The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-28


but Col. Manrel read them and made
commentary after EACH"
THE LIE DIRECT.
This was the lie direct to Col Maurel,
who did not protest but merely objected
10 the term Commentary. Maurel
thus stands before the world as self
confessed liar. His endeavors to throw
mud at Captain Freystaetter by cynicslly
asking why the latter had not spoken
before during the last i've years only re-
coiled on himself and placed Captain
| Frsystaetter in a still more creditable
light. Captain Freystaettsr's candid
admission that he did wrong unwittiugly
and that when he knew of it, he obeyed
the dictates of his conscience, evoked a
murmur of admiration.
Nj. Labori then called General Msrcier
again to the standsto drive him into -
corner on the Panizzardi despatch, but
Mercier was allowed to question Captain
Freystaetter, endeavoring to catch him
on question regarding the Robin shell.
His deiibsrate attempt to make Captain
Frey out liar was a specinen OF
the disgraceful tactics Of the military
clique. The audience shuddered when he
cried: 81 have caughE Captain Frey
staettei in a deliberate lie.''
Captain Freystaetter gave a splendid
example of GOODNESS and self-control In the
face of such an outrageous attack. He
confronted General Meroier with the same
undaunted but not defiant deniesnor as
he maintained toward the judges. where
as General Mercier and Col. Maurel were
barely able to contain themselves with
concentrated rage. The people in the
court room gazsd upon this extraordinary
scene with fever of Excitement. strain
ing forward with eyes bulginE. drinking
In every word and gesture Of three-corn-
cred dGel--a simple captain against a
general and colonel. Captain Frey
staetter replied stoutly and without a
tremor. of voice that he did not say the
documents referred to the Robin shell,
but to she'll This simple retort exposed
Mercier's craftiness and Captain Frey
staetter. in a convincing manner. repeated
his declaration that the Panizzardi des-
i patch was communicated to the court
martial. quoting It's opening words and
thus fatty contradic ting Mercier.
4 MERCIER LIES AGAIN.
4 Then 1t was that NJ. Lsbori saw his
opening to force upon Col. Jouaust the
necessity of bringing Du Patty de Clam
into court rs, In the face of the contradic-
tory declarations of General Merclsr and
Captain Freystaetter, the evidence Of Du
Patty de Clam could alone decide the
matter, especially in view of the fact that
Mercier had sHia in his deposition that
Du Patty de Clam compiled the dossier
including the explanations sent with the
documents.
When ID. Labori tackled, however,
Mercier saw the trap end Immediately
shifting his ground declaring that he had
, made mistake in saying that Du raty
de Clam had compiled the dossier. since
he had been informed by General de
Boisdeffre that the late Col. Sandherr
compiled it. This Is the dying effort Of
] the general staff to hide the truth behind
: the veil of death and the audience shud
dered with disgust, Labor uttering his
J despairing cry Always the deadi AL
ways the dead ~
} Today's session tore the last shred o
: credit from Mercier, but added the name
of Freystaettsr to the little roll Of heroes
who haze risksd everything in the de
, Tense of Dreyfus. One needs to be In the
very midst of the storm of passion nov
raging in France to appreciate the height
Of moral courage to which Captain Frey
staettsr has risen in coming forward II
the defense OF the truth ag ainst the army
chiefs.
i They are simply furious at the thorough
exposure and all blame Maurel for failing
into the trap laid for him by n. Labor
in Thursdays cross examination, al
though 1t is difiicult to see what els
Maurel could have done. After the cour
, rose and all the public were supposed q
be excluded, General Msrcier aocostss
Col Maurel in the court yard and gave
him a piece of his mind even going t,
! the extent of calling him a blockhead
Maurel vainiy protested his hslpiessnes
, and the impossibility of warding Of
Labori's home thrusts in view of Captain
Frsstastter's testimony. Finally Mercie
: left him in temper.
a The testimony In detail follows:
BERTILLoN'S PROSY TALE.
. The re-appearancs on She stage of til
court martial called today of the proper
ties Of NJ Bertillon. the distinguishes
anthropometer, was the signal this morn
ing OF an outburst of hilarity on the par
of the audience.
; Before continuing his denomination
NJ. Bertillon replied to the comment
upon his evidence yesterday. In rsgar
/ to the prisoners exclamation of "Oh, th
= WRETCH" the specialist asserted that !
!, Dreyfus, who had up TO that time re
/ tained his seifposssssion SO far. forge
s himself at that particular point as to In