The age-herald., 1899-08-15
DREYFUS HANDICAPPED
 BY ABSENCE OF LABORI
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page) impression when at the conclusion of M. Cavaignac's testimony he was asked if he
 had anything to say. The prisoner replied
 in a declamatory fashion, with his hand on
 his heart. that the court of cessation had
 already disposed of M. Cavaignac's argu-
 ments.
 The speech of Cavaignac, however cer-
 tally appeared to make an impression on his hearers
 During the short suspension of the sit-
 ting of the court, M Jaures, the socialist
 leader, who was in court, remarked that the arrests made in Paris had for their
 sole object to forestall a St. Bartholomew massacre of the Dreyfusiards and that the
 attempted murder of M. Labori at Rennes was one of the scattered acts of the pro- jected massacre.
 Dreyfus must undoubtedly have been profoundly moved by the attack on his
 champion, who, for all he knew, might be
 dead or dying, but he maintained the same
 immortality as hitherto and did not give
 in court the slightest indication of his emotions.
 The depositions of General Zurlinden, Chanoine and M. Honotaux were listened to closely.
 General Mercier was acclaimed on leav- ing the court, and M. Cassimir-Perier was greeted with cheers, and counter-cheers for the army.
 The gendarmes dispersed the most noisy of the demonstrators, but theere was no serious disorder.
 Perier Confronts Mercer
 When the courtmartial was resumed Gen. eral Mercier was confronted with M. Casi- mir-Perier, the former president of France.
 The latter declared that Merciers story, told on the witness stand Saturday, of the imminence of war between Germany and France in 1894 was grossly exaggerated, and complained of the action of the then minis- ter of war (Mercier) in moving 600O0 troops to the frontier without consulting him. As it was M. Laboris task to take Gen | eral Mercier in hand and NJ. Demange, as-
 socate counsel, was quite unprepared for
 the task, the few questions the latter put I were practically of little effect and General | Mercier escaped cheaply. Moreover, M. Demange was deeply affect | ed by the attempt to assassinate his col | league, and was quite unable to do himself | justice.
 When General Mercier was recalled, in re- l ply to the president of the court. he reiter- l ated his belief that Major Count Esterhazy. in spite of the latter's own declaration, was
 not the author of the bordereau, which, the | witness claimed. was written on tracing pa l per and was found in an embassy. The president asked M. Casimir- -Perier | +o ba o;- x1f sion Dreyfus is alleged to have made to | Captain Lebrun Renault | M. Sasmir-Perier persisted in his state | ment of Saturday, that he had never re- l ceived any condolences of this character l from Captain Lebrun Renault.
 He added that M. Dupuy. the then pre-
 mier, was present when Captain Lebrun
 Renault called at the Elysee palace | Moreover" said M. Casmir-Perier,
 "here is letter from M. Dupuy, which I
 ask may be read"
 | The letter asserted that Captain Lebrun l Renault, when questioned by Dupuy, re- | piled that General Mercier had sent him l to the president to receive dressing down 1 for his indiscreet disclosures to the Figaro. | General Mercier here interposed saying:
 "Captain Lebrun Renault spoke to me in
 regard to the confession in the presence of 1 General Gonse, who will testify thereto.
 It was then that ordered him to the presi-
 dent of the republic"
 | z. II. rs srci Denounced Regarding General Mercier's declarations i on Saturday last on the witness stand, M. 1 Casimir-Perier said:
 General Mercier had no right whatever
 to intervene in a diplomatic conversation. 1 It was I alone who conferred with the
 minister and declare that the impression | I derived from that conversation was one
 of complete calm, otherwise the incident | would not have closed by the framing of
 note
 We had telegram from Berlin that
 evening. It was in regard to a note the | minister referred to Berlin. If there had
 been any news in regard to the matter
 on the evening of the 9th, we should not
 have waited until the Sth to publish the
 note. There was no dispatch addressed to | friendly power relative to the incident. The incident has been magnifed Besides, l in the event of diplomatic complications, the president would have communicated | with the minister of foreign affairs" | General Mercier replied that he went to | the Elysee palace as minister of war He | recalled that General Boise Deffre could l testify in regard to the orders received M | Demange seized upon this declaration and | insisted that General Mercier repeat the | statement that he had given orders to l General De Boise Deffre on the 9th rela- 1 tive to mobilization.
 l M. Casimir-Perier resumed his testi- mony; said he did not reply to certain of l General Merciers insinuations. q do not with to answer them," said the former l president
 l '"rhe circumstances are too sad and too l tragic for me to desire to envenom the | discussion. am master of myself and of | my conscience. I would only state that General Mercier has made every effort to mix me as deeply as possible in this affair. But have remained aloof, affirm, dur l ing the progress of the investigation" | The former xsgesident then compaained of