The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-09-01
warm FOR MERCER i:
NJ. ABOR1 LEADS THE GENERAL A
LIVELY DANCE.
Mo Exciting Scenes of the Dreyfus
rial Marked Yesterdays Pro-
.edings-Prexidcnt Of the Courts
ostilc Attitude Toward the Law
er for the Defense-Big Army
mccrs Are Allowed to Do az
hey Plensc-.Mercicr Shown Up In
Very Bad Light.

Times, Aug. 26. - Yesterdays ses-
sio of the Dreyfus court-martial was
naked by one of the most exciting
scees of the trial. The proceedings
opaed with skirnish entirely IA
volble to the defense over Col. Maui
retof the court-martial Of 1894, who
adlitted reading one of the secret
dement's to the court, which had not
bee seen by the defense. He pro-
tes,d that only one document was
looed at, alleging that this sufficed
to .nable him to form opinion that
cod not be shaken. This protest
mae matters worse, because, as NJ.
Laori pointed out, if he perused one,
it vas his bounden duty to peruse all.
ColJouaust upheld Col. Maurct in his
| refsaI to indicate the nature of the
doament he read, but NJ. Labori an-
nouced that he would summon Capt.
Frestatter. another member Of the
tribunal of 1894, and get his version Of
i w lll lllcl PdSScu UCulLu lAC UuShS Va
the counsel for the defense. Col. Maui
ret eelt his position keenly and con-
tinaly hesitated before replying to NJ.
Labri's questions.
Al this, however, wa only prelimi-
mar, to fierce battle that ensued be-
TWEEN NJ. Labori and Gen. MERCER. the
latte receiving reinforcements from
Gen Roget, Gen. Gonse and Gen. de
Boisleffre, as we'll as invaluable as
sist:nce from Col. Jouaust himself.
Nj Labori took Gen. MERCER over
the whole ground of his previous de-
position. This led to several sharp
passages at arms between the advo-
cate and Col. Jouaust, who upheld
Mecier in refusing to reply to several
questions which in the general opinion
of hose in the court were distinctly
pertinent.
When Gen. MERCER was cornered he
declined to answer and Col. JOuaust
Invariably supported him.
NJ Labori protested most energetic
ally.
His words and manner indicated the
greatest Indignation. but the manner
of he court-martial was inheXible.
Eventually Gen. MERCER. Gen. Roget
and Gen. de Boisdeffre, who mounted
the stage successfully. were very ex-
cited and caused breathless interest.
One of the other of the generals who
were in full uniform would jump up
and cry: II demand to be heard" and
without further waiting would ascend
the stage and begin testifying.
NJ. Labori's cross-eXamination was
successful so far as it went. but Col.
Jouaust prevented him pressing his
advantage to the utmost. In fact. Col.
Jouaust's hostile attitude toward the
counsel for the defense then and dur
ing the cross-eXamination of the wit
ness Nj. de Grandmaison evoked the
severest criticism on the part of the
hubble present and bodies ill for Capt.
Dreyfus.
The examination Of Chamoin showed
Alercier in very bad light, as it
brought out that he had privately COM
nlunicated to Chamoin, on the first day
of the secret session, report on the
PaniZzard dispatch for insertion in the
secret dossier. Gen. Chamoin admitted
that he did wrong in accepting the re-
port. but pleaded ignorance in judicial
matters.
The report consisted OL ufee pdSce'
of which the second and third. Nj.
Chamoin declared, contained fantastic
and, in fact. false representations.
NJ. Iabori brought Gen. MERCER to
the bar in reference to this. MERCER
admitted that the report emanated
from Du Patty de Clam. but claimed
that he himself did not understand its
contents, though he thought it would
he interesting and perhaps useful to
Chamoin. This explanation was re-
garded as very lame, and, combined
with other shady actions, would dam
MERCER as a witness in the eyes of any
impartial tribunal.
The remainder of the sitting was
taken up with the deposition of minor
witnesses. mostly NJ. Beaurepaire's
puppets, whose evidence when it did
not bore the audience produced merri-
mont