The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-08-26

Drevfus drama unrolled before I
crowded court yesterday forenoon, his
tall. viking-!ike form draped in Il long
black gown. bordered with ermine, sit
ting in front of the footlights was the
magnet which. from the moment the
curtain was run up until ii fell at
noon. drew all eyes, not merely
chances of curiosity. but The steady
gaze Of admiration. His mere presence
brought brightness into the court
room ana fresh light into the proceed,
ings.
Arrival of q
The arrival of LIberi ut tn" Lycee
was the signal for scrnes of eNtraordi-
nary enthusiasm.
As NJ. Labori. accompanied by Nine
Labor and Il physician. entered the
COURTROOM the audience greeted him
by standing up, and there WIS Il gener-
al oar OF applause,accompanicd by the
ciapping of hands, which Was distinct
~ heard in the streets. Tears sprang to
the eyes of the wounded man, who was
evidently deeply affected by the warm
welcome accorded him. Among those
who greeted NJ. Labor were Generals
Billot and Mercier, who courteously
inquired as to his condition.
The Audience A~ppIauded.
At first the. audience seemed TO be
arprchcnsiTe that Col JouauSt, presi-
cent of the court, might treat the APP
plauSe of Nj. Labor as a demonstrd-
lion which would warrant him in
clearing the court. II began. therefore,
with a few timid claps OF the hands,
but was soon followed by general ap-
plaUse upon the part of the whole att
dicnce with the exception of Il few
standing at the back of the court
room.
Welcomed by DreyfuS.
DrpvfuS entered the room soon af-
forward. and ha:inC salt1ed the
Judges. turned to NJ. Labori with out
stretched hands. a smile III keen pleas
IRE ii@htin" up his pale and usually
impasSive features. The lawyer took
the prisoners hand and shook il
warmly, whereuron Dr"yfU$ gave Kim
another look of gratitude and took his
seat in front of connscrs table with
lis back toward them. .-
Address b. Col. ~.louaust.
Col. .Ioriaust next.read from Il paper
an address 40 NJ. LabQri, the lone Of
the president being quite sympathetic.
The lawyer made an imprisoned re-
ply. lie was deeply affected and his
voice was clear. though not so strong
as before h. Mas shb:. lie WIS very
nervous and excited and swEHcd 10 and
fro as he delivered his r.nl,y. Ills hear
ers were profoundly impressed.
Mime. Rejane. the celebrated actress,
was among those present ii curt She
made the trip to I;enncs especially TO
see the trial. and the return OF VI. La
buri into the case.
Galvanized the Dormant Defense.
: Labor did what the people expect
ed. He galvanized the dormant de-
frnse into an active. living thing. NJ.
Dsmangc is conciliatory. He has al
WAYS seemed TO fear to tread on the
military corn. Labori is Il gladiator
and always speaks To touch his foe to
the quick. Let there be the slightest
opening in his opponents defense and
he thrustS hcme.
Yesterday. when VI. Demangc found
nothing to ask Il witness. VI. Lahori's
quick eye had discovered weak spots
aid he came forward with searching
Questions.
lie opened with an eloquent speech
aid the audience could have listened
for an hour to his rich, melodious
vticc. mcdUlated tones. and then i'm
Ftksionetl ortbrusts. accompanied by
energetic and speaking gestures.
Gave One Another ANXIOUS Chances.
Generals Roget. Biilot. Mercier and
EcisdeiTIc. with The other military wit
nesses. gave one another anxious
glaHces. and put their heads together
to exchange obviously d~isagreeable
impressions as Iabori piled the smaller
military fry, who occupied the witness
stand successfully with discoacerting
questions.
Cornered on the Schneider Letter.
Labor cornered MERCER on the
Schneider letter. which the latter had
Used in evidence and which Col. Schnei-
der had repudiated as Il forgery.
The general was surprised when
Labori suddenly demanded that Mer-
cier be recalled. Evidently he hoped
the tribunal would support him in re-
fusing to explain how he got a copy
of a letter which was of later date
than his incuInbency at the ministry
of war. But Labor was not to be de-
MED: He insisted hat Mercier should
give some explanation. Then. after
hesitating. MERCER declared that he
would assume all the responsibility at
taching to his possession of the dOcu-
ment. This. as Labori intended il
Should be. was a demonstration of
Communication by the general staff Of
part al least of the secret dossier to
an" ordinary, soldier, such as Mercier
BECAME Immediately ON leaving the
. ministry of war. Wheh Labor att
tanned his object and forcedsa eepfes'