Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-13

| the republic entered into certain engage
ments with you?"
Dreyfus replied: 'In any case, the sense
has been completely distorted"
| NJ. Casimir-Perier gave his evidence with
a blanched face, but in the determined
tone of man who means every word ut
| tered which inspired confidence in his
| words.
General Mercfer Called.
The members Of the court-martial list
ened to him respectfully. When his testi-
mony was ended, NJ. Casimir-Perier was
conducted back to his seat by a non-com-
missioned officer, and all eyes were directed
towards door to the right. There was
moment of painful suspense, and then Cen
| eral Mercier entered the courtroom and
was conducted to the witness stand by a
soldier. He lifted his right hand before
| the crucifiX and swore to tell the truth
| He appeared to be in broken health. He
| spoke with hoarse voice, coughed fire.
| quentIy and asked to be allowed to be
seated Mercier was attred In the undress
uniform of a general, black tunic and red
| trousers. AS he sat down, he placed
brilliant crimson and gold kept on a shelf
attached to the witness rail, where it re-
mained, striking patch of color, during
the time he gave his testimony. which
| lasted from $40 a. m. until noon. He
leaned forward while speaking, his hands
sometimes resting on the rail. but more
often he was nervously twitching his fin
gers, and twisting a pair of white gloves,
which he doffed on entering the court. Be-
side his KEPT he placed a black leather
wallet full of papers. and he accompanied
his remarks with a continual nodding of
the head.
Made an Unfavorable Impression.
To a stranger, his appearance and nod
ding produces far from favorable effect.
He gave the impression of stiffness. His
forehead was wrinked, his eyebrows were
contracted and his eyes peered through
Sits between puffy eyelids. His cheeks were
sallow, and he spoke almost inaudibly and
in weak, monotonous pitch of voice,
which produced a soporific effect upon
those who were not able to distinguish his
words, but who were within hearing of
his voice.
General Mercier wore on his breast the
decoration of grand officer of the Legion
of Honor.
While he was under examination, General
Mercier asked Colonel Jouaust to allow him
TO present documents showing how an
espionage system was organized in France
by General Schwartzkoppen, the former
German military attache at Paris. The
document referred to the Notifications of
the Meeuse.
General Mercier then entered into an ex-
PLANTATION tending to prove Schwartzkop-
pen was at the head of the German espion-
age in France, and afterward had the IA
vored letter containing the words, "Cette
Canaille de D. read.
!, Dreyfus UnmOved.
In the meanwhile Dreyfus watched Mer-
cier through his eyeglass, but apparently
!; quite unmoved. The witness who dis
played the deepest interest was NJ. CAST
mir-Perier; seated in front of a row of
private seats, he leaned forward, with his
hands on his knees, except when very ex-
cited, when he lifted his hands up in an
expressive gesture of disgust or impa-
tience.
Mercier, who had his back turned to the
former president. saw nothing of this, but
after he had completed his testimony and
had reiterated all the charges contained in
NJ d'Oremescheville's bill of Indictment,
Mercier presented a document to be read
by the clerk, which proved to be the al
legged Dreyfus letter containing the alleged
engagement entered into with NJ Casimir-
, Perier, which the latter had so hotly de-
nounced The last breath had barely left
the clerks lips when NJ. Casimir-Perier
jumped up and shouted:
That's the letter I read in the news
papers,
General Mercier, startled, turned round
and muttered excuses, saying he did not
believe a president of the republic would
enter into such an engagement.
ra.;n.sz porsa.
To this NJ. Casimir-Perier retorted in a
j tone of the bitterest sarcasm: THANK you,
general, for this testimonial"
+ At the end of his evidence General Mer-
cier said he believed that the only motive
3 of Dreyfus treason was that Dreyfus had
: no feeling of patriotism.
! This cruel utterance brought forth Kisses
from the audience, whose blood had been
D sent up to fever heat by the witness saw
age attacks on Dreyfus.
!, General Mercier, not needing the Kisses,
terminated with remarking:
9 IF the least doubt crossed my mind, gen.
tlemen, would be the first to declare it to
t you, and say before you, to Captain Drey-
: fus, L mistaken, but in good faith"
i Then Dreyfus electrified his hearers. He
e jumped to his feet, as though the words
5 had galvanized him into new life, and
shouted with voice which rang through
!, out the hall like trumpet note:
1 THAT is what you ought to say"
5 The audience burst into a wild cheer
0 whereupon the ushers called for silence.
e General Mercier then stammered:
t ''I would come and say: Captain Drey.
:, fus, / was mistaken in good faith, and l
, come with the same good faith to admit it
I q Q9ssssessss9seglssasI ss9SsSssIsfsVs1SS 4