Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-15
OPEN TRIAL has BEGUN.
The Final Struggle to Clear or Convict
DreYHna.

Rennes, Aug. 12.-(By Associated
Press.) The second open session of the
Dreytus trial began at 6:30 this morn
ing. General MERCER arrived shortly
after 600 and was greeted with cries
OF, Long live the ARMY" Long live
Mercier!" He looked very anxious but
assumed a smiling demeanor As soon
as he was inside the I4ycee an express
sion of anxiety returned to his face.
Casimer-Perrier was saluted by the
crowd when he arrived. Then came
Picquart, who was hailed with cries
of, Long live Picquart!' which he
smilingly acknowledged. Dreyfns en-
tered with the same quick, jerky step
as heretofore. His features were pale
and rigid. The first proceeding was
the reading to the court of DIR. Ran
SONS report relative TO finding the doc
,lnent in the inside pocket Of
Drevfus' waistcoat Il II was att
tended by Il sensational inci-#
dent. Col. Jouaust showed the
documents TO Dreyfus. He admitted
keeping. as a souvenir, a copy OF the
bordercau.. He owned to this calmly,
without any trembling OF the voice.
Then he listened calmly to the reading
utes. De La Roehe7Nernet, one OF the
secretaries of the French embassy at
Berlin, was then called. He testified
regarding the translation of the Pan
nizardi dispatch. The document found
In the inside pocket OF Dreyfus' waist
coat, II appears. was discovered by the
spenitentiary officer
y stirring scene closed the days ses-
sion. General MERCER had spoken for
nearly four hours in ruthless denunci-
alton of Dreyfus, who had listened I'M
moved. until Mercier concluded by
sarin~ that If he had not been. CON
WINGED of the guilt of Dreyfus and if
his conviction had not been fortified
since 1884. he would admit that 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 a trumpet note, You
have lied. scoundrel!" The audience
burst into a wild cheer, whereupon the
ushers called for silence. But when
Mercier replied that he would admit
Drevfus innocent il there were any
doubt, the prisoner shouted. 'sWhy
don't YOU, them At this there was
another outburst of applause. Cast
mer-Perrier then arose and dramatic
ally demanded that he be confronted
with MERCER in order to deny some
OF his statements. Col. Jouaust ORDER
ed the court adjourned till Monday
morning, for conformation, 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 in order to better hound hin,
down.
The gendarmes placed themselves
between the general and the audience,
who showed strong disposition to
maltreat the former minister of war,
MERCER hurried out through side
door, amidst the fierce denunciations of
the audience. When he emerged on the
street the crowd outside cheered him
and the army. "Ah," cried IA spectator
of the scene in the court, .'if they had
heard the inhuman monster speak they
would not cheer him now
DE La Roche-Nernet, secretary of the
French embassy at Berlin, was called
and testified that he was the transmit
ting agent of the ministry of war and
foreign affairs when they were engage
ed in the translation of the Pannizar-
di dispatch which was very minute
and complicated matter. Several
translations We're made They held
purely Hypothetical, the first draft
having only two words. Capt. Drey-s
fus.' of which the transators were
really sure. Paleologue. of The for
eign office confirmed the testimony of
Vernet, but there was no question as
to the relations with Germany. En-
President Cnsimer-Perrier was then
called. Jouanst called on him as the
president Of the republic at he time
Of The Dreyfus arrest, to tell what he
knew of the ease.
Casimer-Perrier testified in a loud
voice and in a very theatrical manner.
He declared for the sake of his oath