The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-24

! preferred against the partisans of
Dreyfus of having spent 5000, GOO
! francs? What was this sum used for?
/ The amount is simply ridiculous
Gen. Mercier-I might just as well
ask you. (Sensation).
NJ. Labori-DO you mean to Suggest
that it was spent in advertisements
and in buying consciences?
Gen. Mercier-I say nothing what
ever.
! Counsel next wished to know why
the bOrdereau was communicated to
the court martial of 1894, when it was
considered impossible to show the other
documents of the secret dOSsier.
Gen. Mercier-Because the bordereau
was not dated, nor signed and its place
! of origin could be concealed.
NJ. Labor pointed out that the place
of origin had been mentioned in court
and then asked for explanations in re-
gard to the preparation of the 1894
BECOMES HEATED.
The cross-examination of Gen. Mer-
cier became more and more heated and
so rapid that it was difficult to follow
and many of the answers were contuS-
ing.
As the questions of counsel touched
upon the secret dossier and a certain
document in blue pencil, Gen. Gonse,
Gen. Roget, NJ Gribelin and Major
Lauth also participated in the discus
sion, which almost degenerated into
wrangle. The government comm1Ssary,
Major Carriere, protested against such
( discussion and Col. Jouaust ordered
silence.
The commissary said an attempt was
being made to show there was fresh
forgery which was used for purposes
of comparisons, to which NJ. Labor re-
torted that Major Carriere was mis-
taken The tendency OF these cross
examinations, he added, was only to
demonstrate the truth.
Major Lauth said he believed clue
to the blue pencil document existed be-
fore the trial of 1894 and NJ. Labor
asked why, in that case, it was not
produced at the trial. since 1T 1ncr1m-
mated the prisoner?
Gen. MERCER said he did not know
of this clue and Major Lauth diSclain-
ed all responsibility in the matter, as
he was not connected with the pre-
Iiminary inquiry.
| Gen Gonse said the document had
been in the possession of Col. Sandherr
/ (sensation) and it was by him placed
in the secret dOssier for comparison
| with other papers.
NJ. Labor asked for explanations in
regard to the commentary on the
secret dOssier and Gen. Mercier admit
/ ted he destroyed it in 1897
Gen. GOnse, who was questioned on
/ the same subject, declared that it was
| by order of Gen. de Boisdeffre that he
! returned the commentary to Gen Mer-
/ cier.
/ Answering further questions MERCER
/ said the PaniZZardi telegram was not
J communicated to the court martial of
/ 1894. He was ordered by Gen. de Bots
4 deffre not to include it in the secret
! Counsel next discussed the three page
! document, claiming that the false rem
/ dering of the PanizZardi telegram was
! to make it point directly to DreytuS as
the traitor.
+ MERCER asked to be allowed to con-
/ verse with Gen. ChamOin before at
/ tempting to explain.
/ CHAMOIN EXPLAINS.
/ Gen. Chamoin thereupon advanced
] and explained about the document
/ which had been handed him by Gen.
/ MERCER He said he noticed inaccur-
! acieS in it and resolved not to use it.
/ Witness however had been carried
! away in testifying and read page
! of the document and it was after a
] friendly conversation with Maitre La
! bori that he read the entire document
! in court at Gen. Mercier's request and
returned him the document.
Gen. MERCER acknowledged the ac-
! curacy of Gen. Chamoin's statement,
| adding that it was Col Du Patty de
/ Clam who gave him the document.
! (SensatiOn).
Counsel had the document re-read
/ and referred to the two versions of the
two kilograms of November ?. one
! designating Dreyfus as communicating
! documents to Germany, NJ. Labor
! pointing out that NJ. PaIeologde of the
! foreign office denied that the ministry
of foreign affairs had communicated
/ this version and asked why Gen. Mer-
| cier had received it through Du Patty
| de Clam.
At this juncture Gen. Roget mounted
| the platform and expressed surprise at
/ this idle controversy being resumed
! (Cries of Oh! OhD
The general asked that Major Nation,
| who assisted in deciphering the tele-
gram be called and counsel protested
! against the application of the word
idle" to any questions he thought
proper to ask.
! Gen. ChamOin said that he COM
! municated the document to Gen. Roget
| while enjoining absolute privacy on
| the subject.
When asked if he accepted RESPONSE
| bility for the document, Gen. Chamoin
/ replied in the Affirmative adding, how
ever, the admission that he had made
! a mistake.
Col. Jouaust intimated that the court
| ought to take no notice of the docu-
| ment in question.
DREYFUS' STORY.
Dreyfus here. gave a detailed story
! of how he employed his time at Bour-
! ges from October, 1889 to February,
| 1890. He said that as he was preparing
| for his examination he had no time
| to go to cafes or to think of anything
| outside of his duties. This was a
| ply to Gen. Mercier's assertion that
| he could have learned the secret of the
| pneumatic brake there.
The prisoner said: Il was promoted
! captain September II, 1889, and remain
ed at Bourges from October, 1889, to
| February. 1890. when the written ex-
animation at the Military college be-
! gan. I was then called to Paris. OBJ
! tanned two months leave and was
married IN April. spent four months
at BoUrges. As I was preparing for
examination I had no time to go to
cafes or to think of anything outside
| of my duties"
Gen. RisbOurg who was commander
of the republican guard in Paris in 1894
was the next Witness He described
the scene with Capt Lebrun- Renault
when the witness learned of Dreyfus
alleged confessions to Capt. Lebrun-
Renault, the day after the prisoners
degradation.
In conclusion, Gen. Risbourg eulogized
| the service of Capt. Labrun- Renault