The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-08-25

Court Martial to Favor witnesses
Hostile 60 the Accused omccr Makes
NJ. Labori Indignant.
Rennes, Aug 25.--The session Of the
Dreyfus court martial yesterday was
marked by one Of the most exciting
scenes Of the trial The proceedings
opened with a sllirmish entirely favor
able to the defense over Colonel Mau-
rel Pre- ideut Of the court martial OF
1894, who admitted reading one Of the
secret documents to the court which
had not been seen by the defense. lie
protested that only one document was
loked at, alleging that this suiflced to
enable him 10 form a conviction that
could not be shaken.
This protest made matters worse
because, as NJ. Laborl pointed out, II
he persued one it was his bounded
duty to peruse all. Colonel Jouaust
upheld Colonel Maurel in his refusal to
indicate the nature Of the document he
read but NJ Labori announced that he
would summon Captain Freystatter,
another member of the tribunal Of 1894.
and get his version of what then passed
behind the backs of the counsel for
the defense. Colonel Maurel felt his
position keenly. and continually hesi-
tated before replying to Labori's ques-
tions.
All this, however. was only prelimi-
nary to a fierce battle that ensued be-
tween Labori and General Mercier. the
latter receiving reinforcements from
General Roget. General Gonse and Cen
eral De Boisdeffre, as well invalu-
.,f L.,
himself. NJ Labori took General Mer-
Ger over the whole ground of his pre-
yious deposition. This led to several
sharp passages at arms between the
advocate and Colonel Jouaust. who up
held Mercier In refusing to reply to
several questions which in the gem
eral opinion of those in the court room,
were distinctly pertinent. Whenever
General Mercier was cornered he de-
clined to answer, and Colonel Jouaust
invariably supported him. NJ. Laborl
protested most energetically. His
words and manner breathed the deep
est indignation. but the president Of
the court martial was infiexible.
The Intervention of Generals Gonse,
Roget and De Boisdeffre and Major
Lauth who in rapid succession mount
ed the stage or rose in their seats and
interposed remarks, was very exciting
and carried the spectators along on a
wave Of breathless interest One after
the other these officers, who were in
full uniform would jump up and cry
"I demand to. b. heard" and without
further waiting, ascend the steps OF
the platform and begin a statement In
support of a brother officer. Sometimes
four officers were on the stage at the
same moment. It was a marvellous dis
play of military clannishness. AT one
time a perfect babel of voices reigned
| for several minutes until Colonel Jou-
aust intervened and restored order.
NJ. LabOri's cross-eXaminatiOn was
| successful so far as it went, but Col
| onel Jouaust prevented him pressing
| his advantages TO the utmost In fact
! Jouausts hostile attitude toward tho
counsel for the defense then and during
the cross-eXamination of the witness
| NJ. De Grandmaison evoked the sever
| est criticism on the part of the public
! present and bodies III for Dreyfus. Not
! only Colonel Jouaust, but the other
Judges, displayed considerable i'm
! patience during Labori's scathing
| cross-eXamination, shifting restlessly
| in their seats and drumming the table
with the tins of their fingers.
General MercieT faced Labori's fire
with callous demeanor, standing on the
platform, his hands behind his back
and his face only half turned toward
his questioner. Once or twice a savage
look in the eyes. an elevation in the
tone and . swaying to and fro Of the
body revealed the inner fires of re-
sentiment
General Roget faced the court with
an air OF unblushing effrontery. His
| handsome, but unsympathetic features
expressed the bitterest scorn, as he
spun round on his heel and with arms
crossed faced Labori or the audience
or the judges. His impertinent be-
havior was strikingly illustrated when
he interrupted NJ. Labori's examination
of General Chamoin, which had result
ed in Labori's scoring heavily against
Mercier, with the exclamation: This
examination is waste of time"
As a matter of fact the examination
OF Chamoin showed Mercier in a very
bad light, as It brought out that he had
| privately communicated to Chamoin,
on the first day of the secret sessions.
a report on the PanizzaTdi dispatch for
insertion in the secret dossier. General
CndmOln huInlIleu ludL ne ulu WTOuB
in accepting the report but pleaded
ignorance in judicial matters.
NJ. Labori brought General MercieT
to the bar in reference to this. Mercier
admitted that the reports emanated
from Du Patty de Clam, but claimed
that he himself did not understand It's
contents. though he thought 1t would
be interesting and perhaps useful TO
Chamoin. This explanation was re-
garded as very lame, and, combined
with other shady actions, would damn
Mercier as a witness in the eyes of any
impartial tribunal.
General Mercier protested against
the lawyers manner, saying he was
not the accused.
what do you want of me?" de-
manded Labori in anger.
Yes, and what do you want OF me?''
retorted MercieT blazing with wrath.
It was an exciting moment, and the
audience jumped to its feet
Labori asked Mercier If he ordered
the secret dossier to be presented at
the first court martial.
YES" replied Mercier 81 take the
entire responsibility"
A new witness in the trial was called
yesterday, at the request of NJ. Labori
named George Leloir Leloir said he
| knew the BodsOns at whose house