Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-15

THE EVIDENCE WAS ALL HEAR
SAY OR REPETITIONS OF
GROUNDLESS CHARGES WHICH
HAVE NO WEIGHT EXCEPT TO
FURTHER INFLAME PREJUDICE
AGAINST THE PRISONER.
MANY FORMER HIGH PERSON
AGES APPEARED BEFORE THE
COURT.
RENNES, France, August 1.-THE
for Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, robbed the
morning session of the Dreyfus court
martial of its paramount interest. The
murderer, apparently, chose to-day for
the attempt because it was anticipated
that NJ Labori would crush Gen. Mer-
cier, the former minister of war, with
his cross-questioning.
The news of the shooting of M.
Labor caused a sensation in the court
room, where the usual audience had
assembled, awaiting the entrance OF
the judges. NJ. Labori's absence had
Just been announced when suddenly M.
Jannay, syndic Of the judiciary press,
rushed into the room and shouted:
IN. Labori has been shot."
All present gave a gasp of horror.
and then every man jumped to his feet
and a volley of questions was hurled
at NJ. Jannay's head, who crying That
is all l know" rushed out of court
again, followed by number of his
hearers. Those who remained excited
~ discussed the crime and vigorously
denounced the authors.
Col. Jouaust, president of the court,
when the news reached him, suspended
the sitting of the court until 7:15 a. m.
1t appears that Nine. Labori herself
broke the news to the court. and in
formed M. Jannay of the crime, having
rushed from her husbands side to the
court, crying for a doctor and shouting
that her husband had been shot.
When the courtmartial was resumed,
Gen. MERCER was confronted with M.
Casimir- Perier, the former president OF
France. The latter declared that Mer-
cier's story told on the witness stand
Saturday, of the imminence of war be-
tween Germany and France, was gross
ly exaggerated, and complained of the
action Of the thsn minister OF war
(Mercier) in moving 10000 troops to the
frontier without consulting him. AS
it was M. Labori's task to take Gen.
MERCER in hand. and M. Demange,
associate counsel, was quite unprepared
for the task, the few questions the lat
ter put were practically of little effect,
and Gen. MERCER escaped cheaply.
Moreover, NJ. Demange was deeply af-
fected by the attempt to assassinate his
colleague, and was unable to do him
self justice.
NJ. Demange, when court assembled
at 1920 a. M, announced that though
his colleagues wound was not so ser
ious as at first supposed, it would be
impossible for the latter to participate
in the proceedings.
When Gen. MERCER was recalled, in
reply to the president of the court, he
reiterated his belief that Maj. Count
Esterhazy, in spite of the latter's own
declaration, was not the author of the
bordereau, which, the witness claimed,
was written on tracing paper and was
found in an embassy.
The president asked NJ. Casimir-Per-
Ter to explain the circumstances of the
confession Dreyfus is alleged to have
made to Capt. Lebrun- Renault, NJ.
Casfmir-Perier persisted in his state
ment of Saturday that he had never re-
ceived any condolences Of this charac-
ter from Captain Lebrun-Renault. He
added that NJ. Dupuy, the then premier,
was present when Captain Lebrun-Ren-
auH called at the Elysee palace. More
over" said NJ Perier, here is a letter
from NJ Dupuy, which | ask may be
read" The letter asserted that Renault
was questioned by NJ. Dupuy, and re-
piled that Gen. MERCER had sent him
to the president TO receive dressing
down for his indiscreet disclosures to
The Figaro.
Gen. MERCER interposed, saying:
Capt. Lebrun- Renault spoke to me in
regard to the confessions in the presence
Of Gen. Gonse, who will testify there
to. 1t was then that I ordered him 10
go to the president of the republic.
Regarding Gen. Mereier's declara-
tions on Saturday on the witness stand.
NJ. Casimir-Perier said: Gen. Mer-
eier had no right whatever TO intervene
in a diplomatic conversation. | would
have prevented such interference. 1t
was | alone who conferred with the
minister, and | declare that the impress
sion | derived from that conversation
was one of complete calm; otherwise
the incident would not have been clos
ed BY the framing Of a note. We had
no telegram from Berlin that evening.
It was in regard to note the min
lister referred to Berlin. II there had
been any news in regard to the matter
on the evening of the 9Th We should
not have waited until the Sth TO publish
the note. There was not q dispatch adj