Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-29
PARIS FIGARO PUBLISHES LETTERS
THAT CAUSE A STIR.
coMTE EsTERHAzY AUTHOR.
INDICATE THAT HE sCHEMED TO
CONVICT DREYFUS.
Esterha.y Declares That the Letters
Are FOrgeries Based on Extracts
From Communications of
His-Matter Ii to he
Investigated.

Paris, Nov. 2S.-The Figaro has caused
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. Scheurer-kestnar, 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
enter the Turkish service. Comte Esterhazy
is represented as saying: Il shall not leave
without having played trick Of my own
on those amiable Frenchmen."
Other passages illustrating the character
of the letters follow
"Our cowardly and ignorant great chiefs
will go once more to people German pris-
ons.'
Il am capable of great things or crimes
II that could avenge me. 1 would no;
harm little dog. but I would have 9
| hundred thousand Frenchmen killed witt
pleasure"
Comte Esterhazy proceeds to say that
"Frenchmen are not worthy of the cart
ridges intended to kill them and he con-
jures up dream of festivity' in the
shape of the pillage Of Paris by a hundred
| thousand drunken soldiers.
Interviewed by reporters to-day as to the
publications in the Figaro Of letters pur-
porting to be Of his authorship. he dis
played great indignation, and declared that
they were forged by the friends of Drey-
fus. 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 pub
lication would be made.
| Le Jour doubts the authenticity of the
| letters. Shortly after Figaro appeared.
| Comte Esterhazy visited General Peltieux,
D to
the Investigation Of the charges which have
| been brought against him, and protested
AGAINST what he alleges Is a fresh cal
umny"
A semi-oficial note tonight says that
General Peltiepx.s Investigation was almost
will act with absolute impartiaiity and see
| to it that satisfaction Is given to the honor
of the army. justice and truth.
General Peltieux this afternoon interro-
gated Colonel Picquart. who was sum
Dreyfus affair. and whose statements were
| reported to be the basis of the accusations
| originally brought against Comte Ester
hazy.
AS cabled to the Associated Press Satur-
day. the Figaro Of that day said that Cen
eral Peltieux had seized letters written by
| Comte EsterhaZy to several persons, in
which the writer had insulted and vio-
lently attacked the heads of the French
army AccordinE e the Intransseans Ssa Ssea OF
fenced to thirty days detention in fort
ress for his reflections on Comte Ester
hazy. Prior to the Figaro's publication OF
| the letters referred to, II was understood
| In Paris that the result Of General Pei
tieux's inquiry would be announced Tues
day to General Billot. minister Of war:
SMILES of the alleged Esterhaxy letters.
and will maintain that they are genuine.
The Echo de Paris will say tomorrow
that Conte Esterhazy is the victim OF
the horrible vengeance Of the widow Of a
former superior officer. The paper asserts
that she sold a letter to the Dreyfus syn
dicate for 17.0O0 francs, and then COM
menced the work Of elaboration.