The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-11
THE TRIAL OF ES TERHAZY
SENSATIONAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE COURT
MARTIAL CASE BEGINS.
The Court Decides hat the Trial Should be
Public NINE Dreyfus Present Maj.
RavafyS Report Read.


Paris. Jan. 1O.-The trial by court
martial Of Major Count Ferdinand wal
sin Esterhazy, the retired officer Of the
French army, who came into proml-
hence in the latter part Of November
last through the publication by Figaro
Of a number Of letters, which the Count
is alleged to have admitted writing, re-
hecting in strong terms upon France
and the French army, was opened at
o o'clock this morning under the presl-
Aency Of General De Luxer. The hall
i'm which the trial took place was guard
cd by the Grade Repubhcaine ana only
holders Of tickets were admitted. Among
those who filed the hall were Nine.
Dreyfus (wife Of Alfred Dreyfus), the
former captain of French artillery, now
undergoing imprisonment for life, after
having been convicted of selling inn
portant French military plans to agents
Of foreign power, with which affair
Esterhazy is said to have been con-
nected; the brothers of Nine. Dreyfus,
Senator Trarieux, the former Minister
of Justice (who last week wrote letter
asking for the postponement of the
court martial on the ground to try the
case in its present shape only means
asking the court to confirm the guilt
Of Dreyfus), and many other officers
and deputies.
Count Esterhazy appeared in uniform
and escorted 10y Republican guards.
The clc,A Of the court said the court
martial was held in order to end the
contradict rumors which had been
spread by 90 excited public. There
upon Maitre 7 ab0rie. counsel for Nine.
Dreyfus, ask i permission to take part
in the arguments. Counsel for the gov
eminent opposed the application, declar-
ing that the court would not reopen the
case of Alfred Dreyfus, who, he added,
had been justly and legally condemned.
The governments counsel also opposed
the application of counsel for Matthew
Dreyfus (brOther of the prisoner Of
Devils Island, to appear during the
proceedings.
The court rejected both applications
and taking of testimony commenced.
Although there was an animated
scene about the neighborhood of the
court-martial, there was no demonstra-
ton and the police kept the people NOV
ing
Counsel for the government said that
u
interests of the national defence, and
demanded q secret hearing.
The court retired and after an hours
absence, returned and the president an
bounced, in the name of the French peo-
pie, that it had been decided by a ma
iority of FIVE to two that the trial should
be public until the moment when pub
Lefty might appear to prejudice the ma
tional defence.
The court having thus yielded to public
opinion, the report of the investigating
officer, Major Ravary, was read 1t
completely whitewashed Count Ester
hazy, and was generally regarded as
| being a 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 thiryt days de-
| tentiQn in fortress. He was an officer
summoned from the United States to
| 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 of Maj. Ravary does not
adduce much evidence, except the
declaration of the experts that the
| famous Bordereau (note) was not writ
ten by Count Esterhazy. 1t contains
the Counts protest against the 'calumi-
GUS amputations" made by Col. Picquart,
who. it appears, without authority,
caused him to be Swallowed. The report
observes that the Colonel is the soul of
the present agitation and that he is
! guilty of serious short comings and in
discretions.