Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-17
SENSATION IN THE COURT
NJ. Jaunay Rushed Into the Room, Cry
Ing IN. Labor Has Been Shot,"
GASPS OF HORROR AND SURPRISE
Demange Unprepared to Take
Gen. Mercier in Hand.
DID NOT CRUSH HIM WITH QUESTIONS

bathed in sunshine at 81 O'Clock this |
morning, when Capt Dreyfus crossed
the avenue De La Care and entered the
building for the second public session |
of his trial by court-martial The same
stringent police precautions we're taken,
but barely 20 persons had gathered to
witness him crossing.
The session opened at G.30 O'Clock,
with precisely the same formalitjes as
on Monday. Capt. Dreyfus entered
with tho same quick ierky step. His
features were pale and rigid. He took
q seat upon the platform, and the read
ing to tho court OF DIR. Ransom's re-
port relative to the finding Of docu-
ment in the lining of Dreyfus' waist
coat was then begun.
The opening of the proceedings was
attended by sensational incident. On
Dreyfus being shown by Col. Jouaust
the document found 10 the lining of
his waistcoat by penitentiary officer,
he admitted keeping it as souvenir
copy of the bordereau. He owned to
this calmly. Then he listened to the
reading of DIR. Ransom's report by
Major Cassiere, the prosecutor, which
occupied about 10 minutes,
NJ. DE La Roche Vernet, one of the
secretaries of the French Embassy at
Bei lin, was then called. He testified
regarding the translation Of the Paniz-
zardi dispatch.
KISSES AND CURSES FOR MERCER.
stirring scene closed today's ses-
sion of the trial Gen. Mercier had
spoken nearly four hours in ruthless
denunciation of Drefyus, who had
listened unmoved until Mercier con-
cluded by saying that, if he had not
been convinced of the guilt of Drefyus,
and if the latter's conviction had not
been fortified since 1894, he would ad-
nit he had been mistaken. Dreyfu5
jumped to his feet as though the words
had galvanized him into life, and
shouted in voice which resounded
through the hall like trumpet note:
"You have lied. scoundrel F." The
gathering burst into a wild cheer,
whereupon the ushers called for
silence; but, when Mercier replied
that he would admit Dreyfus WAS in
nocent il there was any doubt, the
prisoner shouted again: "Why don't
you then?" AT this, there was another
outburst of applause.
M. Casimir- Perier then rose, and
dramatically demanded to be confronted
with Gen. Mercier, in order to deny
some of his statements.
| Col. Jouaust ordered the court to be
adjourned until Monday, at 6. 30 a. m,
for the conformation, and, as Mercier
| turned to leave The court, the assem-
hlage rose on masse, and Missed and
cursed him, those at the back of the
court standing on chairs and benches,
in order to better hound him down.
| The gendarlnes placed themselves be-
tween the general and the crowd,
which showed a strong disposition to
martreat the former Minister of War.
Gen. Mercier hurried out of the
court room, through side door. On
emerging into the street, the crowd
outside oheered him, and cried "vive
L'Armee. = "Ah," cried a spectator
of the scene in court, ''if they had
heard the inhuman monster speak, they
would not cheer him now."
Rennes, France, Aug. IA. The shoot
ing of M. Labori, leading counsel for
Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, robbed this
mornings session of the Dreyfus court
martial Of its paramount interest.
The murderer, apparently, chose to.
day for the attempt because it was
anticipated that M. Labori would crush
|
War, with his cross questioning.
The news of the shooting of M.
Labori caused an immense sensation
in the court room, where the usua
audience had assembled, awaiting the
entrance of the judges. M. Labori'.
absence had just been announced. wher
suddenly Nj. Jaunay, syndic of the iu
dietary Eress, rushed into the room anc
shouted IN Labori has been shot. 2
! All present gave gasp OF horror ant
surprise, and then every man jumped
to his feet, and volley of questions
was hurled at M. Jaunay's head, who
crying that is all / know rushed
out of court, followed by number o
his hearers. Those vino remained ex
, citedly discussed the crime, and vigor
| ously denounced the authors.
| Col. Jouaust, president Of the court
, when the news reached him. suspended
j the sitting of the court-martial unit
Z. l5 a. IN.
1t appears that Madame Labori her
self broke the news to the court, ant
J informed M. Jaunay of the crime
{ having rushed from her husbands sid
| to the court, crying for doctor, ant
/ shouting that her husband had beel
I shot.
/ When the court-martial was resumed
Gen. Mercier was confronted with M
! Casimir- Perier, the former president q
France. The latter declared that Mer
cier's story, told on the witness stan'
Saturday, of the imminence of wa
/, between Germany and France in 189
$ was grossly exaggerated, and com
v planned OF the action of the then Min
' lister of War tMercier) in moving 60, 90
Q troops to the frontier without consult
ing him.
n As it was M. Labori's task to tax
e Gen. Morcier in hand, and M. Demange
4 associate counsel, was quite unprepare
/. for the task, the few questions the lat
4 ter put were practically of little effect
n and Gen. Mercier escaped cheaply.
Moreover, M. Demange was deepl
affected by the attempt to assassinat
his colleague, and was quite unable t
d do himself justice
II M. Demange when the court as
sembled, at Z. 20 q. M, announced tina
d his colleagues wound was not as seriou
1 as at first supposed. but it would b
# impossible for the tattor to participat
n in the proceedings.
n When Gen. Mercier was recalled, i
:. reply to the president of the court, b
it reiterated his belief that Major Cour
= Esterhrzy,9 in spite of the lhtterl
declaration was not the author of th