The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-09-22
SENSATIONAL FRANCE.
Postponement of PiCquart's Trial a
Point For the Army,
HE WILL NOT COMMIT SUICIDE.
The Accused Colonel's Remarkable
Speech In IA Paris Courtroom-Comte
Esterhnzy, ED Route for Paris, Dis

Speech In Paris Courtroom-Comte
Esterhnzy, En- Route for Paris, Dis
cusses His share In the Dreyfus Case.
Paris. Sept. 22.-The trial Of Colo
mel Picuuart and NJ. Loblois, a
lawyer, on the charge of re-
vealing documents concerning the na-
tional defense was to have begun yes
terday before the correctional tribunal.
The public prosecutor, however, asked
for an adjournment on the ground that
the prosecution of Colonel Picquart
on the charge of forgery and using
forged documents had been ordered by
the minister of war. M. Labori, who
was counsel for M. Zola during the
latter's famous trial, indignantly op-
posed the adjournment, which he said
was an attempt to hand over Colonel
Picquart into the clutches of the mil
itary authorities.
Colonel Picquart then rose and made
a statement which caused a sensa
ton. He said: This is, perhaps, the
shall sleep, perhaps, in the military
prison Of Cherche Midi. Therefore 1
wish to declare that If find there the
strangling cord of Lemercier Picard or
the razor Of Colonel Henry. it will be
murder, for l have no idea of COM
mitting suicide"
The judges decided to indefinitely ad-
journ the case and Colonel Picquart
was led away between policemen.
Lemercier Picard, the man referred
to by Colonel Picquart, was a detective,
understood to have been employed in
the Dreyfus affair, who was found
hanged in his lodgings about year
ago, under circumstances which cast
some doubt upon the theory put for
ward that he had committed suicide.
Never before was such a scene wit
messed in court as that which followed
Picquart's declaration. The judges, Of
fiCers and audience appeared as though
paralyzed with emotion.
The air is full of rumors of sensation
al developments. Among other things
1t was announced last night that Colo
mel Picpuart was already in the Cherche
Midi prison. 1t appears, however,
that the authorities of the La Sante
prison refused to deliver him up in
the absence of the necessary formali-
be in the Cherche Midi prison before
night.
The Dreyfusites are somewhat de-
spondent the military authorities, who
are responsible for the shelving of the
Picquart trial, having apparently re-
gained the upper hand and it is feared
that Picquart viii be kept in prison
and his trial indefinitely postponed in
nrdar to kaap hic mouth SbIlt
The latest developments are that
General Pellieux will be transferred
from his Paris appointment to the
command of some provisional brigade,
his name having become too notorious.
The Italian government declines to
replace Senior Panizzardi as military
attache here until the Dreyfus case
shall have ended, owing to the gross
| insults offered to Signor PaniZZardi
| through the newspapers.
| A dispatch from London says: Comte
Esterhazy has been sojourning in Lon
| don in the guise of an Italian count
| He speaks Italian fluently. A repre-
sentative OF The Daily Mail caught him
| at Charing Cross as he was about to
| start for Paris. In the course of the
| interview COmte EsterhaZy said he had
constantly pass~d the detectives de-
| tailed to watch him while in Paris, in
| his present disguise, and that nobody
had recognized him.
But" he added, II mistrustec
events. l told General Pelieux, after
the suicide of Colonel Henry, that Il
would be impossible to stop things, anC
| that the movement would be formid
able. The generals lost their heads.
wrote to M. CaVaignac a long letter
acquainting him with the salient point.
| of the affair. He refused to see me
My ruin had been determined upon.
was thrown overheard and had moth
Ing left but to go away and await de
velopments."
Comte Esterhazy proceeded to declare
that he had Yainly tried to convince
General Pellieux that the Henry docu
ment was a forgery, but that Genera
: Pellioux had declined to listen to him
There were" said Comte Esterhazy
but three persons who knew thu
truth of the matter-Sandherr Henr!
and myself. The first two are dead
and / alone hold the secret"
Comte EsterhaZy complained bitterl.
of the treatment of himself and Nine
Pays, who is in prison in Paris II
declared that Judge D'Instructiol
Bontulos had Madame Pays brough
from the st. Lazare prison and of
fered her liberty if she would revea
all she knew about the generals.
After reference to other phases o
the affair Comte Esterhazy said:
81 intend to publish book that will
throw light upon the unhappy Dreyfu
story. Cavaignac made mistake il
pursuing me, because he struck at tn
same time his relation, Colonel Patty dl
Clam. l may mention that / had al
ready declined a pension offered m
by General Billot.
Comte Esterhazy affected a gay non
chalance, but just as he was takin
the train he said, in a sharp, nervou
tone, without pausing for breath; g
don't know whether l shall make us
of the documents in my possession.