The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-13
BOUNDED MERCER
FROM COURT ROOM
Dramatic Scene at the Drey-
fus Trial.
THE PRISONER CHEERED
WHILE THE WITNESS WAS HISS
ED AS HE HUSTLED OUT.
ctsMIR PERlER TO FACE MERCER
Demands That he be Allowed TO Contradict
Statements Of the Latter. DreY-
fus' Chances of Acquit-
al are Better.

Rennes, Aug. pa stirring scene
closed today's session of the Dreyfus
trial General MERCER had spoken near
ly four hours in ruthless denunciation OF
Dreyfus, who had listened unmoved
until MERCER concluded by saying that
if he had not been convinced of the guilt
of Dreyfus, and if the latter's convic-
ton had not been fortified since 1891,
he would admit he had been mistaken.
Dreyfus jumped to his feet as though
the words had galvanized him into life.
and shouted in voice which resounded
through the hall like trumpet note:
You ought to say so now"
The audience burst into a wild cheer,
whereupon the ushers called for silence.
But when MERCER replied that he would
admit Dreyfus was innocent if there
was any doubt, the prisoner shouted
again:
why don't you Them
Al this there was another outburst of
applause.
NJ. Casimir- Perien then rose and dra-
maticaIly demanded to be confronted
with General MERCER, in order to deny
some of his statements.
Colonel Jouaust ordered the court to
be adjourned until Monday, at $50 a.
M, for the confrontation and as MERCER
turned to leave the court the audience
rose en- masse and Kissed and cursed
him, those at the back of the court
standing on chairs and benches III order
to better hound him down. The gem
darnes placed themselves between the
general and the audience, who showed a
strong disposition to maltreat the form
er Minister of War.
General MERCER hurried out of the
court room through d side door, amid
fierce denunciations from the audience.
On emerging into the street, the crowd
outside cheered him and cried
'Niye L'Armee.'
s.Ah.'' cried a spectator of the scene
in court. IF they had heard the inhu-
man monster speak they would not cheer
him now"
The proceedings this morning opened
tamely. and the hopes of a sensational
sitting began to flag, but this was only
the calm before the storm, and when the
storm broke it carried every one in court
with it into whirlpool Of the widest
excitement.
Dreyfus on entering the court today
saluted the President with the same sol
dierly mien as last Monday, and the
President, Colonel Jouaust, returned the
salute and said:
sit down Dreyfuso
The prisoner was first asked in re-
gard to a copy of the text of the
bordereau, which was found III his pocket
when he was searched in prison. Drey-
fus stated that he had kept the document
as souvenir.
NJ. De La Roche Fernet, a secretary
attached to the French Embassy ut Ber-
lin, and NJ. Paleologue of the French
Foreign Office, We're examined as to the
translation of a Panizardi dispatch, and
while the evidence was conflicting at
certain points, the net result of the two
witnesses replies to Nm Labor and
Demange was that never was there any
question OF relations on the part of
Dreyfus with Germany.
Casimir- Perier formerly President of
France, was then called to the witness
stand.
Colonel Jouaust asked:
Ibid YOU know the accused, prlor to
the acts of which he is chargedY
mo; Monsieur lie President
You were President of the Republic
at the time of the arrest of Captain
Dreyfus In this position you were able
to have many particulars upon the CIR
cunlstances and causes Of his arrest. !
beg you to kindly communicate them to
the court
Casimir-Perier in a loud voice said:
monsieur lie President. You ask me
to speak the truth and all the truth. /
have sworn to do IT, | will speak with
ont reticence, without reserve, in its. en-
tirety. Whatever / may have said IN
the past whatever the people may be-
lieve and say, which unfortunately is not
always the same thing. that / alone am
aware of incidents and facts which
might throw light and that / have not
hitherto said all, justice ought to know
that it is false. / will not leave this
place without saying ALL
The former President repeated the
evidence he had given before the Court
Of Cessation. He read the text Of the
dispatch received by Count Won Munster
Ledenburg, the German sAmbasasdor
Mt Paris, from Prince Hohenlohe, the
German Imperial Chancellor, which the
former communicated to NJ. Casimir-
Perier during visit to the Eysee Pal
ace 1t ran:
Ills Majesty. the Emperor, hay-
ing every confidence in the loyalty
of the President of the Republic and