The herald., 1898-01-11

to the agents of a foreign power, which
affair Esterhazy is said to have been
connected with; the brother of Nine.
Dreyfus, Senator Traiseaux, the former
Minister of Justice, and many officers
and deputies.
Count Esterhazy appeared in uniform
and escorted by Republican guards.
The clerk of the court said the court
martial was held in order to end the
contradictory rumors which had been
spread by the excited public. There.
upon Maitre La Borie, counsel for Nine
Dreyfus, asked permission to take part
in the argument. The counsel for Ma
thieu Dreyfus also asked to appear dur
ing the proceedings. The court reject
ed the applications and the taking of
testimony began.
Counsel for the government said that
a public trial might be inimical to the
interests of the national defense and de-
manded a secret hearing.
The court decided by a majority Of
five to two that the trial should be pub
lie until the moment when publicity
might appear to prejudice the national
defense
The court having thus yielded to pub
lie opinion. the report of the investiga =
tion officer. Maj. Ravarry, was read. 1t
completely whiteWashed Count Ester
hazy and was generally regarded as be-
ing q serious indictment of Col. Pic
quart, whose arrest when this trial is
finished is anticipated.
Col. Picquart, according to the In
transigeant, was in the latter part of
November sentenced to thirty days de-
tention in a fortress. He was an officer
summoned from the United States t.
Paris in connection with the Dreyfus
affair and his statements were reported
to be the basis Of the accusations
brought against Count Esterhazy.
The report continues with the state
ment that Col. Picquart in 1896 was sur
prised while examining secret docu-
ments belonging to the general staff, ana
concludes:
Every step taken in this sad affair
which caused so much anguish to al
really French hearts, is intended to OBJ
tain a reversal of a judgment legally anu
| justly pronounced. No tangible proof
of Maj. Esterhazy's guilt is forthcoming
nor is there adequate evidence to sup
| port the charge of high treason.
! The court then adjourned until
| o'clock
| When the trial was resumed, Maj. Es-
/ terhazy testified that he became aware
of the plot against him through anony-
nous letters which led to his meeting ar
unknown yelled woman.
He had communicated the results OF
that meeting to Gen. Billot, the minister
of war, and President Faure.
| The judge put series of easy ques-
tions to Maj. Esterhazy, to which tn;
latter evidently had ready-made an
swers. The major ended by followinf
Maj. Ravarry's cue and accused Col
Picquart Of burglarizing his residenc,
and stealing letters.
| Matthew Dreyfus was then examined
| He was asked to state the basis of his
accusations against Maj Esterhazy, anC
replied that, without being an expert, i
was only necessary to compare the writ
ing in the Bordeau and Maj. Esterhazy'!
handwriting in order to be convinced
that they were identical.
Continuing, Matthew Dreyfus made z
learned graphological statement. More
over, he pointed to the fact that Mai
Esterhazy having subsequently tried t
modify his handwriting was a confirma
tion of his suspicious.
In reviewing other suspicious actions
of the major, NJ. Dreyfus quoted let
ter in which Esterhazy said: II am il