The age-herald., 1899-08-25
HARD BLOW FOR PRISONER Judges Open in Their Antipathy
 Toward Accused Man.
 SEVERAL EXCITING INCIDENTS
Labori Hardly Able to Suppress His In dignation at Jouaust's Open Show of Preference An Eventful
 Day in the Trial.

iechilCo, <AuS uoi Odety ooSSioli OA LhO Dreyfus courtmartial was marked by one of the most exciting scenes of the trial. The proceedings opened with skirmish entirely favorable to the defense over Col onel Maurel, president of the eourtmartial of 1894, who admitted reading one of the secret documents to the court which had not been seen by the defense. He protested that only one document was looked at, al- leging that this sufficed to enable him to form conviction that could not be shaken.
 This protest made matters worse, because --as M Labori pointed out-if he perused one, it was certain he perused all. Colonel Jouaust upheld Colonel Maurel in his re- fusal to indicate the nature of the docu- ment he read, but M. Jabori announced that he would summon Captaln Freysteter, another member of the tribunal of 1894, and get his version of what then passed be- hind the backs of the counsel for the de- fense. Colonel Maurel felt his position keenly, and continually hesftated before replying to M. Laboris questions.
 Preliminary to the Battle
 All this, however. was only preliminary to fierce battle that ensued between M. Labori and General Mercier, the latter re- ceiving endorsements from Generals Ro- get, Gonse and Deboisdeffre. as well as in valuable assistance from Colonel Jouaust himself.
 M Labori took General Mercier over the whole ground of his previous deposition. This led to several sharp passages at arms between the advocate and Colonel Jouaust, who upheld Mercier in refusing to reply to such questions, which, in the general opin- ion of those in the court room, were dis tinctly pertinent. Whenever General Mer- cier was cornered he declined to answer, and Colonel Jouaust invariably supported hm. M. Labori protested most energeti- cally. His words and manner breathed tho deepest indignation, but the president of the courtmartlal was inhexfble.
 The intervention of Generals Gonse, Ro- get and Deboisdeffre and Major Lauth, who in rapid succession mounted the stage or rose in their seats and interposed re- marks, was very exciting and carried the spectators along on wave of breathless interest One after the other these off cers, who today were in full uniform, would jump and cry: "I demand to be heard," and without further waiting as-
 
 gan a statement in support of a brother officer
 Officers on the Stage
 Sometimes four officers were upon the stage at the same time. It was a marvel GUS display of military clannishness. At one time perfect babel of voices reigned Tor several minutes until Colonel Jouaust intervened and restored order.
 Al. Laborfs cross-examination was suc- cessful so far as it went, but Colonel Jouaust prevented him pressing his adyan- tage to the utmost. In fact, Jouaust's hostile attitude toward the counsel for the defense then, and during the cross-exami- nation of the witness, M De Grandmaison. evoked the severest criticism on the mart of the public present and bodes ill for Dreyfus. Not only Colonel Jouaust, but the other judges displayed considerable im- patience during Labori's scathing cross- examination, shifting restlessly in their seats and drumming the table with the tips of their fingers.
 General Mereier faced Labori's fire with callous demeanor standing on the plat form, his hands behind his back and his face only turned toward his questioner Once or twice savage glance of the eyes, an elevation of the tone, and a swaying to and fro of the body revealed the inner fires of resentment.
 Rogets unbIushing Effrontry
 General Roget faced the court with an air of unblushing effrontry. His hand some, but unsympathetic features, ex- pressed the bitterest scorn, as he spun around on his heel and with arms crossed, faced Labori, or the audience, or judges His vain and always striking attitude for the benefit of newspaper artists. quite a number of whom regularly attend the ses- sion, and his impertinent behavior was strikingly illustrated today when he inter rupted M. Laboris examination of General Chamoin, which had resulted in Labori's scoring heavily against Mercier with the exclamation "Ths examination Is a waste of time.'
 As a matter of fact. the examination of M Chamoin showed Mercler in bad light, as 1t brought out that he had privately communicated to Chamoin on the first day of the secret sessions a report on