The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-25
ON RACK
Continued from Rsr.s rars.

objected to being asked TO repeat his eyi-
dence and M. Labor. equally warmly
said; II am only asking for definite
Mer0isr then said he thought Dreyfus
might have had oogni zance OF the brake
ut bourgee. nddinQs sin any case he had
q better chance to obtain such kno wledge
than Esterhazy could possibly have had"
Al. Labori-"Gen. Meroier, Dreyfus.
might have had cognixAnoe. l desire 10
emphasize that expression. We shall nov
prove Dreyfus could not have had cog riz-
anoe OF the brake"
Counssl proceeded to demonstrate how
vigorously the secret OF the construction
OF the brake was guarded and asked why
in 1894 the charges regarding the Robin
Melinite shells were not dwelt upon,
Gen. Mercier-"Thnt arises from the
simple fact that 10 was not known until
1895 or 1897 that information ON the SUBJ
ject was being divuiEed. The passages
at arms between H. Labor and Gen.
Mercier were followed with the keenest
interest
N. Labor asked why Gen. Marcier did
not nave report prepared regarding the
confessions Dreyfus Is alleged TO have
made TO Capt. Lebrun-Renault.
Bercier-"Ths question of confessions
was Of no Importance as a revision OF the
cass seemed impossible.
NJ. Labori-"What does Gen. Mercier
think OF Esterhazy and the part he
playedf"
zen. Meroier-"I don't know Esterhazy
and / don't think about him at all"
N; Labori-"Did he know you at his
trial In 1882
. Gen. Mercisr-'tNo."
Col. Jouaust-"Gen. Mercier was not
minister OF war thenr"
nj. Labori-"This Is most interesting.
Gen. Mercier declares he knows nothing
of the trial OF 1885,"
l3an Marniar-saI knor- ookht,. - a
1 Leave that TO the court martial which
efleu hseerhazy. 4 nave only TO answer
~ court Tor my acts and 1 refuse you
the right 10 question me about my
thoughts.
Soi. Jouaust. addressing NJ. Labor,
shla' 1our are reverting toE the evil
uenee OF Gen Mercier.
~ kapori.-M MY obJsot In introducing
the witness Is TO renew his evidence"
zen: Meru'er-'1 protest against the
WORD interrogating Tor am not pris-
oner. 49,
III. Labori-it Is not question OF in
terrogatiou. used the word in tho most
respectful sense. VIII Gen. Mercier say
what he means by the charge preferred
against the partisans of Dreyfus of hav-
Ing spent thirty i've million francs. What
was this sum used fure Tue amount Ia
Simply ridiouious
Sen. Meroier-"I might Just as well
ask YOU" (Sensation.)
III. Labori-"Do you mean to suggest
that IL was spent In advertisements and
In buying consoiencesS'
Gen. Meroier--"I say nothing what
ever"
Counsel next wished to know why the
bordereau was communicated to the
court martial In 1894 when Ii was consid-
ere0 impossible to show the other doou.
ments OF the secret dossierf
Gen. Mercier-" Because the bordereau
was not dated nor signed and its place
OF origin could be concealed"
M. Labor pointed out that the place
OF origin had been mentioned in court.
The cross-examination of Gen. Merciar
became mora and more heated and so rap
ID that IL was difficult to follow and
many answers were confused. As the
questions OF counsel touched on the se-
cre5 uossier and secret document in n
blue pencil, Gen. Gonse, Gen. Roget and
others participated In the discussion
which almost degenerat3d into q wrangle.
The government commissary, Major
Carriere, protested against such discus
Sion, and Col. Jouast ordered silence
ire commissary said that an attempt
was being made TO show there was a
Iresn forgery which was used for purL oses
OF comparisons to which M. Labor re-
aorseo that Major Csrrisre was mistaken.
The tendency OF these cross examinations,
he added. was to demonstrate the facts.
nj. Lauth said he believed a Glue TO the
Dlne pencil document existed before the
trlai OF 1884, ana N. Labor asked why
In tnat case IL was not produced at the
flai since 10 incriminated the prisoner.
yen. MeTcier said he did not know Of
THIS clue and MAJOR Lautn disclnimed all
responsibility In the matter as he was not
con eeteu Win the preliminary enquiry. /
zen. donz SAID the document had been
IN possession OF Coi. Sandherr and was
oy nam piaced In the secret dossier Tor
with other papers.
10: Labor asked for explanations in re-
gard TO the commentary ON the secret dcs-
sier. and Gen. Meroier admitted he de-
siEoyea ~ IN 1920.
ten. Gonz, who was questioned on the
same SUBJECT, declared that IL was by or
der OF zen. DE Boisdeare that he returned
the commentary 70 ten. SandheFr.
Answering further questions Mercier
said the Panizzardi telegram was not
eoninunioateu 70 the court martial Of
ies4. he was ordered by Gen. DE
Lolssuenre nov 20 lhSluue IL In the secret
dossler. keeneation.