The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-08-23
LABORYS TRIUMPHANT RE-ENTRY
INTO THE DREYFUS COURTMART|AL
The Defendants Leading Counsel Tears Pieces the Evidence
Of The Unffendy Witnesses


The witness admitted the correctness of
NJ. Labori's quotations, whereupon M.
Demange jumped up and protested against
Lieutenant Colonel Bertins' statement
Sharp words were exchanged until Colonel
Jouaust intervened and refused to allow
any further discussion outside the case
Several witnesses followed.
Lieutenant Colonel Jeannett repeated
every word which he had given before the
court of cessation. He was very hard on
Dreyfus, but while testifying he scarcely
once looked the prisoner in the face.
NJ. Labori announced that he intended to
recall several witnesses who had made de-
positions during his absence. This means
that Mercier, Roget and others will be put
to the test of a severe cross-examination
To his friends M. Labori has expressed
himself confident of being able to tear to
pieces the evidence these generals have
given so confidently before a similar trial.
Captain Dreyfus today pursued the attl-
tude he took up yesterday and replied to
the statements of hostile witnesses with
arguments and the presentation OF
counter facts. only once giving way to his
feelings and offering cry of protest. This
was at the conclusion of Colonel Bertin's
deposition when, with broken voice, the
accused declared his love of France and
the army.
YES" he cried, II love France and love
my country, but it with sentiments differ
ent from those animating them who come
here today to testify against me-"
NJ. Labori's Condition
M. Labori. if anything. was better after
his exartione than before them. The eX-
ctement under which he labored seemed
to act as a stimulant, although many
friends, noticing his face flushed, feared
there might be relapse.
So far from this being the case, how
ever, he was able to go for ride with his
wife in an automobile car this evening and
on his return he held quite a reception, af-
terwards spending the time after dinner
in going over todays evidence and prepar-
ing for tomorrow.
The president of the court, Colonel Jou-
aust. taking his seat at the opening of the
trial this morning, turned to Maitre La
bori and amid impressive silence read an
address as follows:
"Allow me, Maitre Labor, to express to
you the unanimous sentiments of the
courtmartial at the odious attempt to
which you nearly fell a victim. This un-
speakable act has excited everywhere, es-
pecaly among the members of the court
martial, the keenest indignation. Gap
plause) We are glad 1t did not have grave
consequence to you and that the skillful
and devoted attention lavished upon you
permit you to resume your duties today"
Applause)
In spite of the presidents exhortation not
to fatigue himself, Labori replied:
"Monsieur LIE President, permit me, not
withstanding my weakness and emotion, to
say a word in reply to those you have
done me the honor in addressing to me in
such deeply touching terms. 1t was for
me a visitation of particularly painful ma
ture to be struck down at the time when
this case was beginning to realize my
beautiful dream of the last few years.
namely. to plead this case in all it's ampli-
tude before a tribunal of soldiers.
Thanks Friends and Foes
"That was my aspiration and that will
explain to you my emotion and sorrow, as
well as my joy today. I will not revert to
that. but l wish to thank all friends and
foes or indifferent people who have hon
ored me with these signs of sympathy, OF
which I am deeply sensitive, and thank
Won. Mr. President, and members of the
courtmartial, and also these eminent men,
though | have not the honor of knowing
them except in the course of these long
struggles in which we have met and in the.
progress the faces of adversaries end by
smiling little like the faces of friends, or
at least like those of old acquaintanees
"I thank you, friends and colleagues,
even the humblest correspondents, who
have done me the honor to write to me
without giving their address, because their
marks of sympathy, though coming from
the humblest abodes, were also the most
sincere and the most touching.
II resume my place in court rather to
hear, so to speak If I am, therefore. less
active, shall bring no less conscientious
ness nor good temper into my work. 1t
is difficult task we are all performing.
You, who are the arbiters and who will rem
der justice-we the auxiliaries. But all
this will help us on for we shall have the
sense of duty done.
Justice Making for Peace
"Let us now continue the proceedings in
which we have yet to pass many vieissi-
tudes. Thanks to the fullness of these in
vestigations, we shall see emerged from
them perfect truth and complete justice
making for peace"
In conclusion NJ. Labori said that they
now had the right. to hope and declare
that protests and recriminations after the
success of the work of justice must be re-
garded as inadmissible and that 1T must
break down "that an error has ever larg-
er share in human affair than treachery."
(Applause)
AS the eminent lawyer. whose face show
ed emotion and fatigue, seated himself
there was prolonged handclapping.
M. Grenier, former perfect of Belfort, was
the first witness called He said he con-
sidered Esterhszy to be an irresponsible
parsonage. Esterhazy. he continued, was
the orderly officer of the witness father.