The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-21
MERCER
Is GREATLY
PREJUDICED.
He Claims That Dreyfus viii be
Found Guilty, and Majority OF
French Will Applaud
VERDICT OF COURTMAR7IAl.
Laborl May be in Court This
week..views of his Former
Secretary on the Case.

RENNEs, August 2O.-General Mer-
cier, who was minister OF war when
Captain Dreyfus was condemned, and
who in the present trial is the virtual
prosecutor, was called upon this after
noon by the correspondent Of the Asso-
ciated Press, who invited him to make
statement of the position of the anti
DreyfusardS.
Although unable to receive the cor
respondent in person, General MercieF
sent his Oldest son to convey the fol-
lowing expression Of his Views:
General Mercier considers It useless
to attempt to convert foreign opinion
regarding the Dreyfus question, in
which, moreover. foreigners have no
right to intervene. Foreign peoples
have been mIsled by their press, which
Is violently Dreyfusard, for the very
good reason that a majority of the
foreign newspapers have been brlbed
by the Jewish syndicate. General Mer-
cler considers anything he might say
in explaining his position, which is that
us q majority OF the French people,
would be useless. The best reply to
Dreyfusard statements abroad would be
the condemnation Of Dreytus.
'.His condemnation ls only a matter
Of ten days or fortnight, for con-
demned DreyfuS certainly will be. For
eIRners will then see that their jour
nails have deceived them, for they will
recognize that the mass of the French
nation, who will receive the news OF
the conviction OF Dreyfus as joyful It'd
inRs, is not composed Of fools, and that
| II the majority of French applaud the
condemnation 1t will be because it is
Just and merited.'
The Associated Press correspondent
then called upon Maitre LaborI, who
lives within 200 yards OF General Mer-
cler, the houses of both being guarded
by gendarmes and detectives, who sit
in chairs in the roadway, in front Of
the houses.
Laburi's Condition.
NJ. LaborI was taking tho air In the
garden. He has been suffering severe
~ from insomnia, and to-day was fe-
verish and excited, The wound Itself
hus not made the progress the doctors
hoped for, although there has been no
] relapse
/ In view of his general condition, his
medical advisers oppose his going Into
court tomorrow, as he had desired.
They predict that the exertIon would
overtax his strength, as to compel him
to take to his bed, which he probably
would not leave, in that event, for a
month.
Tuesday or wednesday, therefore,
viii more probably see his reappear-
ance in court. lie viii be provided
with a specially constructed chair. that
win enable him TO conduct the cross
examination at the outset without ris-
ing from his seat.
II. Labor is intensely anxious to re-
turn to court, even II he has to be car
he'd there In an ambulance. he is dis
satisfied with NJ. Demunge's conduct Of
the case, so far, and on his return he
intends to have General Mercler and
the other generals back upon the Wit
ness stand. After reading their evil
dence he is confident of his ability to
crush Mercler, and he expects to use
the Schneider and Papizzardi kilograms
also to confound Mercier