The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-15
The Ordeal He Would Have Passed
Through With Labor.
CONFORMATION FALLS FLAT
That Tasimir- Perier Had Laid Such
Stress on - Billot and Cavaignac
Were Examined Mcrcicr Dis
credited the Charge That
Count Esterhazy Wrote
the Bordercau.

RENNEs, FRANCE. Aug. 1.-THE
shooting Of ". Labori. counsel Tor Cap
tain Alfred Dreytus. robbed the morn
ing session of the Dreyfus courtmartial
Of its paramount interest. The murderer.
apparently. chose to-day for the attempt
because 10 was anticipated that NJ
Labor would crush General Mcrcicr. tho
former Minister OF War; with his cross
questioning
The news of the shooting of NJ Laborl
caused am immense sensation in tho
courtroom. whore the usual audience had
assembled. awaiting the entrance of the
Judges.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT
NJ Labori5 absence had just been an
nounced when suddenly NJ Jaunay
syndlc of the Judiciary press. rushed IN
to the room and shouted.
N Labnri has been shot
All present gave "a gasp of horro. and
surprise and then every man jumped 70
hls feet and volley of ques ions WAS
hurled at a. Jauuays head who crying:
"That is AN ! know rushed out ~ court
again followed hy "a number of his hear
ers. Those who remained cNcitedly dis
cussed the crime and vigorously de-
n0unced tho authors.
COL Jouaust president of the court when
the news reached him. suspended The slt.
ting OF the court-martla until 1.is3 A. NJ
10 appears that Madame Lahori herself
broke the news to the court and informed
NJ Jaunay Of the crime having rushed
from her husbands side fO the court
crying FOR a doctor and shouting that her
husband had been shot.
MERCER CONFRONTED.
when the court-mArtial was resumed
General Mercier was confronted with NJ.
Casimir- perier the former president ~
France. The latter declared that Mer.
oicrs story. told on the witness stand
Saturday. of the imminencc Of war be
tween Germany and France in 1894. was
grossly exaggerated. and complained OF
the action of the then Minister OF War.
(MercleD in moving 5000 troops 10 the
frontier without consulting him.
AS it vas NJ. Iab0rrs task ID tako
General MercIer On hand and ~ De.
mango. associate counsel. was quite un-
prepared for the task. the few questions
iho latter put were practically OF httie
effect. and General Mercier escaped
cheapiy
Moreover a. Demlngc waf deeply ar
foctcl by ihc attempt 20 assasinafe hts
colleague and was quite unable O. DO
himself justice.
When General Mereicr Was recalled, Ia
reply to the president NJ The court. De
reiterated h belief that Major Count
Esterhazy. ln spite of the iauers own
declaration. was not the author OF me
B0rdereau who's. the witness claimed
was written on tracing paper ana was
found in ana embassy.
The president asked NJ Casim.rPcrier
% explain The circumstances ~ the con-
fess.on Drcyfus is alleged t1 have made
tO CAPTAIN LchrIu-kcnaI ". 'asinlr-
Perer persisted in his statement of sat
urday that he had never received any
condolences ~ this character from cap
tain Iebtun- Bcnault
COMPLAINT or MERclER
VI. Casmir- Porior rcsumng his testi.
mony. said be- dld not desire 10 reply to
certain of General MercIers iusiuuatlons.
"l do not wish 10 answer thcm.' said
the former president. "the cir rcamsiance-
are too sad aud too tragic Tor me -
desire 20 cnteuom the discussion. I am
master of myself and 0f my conscience.
I would only state that General Mer-
cIor has made every effort Oh mix me as
deeply ass possible in this AFFAIR Rut I
have remained al00f ! affirm. during the
progress Of the investigation
The former president then complained
of the Incorrect behavior ~ his suhor.
dnate toward the chief ~ the state.
II. Demangc asked NJ. Cas'm.r-Perier.
n on the sixth an understanding bad not
been reached between France and Ger
many on the subject ~ Dreyfus
NJ Caslmir-percr replied that before his
interview with the Minister ou the sixth.
the question OF Drry,us hai meyer been
raised between them and Germany
Counsel next asked General Mercier