The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-24

the witness They seemed perfectly
natural. The only letter handed to Col
onel Maurel during che course of the
trial was not brought by Colonel Pic
quart The letter. moreover, was re-
turned the same evening to the officer
who brought it.
Replying to M Labori Maurel said ne
did not know General MERCER and had
never seen him since the trial until June
/ last.
| NJ. Labori-.'can Colonel Maurel tell US
to what he attributes the secret communi-
cation Of the dossier?"
Colonel Maurel-.I have not the slight
est idea"
of the officer who brought you the private
letter?''
Colonel Maurel-"It was Du Patty de
Clam (Sensation)
M. Labori-"Were there many docu-
ments in this secret dossier? Can you
state what they were?''
Colonel Maurel--I only saw one of
them. l did not look at the others be-
cause my mind was made up"
NJ. Labori-"Iad the other members of
the court also made up their minds?'
Colonel Maurel-''Yes."
Witness added that two members of the
court conhded to him on this subject
M. Labori-rCan you tell us how, know
ing, as the Judge, that 1t was your duty
to seek conscientiously for information.
and to expect sincere communications
from tho Public Prosecutor that is to
say, communication setting forth all the
points in the case. both for and against
the prisoner, you could be of the opinion
that your mind was Loyalty made up after
reading a single document?" prolonged
sensation.)
Colonel Maurel said he failed to clearly
grasp the question, and NJ. Labori re-
peated his query. whereupon the witness
replied that he could not answer because,
If he did, he would have to speak of the
first document in the dossier, which con
/ WINGED the court of the pristner's guilt =
AT this point M. Labori said he would
like to confront Colonel Maurel with Cap
tain Freystaatter, another of the judges
at the court martial of 1894. But Frey
staetter was not present and Colonel
Maurel promised to wait few days and
give the Captain an opportunity of at
tending,
lively incident followed. NJ. Labori
having asked to interrogate General Mer-
cier, the Government Commissary. Major
carriere, took the occasion to remark
that while counsel had the right to ask
questions he had no business to draw de-
| ductions, TO which the lawyer dryly re-
piled that he had always acted with
full knowledge of the restrictions impos-
ed upon counsel and that he had no need
of lessons from Major Carriere and would
not accept them
Geueral Mercier was then recalled and
it was noted that he had donned his uni
form for the first time. The impression
thereby created was that the General,
expecting a hot cross examination,
thought that his uniform would perhaps
protect him.
M. Labor said he desired to know If
General Mercier admitted ordering Col
I onei Maurel to communicate secret docu-
ments to the court martial of 1894.
General Mercier-'.I know I did not
have the right to give formal orders to
that effect. but gave moral orders in a
manner sufficiently clear. (sensation.)
| Counsel proceeded to closely question
the General, referring to the 'tDixi' arti-
Gle in the ''Libere Parole"
MERCER replied that he was so accus-
| toned to violence from the press that he
paid no attention to that article. He
added that he paid no more attention TO
the eulogies of the "Libere Parole than
to the statements of other newspapers.
Replying to further questions, the Cen
eral said that when Dreyfus was arrest
ed he knew Of other proof against
him than the bordereau. There were,
therefore. only suspicious but it was ur-
gently necessary not to lose time in ar
resting him in order to stop the treason
| able practices.
NJ Laborf~here asked Colonel Jouaust
to secure the evidence of M. Papilland.
editor of the "Libere Parole" in regard
to the ''Dixi" letter. in which the name
| of Dreyfus was disclosed as that of the
officer arrested for espionage.
AS Colonel Jouaust hesitated, M. La
bori insisted upon the necessity for an
examination of the latter. ''in order to
reach the truth 1 am seeking for.''
"The whole responsibility for this case"
counsel added, 81 believe really rests up-
on the late Lieutenant Colonel Henry and
Colonel De Patty de Clam
Resuming his examination of General
! Mercier, NJ. Labori asked him several
questions as to why, at the first ascribed
date of the bordereau. April. General Mer-
cier said, in 1894 that he was only ac-
| quainted with the reasons which existed
for believing Dreyfus guilty and had not
paid much attention to the details?
The General refused to reply to many
of the questions. For instance, he de-
clined to say whether he had examined
the proofs advanced against Dreyfus
M. Labori-.In short, you considered it
in the nature of a sensational move to
have Dreyfus prosecuted and sentenced?
Did you examine previously the charges
against Dreyfus?"
General Mercier-4T only examined the
nature of the documents betrayed"
M. Labori-''Was it not necessary for
that purpose, to fix the date of the bor-
| dereau?"
General Mercier-f1 do not think so.
| Further I declare Maitre Labori Is dis
cussing the whole trial of 1894 That may
have some interest from a historical point
of view. But, since the Court Of Cassa-
tion quashed the judgment, 1t seems to
me that it is not for US now to revert to
the various features of that trial.
M. Labori' pointed out the contradictions
IN the evidence of the officers of the
Headquarters Staff regarding the inn
| portance and nature of the contents of
the bordereau and asked General Mercier
-.