The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-25

the day. NJ. Linoile. former officer of
the government, was also in favor of
Dreyfus, as it was in direct contradic
ton of what Dubrieul deposed yester-
day regarding the alleged intimacy of
Dreyfus with a German attache at the
house of NJ. Podson, a mutual friend.
The president of the court then called
the next witness, Colonel Maurel, who
was president of the Dreyfus court
martial in '94 Complete silence fell
upon the court as the infantry ser
geant who was acting as usher con-
Quoted Maurel to the witness bar. His
face showed anxiety. AS Labori lashed
him with pointed questions, the colonel
hesitated and then answered in short,
choppy manner, and when Labori final
ly disposed of him, the witness left the
platform with a pale face and the
scared look of man who has awaken
ed from a nightmare. Counsel had
drawn from the colonel a confession
that the secret dossier was communi-
Gated to the judges of the court-mar-
tial of "a by Major de Clam. This
avowal produced a sensation in the
court, and Maurers declaration that he
only read one of the documents did not
affect the main fact. His statement
that the reading of the document had
no effect upon him. as his mind was al
ready made up, was nullfied by his
subsequent declara tion that this one
document sufficed to convince him.
At this, Labori then put a series OF
scorching questions to Mercier with rel
erence to a communication of the Sc
cret dossier for the court martial ana
his attitude in "a, and an interesting
scene ensued. The general refused to
reply to all questions and there were
sharp passages at arms between coun-
sci and Colonel Jousaust, who upheld
Mercier while the dialogue between the
general and Labori became acrimon-
ious.
Counsel became very heated and
showed 1t in his voice and gestures.
The general however, troubled his mind
might be, seldom departed from the
callous demeanor characteristic of him.
The lawyer made a strong point on the
part Esterhazy played. Mercier said
he did not know Esterhazy. and only
saw him once at the Zola trial.
That's very interesting" exclaimed
Labori, but surely Mercier was pres
ent at the Esterhazy trial?'
The general replied he was not there
and that he knew nothing about the
evidence in the Esterhazy prosecution
What" cried Labori, General Mer-
cier, who is the chief accuser Of
Dreyfus, did not even follow the pro-
ceedings in the EsterhaZy trial?"
A low murmur of surprise and indig-
nant comment came from the audience,
but Jousaust Immediately suppressed
It.
Counsel then brought Mercier to his
assertion that So 100000 francs were
spent by the defenders of Dreyfus. and
asked the general to say how he knew
this, who spent it and other awkward
questions, which the general was un-
able to answer.
A question as to how the bordereau
arrived at the offices of the general
staff. its date. etc, was then intro
1. IL, I..l fr,s
court of law.
General Roget, on mounting the plat
form to give explanations, was follow
ed by General de Boisdeffre, M. Gribe-
lin, Major Lauth and other military
witnesses. all holding up their hands
to signify that they desired to speak,
while at the same time Labori was fir
ing questions. The result was a perfect
Babel until the president of the court
could stand it no longer, and when the
government commissary, Major Car
riere, also interpellated few remarks
Colonel Jousaust turned to him and
asked him to be quiet. remarking that
the judges could not hear half a dozen
people at the same time.
During the morning Labori ques-
toned MERCER with reference to the
document in the secret dosser, which
he affirmed existed prior to '94, and
yet was not produced at the first court
martial OF the prisoner.
The general confessed that he did not
know of it's existence and the same
statement was elected from General
Gonse, who declared that Sandherr
was responsible for its n-production.
The replies We're tantamount to a con-
fession that Sandherr and Lieutenant
Colonel Henry played with the minis
ter of war. and even General Gonse,
assistant chief of the headquarters
staff, the chief of the intelligence de-
partment keeping from the two latter
just what he pleased
Then Labori proceeded to take up the
Panizzardi dispatch and to bring out
contradictory translations of it and the
falseness of the final version. After
hearing MERCER and Chanoine on the
subject. Jousaust declared the court
would rule the dispatch out of evil
dence.
The examination of MERCER having
been concluded. Jousaust asked Drey-
fus if he had anything to say, and the
prisoner in a calm voice replied to
Mercier's statement that he (Dreyfus)
could have obtained information about
the artillery, promised in the border
eau, while staying at Bourges. where
the artillery trials We're being held.
Dreyfus entered into an explanation as
to how he spent his time shooting. He
did not inform himself about the trials
Of the new gun brake.
General Risbourg recounted what Cap
tain Lebrun- -Renault said about Drey-
fus, and that brought the latter to his
feet with a thrilling declaration. He
pointed out that the captain shook him
by the hand whence returned to prison,
which is at variance with what Ris-
bourg recounted Moreover" cried
Dreyfus. when the frightful charge
has been hanging over mans head
for five years, people ought not to talk
of convictions. but should bring proofs.
Otherwise | cease to understand the
matter"
This indignant protest caused a deep
sensation in the court. Continuing,
Dreyfus proceeded to totally deny the
story that he had made a confession to
Captain Lebrun- -Renault.
number of other witnesses were
heard, including M. Quesnay De
Beaurepaire's friend. NJ. Uller, who
was responsible for the story that he
found marginal note on the subject Of
the arrest of Dreyfus on a newspaper