The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-24

jeet was being divulged The existence
of treachery in regard to the distribution
of heavy artillery among the Army Corps
was unknown until 1885.
The passages at arms between NJ
La'bori and General Mercier were followed
with the keenest interest. Both men were
wary and mutually suspicious OF each
i other, and there was considerable acer-
bity, Colonel Jouaust, at times, finding
difficulty in preventing the discussion
from wandering outside legal paths.
i Continuing. NJ Labori asked why Cen
eral Mercier did not have a report pre-
pared regarding the confessions Dreyfus
is alleged to have made to Captain Leb-
run-Renault.
Mereier-..The questions of the confess
sions was of no Importance, as a revision
of the case seemed impossible"
NJ Labori-.sWhat does General Mercier
think of Esterhazy and the part he
played?s
General Mereier-sI do not know Ester
hazy and do not think about him at all. z
NJ. Labori-sDi he know you at his trial
II. 1882
General Mercier--s No
Colonel Jouaust-. General Mercfer was
not Minister of War then.
4 M. Labori-"This is most interesting.
General Mercier declares he knows moth
ing of the trial of 1888
General Mercier-"I know nothing of it.
I leave that to the court martial which
tried Esterhazy. l have only to answer
in court for my acts. and refuse you
the right to question me about my
thoughts" (Sensation)
Colonel Jouaust. addressing NJ Labori,
said
You are reverting to the evidence OF
General Mercier?''
N. Labori-"My object in interrogatine
the witness is to revert to his evidence.
General Mereier-tI protest against the
Word anterrogatory, for ! am not a pris-
oner.
M. Labori-"It is not a question of in
terrogatory. I used the word in the most
respectful sense. WIN General Mercier
say what he means by the charge pre-
ferred against the partisans Of Dreyfus
Of having spent thirty-five million francs
What was this sum used for? The amount
is simply ridiculous.
General Mercier-"I might just as we'll
ask you" (sensation
NJ Labori-sDo you mean to- suggest
that it was spent in advertisements and
in buying consciences?"
General Mercier-.I say nothing what
ever"
Counsel next wished to know why the
bordereau was communicated to the court
martial of 1894. when it was considered
impossible to show the other documents
of the secret dossier?
| General Mercier-" Because the bor-
/ was dat
of origin could be concealed.
M Labori pointed out that the place of
origin had been mentioned in court and
then asked for explanations in regard to
the preparation of the 1894 forgery.
The cross-exaniination of General Mer-
cier became more and more heated and
so rapid that it was difficult to follow
and many Of the answers were confusing
AS the questions of counsel touched upon
the secret dossier and a certain document
in blue pencil, General Gonse, General
Roget M. Gribelin and Major Lauth also
| participated in the discussion which al
| most degenerated into a wrangle.
The Government Commissary, Major
Carriere, protested against such discus
sion and Colonel Jouaust ordered silence.
The Commissary said an attempt was
being made to show there was a fresh
forgery. which was used for purposes of
comparisons, to which M. Labori retorted
! that Major Carriere was mistaken.
The tendency of these cross-examina-
! tions he added, was only to demonstrate
the truth
Major sLauth said he believed a clue to
the blue pencil document existed before
the trial of 1894 and NJ. Labori asked why,
| in that case. 1t was not produced at the
1 trial, since 1t incriminated the prisoner?
General Mercier said he did not know
! of this clue and Major Lauth disclaimed
| all responsibility in the matter as he
was not connected with the preliminary
| inquiry.
General Gonse said the document had
| been in the possession of Colonel Sand
| herr tsensation) and 1t was by him placed
| IN the secret dossier for comparison with
| other papers.
NJ. Labori asked for explanations in re-
| gard to the commentary on the secret
doSsier and General Mercier admitted he
destroyed 1t in 1887
General Gonse, who was questioned on
the same subject, declared that 1t was
| by order of General de Bosdeffre that he
| returned the commentary to General Mer-
| cier.
Answering further questions, Mercier
said the Panizzardi telegram was not
1894. He was ordered by General de Bois-
deffre not to include it in the secret dos
sier (Sensation.)
Counsel next discussed the three mage
| document claiming that the false render
ing of the Panizzardi telegram was to
| correct II and point directly to Dreyfus as
the traitor.
Mercler asked to be allowed to converse
| with General Chamoin before attempting
to explain. General Chamoin thereupon
| advanced about the document which had
been handed him by General Mercier He
said he noticed inaccuracies in it and
resolved not to use it. Witness however
had been carried away in testifying and
read a page of the document, and it was
after friendly conversation with Maitre
| Labori that he read the entire document
| in court, at General Mercier's request,
| and returned him the document
/ General Mercier acknowledged the accu-
adding that it was Colonel Du Patty de
Clam who gave him the document (Sen-
sation.)
Counsel had the document re-read and
referred to the two versions of the two
telegrams OF November 2, one designating
Dreyfus as communicating documents to
4 Germany, NJ Labori pointing out that
NJ Paleologue, of the Foreign Office, de-
MED that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
had communicated this version. and ask
ed why General Mereier had received 1t
through Du Patty de Clam.
! AT this juncture General Roget mount
ed the platform and expressed at this
idle controversy being resumed" (Cries
of stOh, Oh.'')
The General asked that Major Nation,
who assisted In deciphering the telegram
! he called and counsel protested against