His wife followed his every
movement through a gold and tortoise
shell lorgnette.
Nine. Rejane, the actress, was again
an interested spectator in court to-day
especially when NJ. Labori was on his
feet and his voice was vibrating
through the hall. Her eyes watched
his mobile features, across which fitted
ever-changing expressions of indigna-
ton, anger or satisfaction, with the
keen interest which spectators in a
theater follow her own acting. During
some of the dispositions NJ. Labori ap-
peared nervous. He was unable to re-
main still an instant, twitching his fin
gers and shaking the papers in his
hand. Counsel was almost too impa-
tient to wait until the witnesses con-
cluded their testimony.
The only dangerous opponent of Drey-
fus to-day 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
that he came to defend his honor
against those "driveling'' against him
l,s 1iraa ion c
finished he returned to his seat with
his tail between his legs, for M. Labor
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 was re-
sponsible, had engineered Esterhazy' s
escape from the hands of justice. The
confident tones of the General had by
then dwindled into the proverbial STILL
small voice. and his defiant bearing
had changed into the abashed air of q
schoolboy caught telling a lie.
THE TESTIMONY.
RENNES, Aug. %. = Maitre Labori
leading counsel for the defense, and
Mime. Labori were present in court
when the trial by court martial of Cap
tain Alfred Dreyfus on the charge OF
treason was resumed at the Lycee al
6:30 this morning.
As NJ. Labori was entering the court
he was informed by a newspaper man
that General Roget yesterday received
documents from Count Major Ester
hazy. who was now in London. Coun-
, sci was much interested, and CLEANED
all the information possible. On the
arrival in court of General Roget il
was noticed that he carried a bulky en-
veIope containing the documents re-
ferred TO.
Outside of this there was no incident
worth noting at the opening of the pro-
ceedings. The session began with the
testimony of minor witnesses, including
Comptroller Roy and Major Dreville
The latter, who is employed in the
German section of the Second Bureau
of the War Office, deposed that Dreyfus
while on the General Staff could have
access to documents during certain
hours of the day. The prisoner, reply
ing. admitted he was present during
those hours, but explained that his
presence was connected with his duties
The fourth witness. NJ. Dubrieul
nroyed most entertaining, moreover
and gave NJ. 1dDOTl the uTSI OppOILuI-
ity of making a few points in favor OF
Dreyfus NJ Dubrieul. who was one
of M. De Quesnay Beaurepaire's wit
nesses. told a gossipy story of meeting
Dreyfus at the house of an acquaint-
ance. M. Bosson, in 1894, when Drey-
fus was a Lieutenant, and to seeing the
latter conversing with man described
TO the witness as a German attache
This was the sum of his testimony
which was dotted with flashes of un-
conscious humor, as when M. Dubrieu
said he told his acquaintance that he
could not frequent his house if the Ger
man visited him. The acquaintance
appeared. replied, excusing the~fact
nv saving the German was not his but
his wife's friend, which caused gen
eral laugh in court, which became
louder when NJ. Dubrieul later re-
marked that he had no prejudice
against Dreyfus for visiting his ac-
ouaintance, or rather his acquaint-
ance,s wife, adding: IF every officer
who is In love with his neighbor's wife