The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13

'poolCl hHtl u IOlJulEHI alteT DTeyIuS 8 con-
demnation,
TN DEFENCE OF THE INNOCENT"
He solemnly declared that he and NJ. De-
mango never discussed the affair and that he
never knew member OF Dreyfus's family He
added:
For the honor OF the magistracy and for the
honor OF France. feel compelled to speak the
| truth In defence OF the innocent"
| As he said this his vibrant voice rose until IL
| broke with emotion. Those present broke into
an outburst OF applause which was with diff
Guilty suppressed and the President threaten cd
! to clear the room II the demonstration was re-
peated.
NJ. Casimir-Perier proceeded. occasionally
referring to paper for date, but without any
other hesitation. He said that one motive for
! his resignation from the Presidency of the
, Republic was the ignorance in which he had
| been kept regarding the affair He reiterated
| that he had sworn to tell the truth, and said:
now place myself at your disposal to an
swer any questions. MY sole desire Ia to assist
| In the search for the truth"
CROWD GIVES ENTHUSIASTIC APPROVAL.
| At this declaration there was another out.
| burst Of applause. which the court and its onl-
| GERS had the greatest difficulty In supprcssing
| n wave OF emotion thrilling the occupants Of
! tho great hall at the words Of a man whose con-
|
! post in France rather than suy 1t by becoming
an accomplice in a foul conspiracy.
! ono OF the judges asked a question referring
| to Gen Mercicr's reading to the witness copy
| OF the Figaro containing Dreyfuss alleged
| confession to Lebrun-Renaud inquiring why
! when h" heard Drcyfus's avowal of his guilt
| from MERCER. he had not made an investigation.
~ Casimir-Perer replied In the sternest
manner tina; he had heard nothing about Drey-
| fus cOnfessing.
NJ. Demange testified that Dreyfus had never
referred in his letters to communications be-
i tween him lDreyfus and NJ Casimir. perier
The ex-President declared that no had read
one letter. said to have been written by Drey-
fus. referring to such communication. and i'm
prossivcly added:
u will not leave this hall until light Ia
thrown upon this point"
DREYFUS SHOWS HIS GRATITUDE
While NJ. Demange was speaking. explaining
that his only relations with NJ Casimr- ptricr
consisted in his sending NJ. Waldeck- Rousseau
to him TO ask for public trial for Drcyfus the
ex-President turned in his direction and for
the first time faced Drcyfus. who looked up
with a grateful smile
Dreyfus next declared with solemn gestures
that he did not write the letter TO which NJ
Casimir-Ptrier referred,
HIS EVIDENCE FAVORABLE TO DREYFus
NJ. Casimir- Perer repeated his deposition be
fore the Court OF Cessation and reafflrmed that
Capt Lebrun- Renaud in his conversation at
tho Elysee did not make any reference TO ORGY
fuss avowals o! guilt. indicating the ex-Presi-
dents disbelief that anything Dreyfus had said
was in the nature OF a confession. No dossier.
he said. reached the Government before Drey-
fuss condemnation. The ex- Presidents evil
dence was generally favorable to Drcvfus.
N. Casmir Pcrier denied that his resignation
Was duo 70 any Iinl>ma.ic II .!eu' tl-rss
being that knowledge Of the interviews be-
tween Count Munster and the Minister OF For
eign Affairs was withheld from him. thus com
promising the presidential independ ence.
GEN. MERCER ENTERS.
There was intense excitement in the court
room when Gen. MERCER entered. He was in
full uniform. and carried his cap in his right
hand and his mysterious dosser In his left
He removed his glove as he stepped to the wit
ness stand and was sworn. and began to speak
in voice hardly audible to the nearest re-
porters. Throughout his testimony he spoke
of Germany's plotting and the danger OF war.
seeking to arouse the old DOGGY. Gen. MERCER
first described the organization OF espionage
In 1894. and then produced the anxiously ex-
pected new document. a veritable example OF
the mountain 3 la boring to bring forth mouse.
The Registrar read the document. which was
a letter from Col Sehwartzkoppen. former
German military attachc. OF which the follow
ing is the text:
Lhomme DIES Jortifcations de la Me,lse m
laisse IN plan. Fous pOurez hui donne1' 500
francs 81 les autres documents arrirent. Ne
donnez ducun argent sans documents
The document was handed back to Gen.
MERCER. but NJ. Demange demanded that 1t BIO
retained by the court and 1t was therefore re-
turned.
REHEARsEs THE OLD CASE.
Gen. Mercier then proceeded to unfold the
whole old case. producing numerous docu-
ments which the Registrar read. The reading
was audible. but Gen. Mercier's explanations
were inaudible to the extent OF reducing the
correspondents to desperation Whom they
were audible they did not seem to have any
real bearing on the case. Dreyfus sat In an
easy attitude and his appearance denoted no
concern. No one would imagine that the
witness was doing his utmost to bring about
his ruin.
THE ALLEGED DEAL WITH CAsIMIR-PERIER.
Then was read a letter alleged to have been
written by Dreyfus to the Gov ernor OF the Hes
de SaIut saying that there was an agreement
between Drcyfus and NJ. Casimir- P6rier for
tho atters support on condition that Dreyfus
did not reveal the foreign power implicated
i MS plOuuceu u SenbaIlpH, NJ. JdbIIulT-1cTlhT
rose to his feet oXcitedy. crying:
That appeared in the papers"
Dreyfus did not speak, having already denied
the authorship OF tho letter. but he looked
alphabetically at the President.
Then the Registrar read the letter signed
" Aexandrine.' containing the expression
"canaiHe de D." Next came Panizzardrs
letter about ID" giving him interesting in
formation. Gen. MERCER laid great
stress the repetition OF the ID" as being
suspicious The next letter was the ono say
ing that the relations OF Panizzardi and
Schwartzkoppen were daily becoming closer.
they having possession of a stan officer who |
was informing them admirably. The letter
concludes by saying:
Il am sure Of this. but do not know the
officers name. II knew would not say"
Gen. MERCER then recOunted the history OF
the bordereau and his resolve to arrest Drey-
fus. A letter WAS then read from NJ. Dupuy. |