The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-29
EXCITING SCENES
Occur During the Cross Examination of Mer-
cier by Labor. .
POINTS FAVORABLE TO DREYFUS
Scored by His Counsel Against Several Witnesses-MercHrU Under Hot
Fire-The Other Generals the Court Come to His Rescue.
Some Damaging Admissions Forced From the Witnesses.
Dreyfus Shows u the Falsity of the Charge Of
Confessional Briisher's Proof of Dreyfus'
Innocence.

as given before the court of cessation,
set forth that Colonel Sandherr old
NJ. Penot tina the brothers of Dreyfus
had offered $50, 900 francs to settle the
case. adding hat Sandherr was so in
cepsed at the proposal that he ordered
them out Of his office.
Maitre Demange, As a counter-blast,
read a note written by on the
day the interview of the brothers OF
Dreyfus took place. 1t appeared from
this note hat the brothers imagined
that a plot was being hached against
Dreyfus because he was a Jew. They
maintained the captains innocence and
declared they would do everything in
their power to obtain his reinstate-
ment, saying that if necessary they
would spend their whole fortune to ar
rive at the truth.
PRESIDENT OF FORMER COURT
MARTIAL EXAMINED.
There was considerable stir in court
when the name Of Colonel Maurel, who
was president Of the Dreyfus court
martial Of 1894, was called and the col
oneI appeared at the witness bar. He
started by emphatically denying that
any communication ever written was
made to the members of the court dur
ing the course of the trial. He said
they only knew the case from the doc
uments in the dossier and the testimony
given.
Replying to M. Labor, Maurel said
he did not know General MERCER and
had never seen him since the trial I'M
til June last.
M. Labori-Can Colonel Maurel tell
us to what he attributes the secret
dossier?
Colonel Maurel| have not the slight
est idea.
I M. Labori-Can you tell us the name
of the officer who brought you the pri-
vate letter?
Colonel Maurel-It was du Patty de
| Clam. (Sensation.)
M. Labori-Were there any docu-
ments in this secret dossier? Can you
state what they were?
Colonel Maurel|I only saw one of
them. l did not look at the others be-
cause my mind was already made up.
M. Labori-Had the other members of
| the court also made up their minds?
Colonel Maurel-Yes.
Witness added that two mber OF
the court confided to him on this sub
ject.
| M. Labori-Can you tell Us how,
| knowing, as the judge, that it was you
| duty to seek c~onscientiously for infor-
| nation, and to expect sincere
| cations from the public prosecutor;
I! that is to say, communications setting
| forth all the points in the case, both
for and against the prisoner, you could
| be of the opinion that your mind was
loyalty made up after reading a single
| document? prolonged sensation.)
Colonel Maurel replied that he could
not answer, because if he did, he would
| have to speak Of the first document in
the dossier, (which convinced the
| court of the prisoners guilt"
AT this point M. Labor said he
| would like to confront Colonel Mature.
| with Captain Freystatter, another a.
the court-martial of 1894, but Freystat-
| ter was not present and Colonel Maure.
promised to wait a few days and give
the captain an opportunity of attend.
ing.
MERCER UNDER HOT FIRE.
A lively incident followed. M. La.
bori asked leave to interrogate Gen
eral Mercier. The government com
missary, Major Carriere, took occasion
to remark that while counsel had thu
right to ask questions he had no busi
ness to draw deductions, to which tn
lawyer dryly replied that he had al
ways acted with a full knowledge O.
the restrictions imposed upon counse
and that he had no need of lessons from
, Major Carriere and would not accep
them.
| General MERCER was then recalled.
M. Labori said he desired to know i
General MERCER admitted ordering Col
onel Maurel to communicate secret doc
uments to the court-martial of 1894.
General Mercier-I knew I did no