The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-23
NJ LAbORl IN COURT.
Senior Counsel Of Captain Dreyfus
Appears For the Defense.
bot SHOT FOB GEN. MERCIER.


Declared His Love For the Army
and His Country-Labori's Presence
in Court Favorable to the Prisoner.
Rennes, Aug 23.-Maitre Laborl
was the central figure Of the scene yes
terday at the Lycec, where Captain
Dreyfus is standing trial on charge
of treason. As the Dreyfus drama un-
rolled before a crowded court his tall.
Viking-like form draped In long
black gown, bordered with ermine. SIT
ting in front of the lights, was the
prime magnet from the moment the
curtain was rung up until it fell. His
mere presence brought brightn ess into
the court room and fresh light into the
proceedings.
He opened with an eloquent speech,
and the audience could have listened
for an hour to his rich melodious voice.,
modulated tones and then impassioned
outbursts. accompanied by energetic
and speaking gestures. Generals Roget,
Billot, Mercier and Bosdeffre, with tha
other military witnesses, gave one an
other anxious glances and put their
heads together to exchange obviously
disagreeable impressions as Labort
piled the smaller military fry, who oc-
cupied the witness stand successfully.
with disconcerting questions.
Labori cornered General Mercier on
the Schneider letter, which the latter
had used In evidence, and which Col
onel Schneider had repudiated as a
forgery. The general was surprised
when Labori suddenly demanded that
Mercier be recalled. He insisted that
Mercier should give some explanation.
Then, after hesitating. Mercier declared
that he would assume all the RESPONSE
blity attaching to his possessions Of
the document. When Labori had at
tanned his object and forced confess
sion of grave violation of law on the
part of General Mercier, he gave a
smile of grim satisfaction and then ad-
ded significantly: II shall have other
questions to put to General Mercier."
M. Labori announced that he in
tended to recall several witnesses who
had made depositions during his abb
sence. This means that Mercier, Roget
and others will be put to the test of a
severe cross examination. To his
friends M. Labori has expressed him
self confident of being able to tear to
pieces the evidence these generals have
given so confidently before sympa-
thetic tribunal.
General Mercier made pitiable ex-
hibtion. M. Labori, in passion,
fairly thundered his questions.
What can be the value of docu-
ments," said he, which we cannot see
and cannot discuss, documents for
which it is impossible to know who
takes the responsibility. l appeal to
you, Mr. President, to be good enough
to ask General Mercer how this doc
ument came into his possession"
Mercier, driven to corner, feebly
evaded the question.
"Mr. President" continued Labori,
81 insist that reply be given. Gen.
eral Mercier has sworn to speak the
whole truth. | must insist that ques-
tons respectfully rendered by the de-
fense be answered by him. The court
martial, unlike the court Of cassa-
ton, has to deal with the whole range
of the affair. and 1t is necessary that
complete light be thrown upon 1t.
insist that General Mercier answer me,
for 1t is my right"
After Mercier's shuffling collapse M.
Labori sank back into his armchair.
great beads of perspiration standing
ON his forehead, but his countenance
was radiant at the impression he had
made.
Captain Dreyfus yesterday pursued
the attitude he took up Monday. and
replied to the statements Of hostile
witnesses with arguments and the
presentation of counter facts, only once
giving way to his feelings and offering
a cry of protest. This was at the con-
clusion of Colonel Bertin's deposition,
when, with broken voice. the accused
declared his love of France and the
army
yes" he cried. ~ love France and
love my country but it is with senti-
ments different from those animating
them who come here today to TESTIFY
against me"
Labori. if anything. was better after
his eXertions than before them The
excitement under which he labored
seemed to act as stimulant, although
many friends noticing his flushed face,
feared there might be relapse.
The scurrilous tactics Of the anti
Dreyfusard newspapers may be illus-
trated by a paragraph appearing in
their organ here last evening, de0lar-
ing that the attack on Labori, which.
it insinuates. did very little harm, and
was made solely to arouse the pity OF
the people of Rennes for the lament
able lot of an escaped convict from
DEVILS Island.
The spy Latoux, so prominent In yes
terday's evidence. was one of the least
reputable connected with the intelf-
gence bureau. He was paid to leave
France and Is still paid 200 francs
month. He knows all about Cuers, who
betrayed Germany's secrets to France,
and among others, that decorated
colonel of the general staff supplied
Germany with important mobilization
plans and other secrets This was two
years after Dreyfus was condemned.
and the traitorous colonel was Henry.
When Picquart was investigating
this affair, Henry got himself sent to
Bale to take the statements of Cuers
and to browbeat him into suppressing
the truth. Hush money is still being
paid On one occasion Lajoux was
thrust into lunatic asylum to pre-
vent awkward disclosures.
Hamburg, Aug. 23.~-The Hamburg
ische Correspondent, discussing the as
sertion that Germany should publish
certain documents proving the inno-
cance Of Dravfus Says, "Thn answer tn