The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-29
Letters Published in the Paris Figaro
which Are Intended to Cast Dis-
credit ON the Titled officer.
INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE
DREYFUs CASE AGAIN BEFORE THE
FRENCH WAR DEPARTMENT.
Colonel Picquart Summoned frOm
Tunis to Tell Whrs He knows
The Isle Du DiabIe Prisoner

PARIS, Nov. 2S-The Figaro has caused
a sensation to-day in connection with the
Dreyfus affair by publishing several letters
purporting to have been written by Comte
Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy, who has been
accused by NJ. Scheuer- kestner, one of the
vice presidents of the Senate, of being the
author of the unsigned letter which led to
the condemnation of Dreyfus. In one OF
them, after expressing his intention to en-
ter the Turkish service, Comte Esterhazy
is represented as saying: II shall not leave
without having played trick Of my own
on those amiable Frenchmen." Other pass
ages illustrating the character of the letter
follow: Our cowardly and ignorant great
chiefs will go once more to people Ger
man prisons. 1 should be perfectly happy il
l were told l was to be killed tomorrow as
captain of Uhlans sabring Frenchmen. I
am capable of great things, or crimes, IL
that could avenge me. | would not harm
a little dog but l would have hundred
thousand Frenchmen killed with pleasure
Comte Esterhazy proceeds to say that
"Frenchmen are not worthy of the car
tridges intended to kill Them" and he cons
jures up a dream of festivity' in the shape
of the pillage of Paris by hundred thou-
sand drunken soldiers.
Interviewed by reporters to-day as to the
publication in the Figaro of letters purport-
ing to be of his authorship, Comte Ester
hazy displayed great Indignation and de-
clared that they were forged by the friends
of Dreyfus, who, he said. had taken words
and sentences from his letters and pieced
them together by a process with which he
was acquainted. He said, also, that he
had been warned some days back that such
a publication would be made.
lie Jour doubts the authenticity of the LETT
tiers. Shortly after Figaro appeared Comte
Esterhazy visited General Pellieux, who
was appointed by General Saussier, the
military governor of Paris, to conduct the
investigation of the charges which have
been brought against him. and protested
against what he alleges is a fresh cali
umny.''
In a letter referring to an actress Comte
Esterhazy is represented as writing: Il am
quite at the mercy of this drolesse ICON
temptible creature) If make the slight
est mistake toward her. wish I was in
Siam and could make her follow me there.
One of my Spahis muslxets going off, as il
by chance, would cure her forever"
Tomorrow the Figaro will print fac SIM
lies of the alleged Esterhazy letters, and
will maintain that they are genuine.
The Echo de ParlS VIII say IO-mOffOW
that Comte Esterhazy IS the victim of the
horrible vengeance of the widow of a fore
mer superior officer The paper asserts
that she sold letter to the Dreyfus syndi-
cate for 1900 francs, and then commenced
the work of elaboration.
A semi-official note tonight says that
General Pellieuxs investigation was almost
finished, but that he will now examine into
the authenticity of these letters, then he
will act with absolute impartiality and see
to it that satisfaction is given to the honor
Of the army, to justice and truth. General
Pellieux this afternoon interrogated Colonel
Picuuart who was summoned from Tunis
in connection with the Dreyfus affair, and
whose statements were reported to be the
basis of the accusations originally brought
against Comte Esterhazy.
AS cabled Saturday, the Figaro Of that
day said that General Pellieux had seized
letters written by Comte Esterhazy to sew
eral persons in which the writer had IN
suited and violently attacked the heads or
the French army. According to the In
transigeant of Saturday, Colonel Picquart +
had been sentenced to thirty days detention
in a fortress for his reflections on Comte
Esterhazy. Prior to the F'igaros publica-
ton OF the letters referred to in the fore
going dispatch it was understood in Paris 5
that the result of General Pellieux's inquiry :
would be announced tomorrow (TueSdayl 70
General Rillot minister of war.