Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-08-31
WARM FOR MERCER
M. LABORI LEADS THE GENERAL A
LIVELY DANCE.
Most Exciting Scenes of the Dreyfus
Trial Marked Yesterdays Pro-
ceedings-President of the Courts
Hostile Attitude Toward the Law
yer for the Defense-Big Army
Officers Are Allowed to Do ~
They Please-Mercier Shown Up in
Very Bad Light.

Rennes, Aug. %. - Yesterdays ses-
sion of the Dreyfus court-martial was
marked by one of the most exciting
scenes of the trial. The proceedings
opened with skirmish entirely ia
vorable to the defense over Col. Maui
ret, 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. He pro-
tested that only one document was
looked at, alleging that this suffced
to enable him to form opinion that
could not be shaken. This protest
made matters worse, because, as NJ.
Labori pointed out, if he perused one,
it was his bounden duty to peruse all.
Col. Jouaust upheld Col. Mauret in his
refusal to indicate the nature of the
document he read, but M. Labori an
nounced that he would summon Capt.
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. Col. Maui
ret felt his position keenly and con-
finally hesitated before replying to NJ.
Labori's questions.
All this, however. wa only prclimi-
nary to a fierce battle that ensued be-
tween NJ. Labori and Gen. MERCER, the
latter receiving reinforcements from
Gen. Roget, Gen. GOnse and Gen. de
Boisdeffre. as we'll as invaluable as
sistance from Col. Jouaust himself.
NJ. Labori took Gen. MERCER over
the whole ground of his previous de-
position. This led to several sharp
passages at arms between the advo-
cate and Col. Jouaust, who upheld
MERCER in refusing to reply to several
questions which in the general opinion
of those in the court were distinctly
pertinent
When Gen. MERCER was cornered he
declined to answer and Col. Jouaust
invariably supported him.
M. Labori protested most energetic
ally.
His words and manner indicated the
greatest indignation, but the manner
Of the court-martial was inf1eXible.
Eventually Gen. MERCER, Gen. Roget
and Gen. de Boisdeffre, who mounted
the stage successfully. were very ex-
cited and caused breathless interest.
One Of the other of the generals who
were in full uniform would jump up
and cry: 81 demand to be heard" and
without further waiting would ascend
the stage and begin testifyjng.
M. LabOri's crOss-eXaminatiOn was
successful so far as it went, but Col.
Jouaust prevented him pressing his
advantage to the utmost. In fact. Col.
Jouaust's. hostile attitude toward the
counsel for the defense then and dur
ing the cross-examination of the wit
ness Nj. de Grandmaison evoked the
severest criticism on the part of the
public present and BODIES ill for Capt.
Dreyfus.
The examination of Chamoin showed
MERCER in a very bad light, as it
brought out that he had privately COM
nlunicated to Chamoin, on the first day
of the secret session, a report on the
Panizzard dispatch for insertion in the
secret dossier. Gen. ChamOin admitted
that he did wrong in accepting the re-
mort. but pleaded ignorance in judicial
matters.
The report consisted of three pages,
of which the second and third, NJ.
Chamoin declared, contained fantastic
and, in fact. false representations.
NJ. Labor brought Gen. MERCER to
the bar in reference to this MERCER
admitted that the report emanated
from Du Patty de Clam, but claimed
that he himself did not understand it's
contents, though he thought it would
be interesting and perhaps useful to
Chamoin. This explanation was re-
garded as very lame, and, combined
with other shady actions, would dam
MERCER dis a witness in the eyes OF any
impartial tribunal.
The remainder of the sitting was
taken up with the deposition Of minor
witnesses, mostly NJ. Beaurepaire's
puppets, whose evidence when it did
not bore the audience produced merri-
mont