The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-01

The Motion for u Revision Heard by
the Court Of Cas~ation-A Review
OF the Conduct OF the Trial OF the De-.
oda

Va ~ " ~ - " - -
fendau
Paris, October 27.-The court OF cas-
sation. which Is to decide upon the
question OF reopening the case Of Al
fred Dreyfus. the prisoner OF Devils
/ island. who is alleged to have been
falsely convicted Of selling important
military plans to agents OF a foreign
power. opened at noon today. The hall
was filled with people. but there was
no demonstration around the palace of
| justice the gates, OF which were clos
ed. as a matter Of ~precaution. onfy
ticket-holders being admitted. The few
| spectators about the palace were kept
| moving by the police, and inside the
buildings municipal guards We're sta
| toned in all the corridors leading 60
| the court roof.
| Maitre Labordi. who was counsel for
NJ. lola during the latter's famous
trial, was seated among the lawyers
occupying the first row.
Madame Dreyfus, wife Of the prison.
er, was provided with a seat in a cor
ner. She was represented by Maitre
Mornard.
The case was called immediately af-
| Z H cpClliAS VI II NcGil- INPSi
Bard opened the proceedings by refer
ring to the excitement and scandals
caused by the case, a motion for n re-
vision of the trial was lodged. He then
| reviewed the history of the case from
the arrest Of Dreyfus and said his con-
domination was for one Of the crimes
which inspire universal horror and il
struck one of these in whom the coun-
try had the most confidence. He spoke
of the efforts made to obtain a revision
of the case, referred TO The
ton of Major Esterhazy. and reviewed
Mde. Dreyfus' appeal for revision. In
50 doing NJ. Bard said this appeal was
based on the assumption thai the Dor
dereau was written by Major Esterha-
zy. He then pointed out that there
were suspicious facts which justify the
request for the revision. Mde. Dreyfus
contended that her husband did not
write the bordereau, which $ me Of the
experts reported he did white. The
court, therefore, would nave TO exam
inc these facts and decide whether a
rev Ision was justified.
NJ. Bard added that the appeal for
a revision was decided upon in conse-
uuence of the late Colonel Henry's
confession that he had forged a docu-
ment in the case, but NJ. Bard said
this forgery was committed in 1896,
and could not be alone regarded as
| ground Tor a revision OF an dnnullllent
of the judgment rendered in 1894. Not
w~ithstanding the fact, NJ. Bard said
that Lieutenant Colonel Henry had
committed forgery, his evidence was
the most crushing against Dreyfus;
but, he continued, the evidence of a
forger is open to suspicion. There was,
therefore, the presumption of con-
science, based upon fresh facts which
led to the appeal for a revision of the
case and there was also ground to ask
whether another new fact has not been
brought to light, and if Dreyfus was
really the author of the bordereau and
note written to Major ESterhaZy and
found in the apartment of Mademoi-
selle Pays, in which the writer ask
ed what he should do respecting the
borderau.
M. Bard next read Colonel du Patty
de CLAIMS report of the arrest of
Dreyfus, then a captain of French ar
tillery doing staff duty, in which the
Colonel said that Dreyfus, while writ
ing his dictation, betrayed intense ex-
element" But" Mr.. Bard added,
amid the surprise of his hearers, the
photograph taken of this writing does
not give the slightest indication tina,
Dreyfus was laboring under excite
ment." Dreyfus, M. Bard also said,
denied to Colonel du Party de Clam
tina he even had relations, directly or
llIblI III ~" ..
du Patty de CLAIMS report further
showed that Dreyfus had to write in
eliminating documents in ten different
ways, sitting and standing, with and
without gloves, and with ordinary and
broad pointed pens.
Later, NJ. Bard cited further facts
favorable to the revision and express
ed establishment at the manner in
which the whole affair had been CON
Quoted. He referred to the fact that
the residence of Colonel Picquart had
been searched, while the residence oil
Major E~sterhazy, who was directly ac-
cused, was not searched.
The reporter also severely criticised
Major Ravary's report on the charges
against Major Esterhazy and he fur
ther said that the handwriting experts
Belhomme and Varniard, were lunatics
whose testimony was unreliable.
After referring to the fact that the
experts who examined the bordereau
differed widely in opinion, Mr.. Bard cor
Guided with expressing the belief that
if the beadereau was the principal fac
tor in the condemnation Of Dreyfus or
the testimony of experts his condemna-
ton ought to be woke
Great stress was laid by NJ. Bard or
Colonel Picquart's letter Of July IA
1898, to the minister OF justice, in
which he gave seven principal argu-
LiINIiND oSoAbAoN N"N - S'''
of Dreyfus. including the impossible.
ty of Dreyfus procuring the plans OF
fortresses and projects for the move
mentS of troops, undetected. whereas
Major EsterhaZy had free access
thereto. This letter also cites inter.
views with Colonel Picquart and viii
Generals Billot and Come and says:
with the proof in my hands ] have
established the innocence Of Dreyfus.'
To this General Come replied, &C.
cording to the minister Of justice:
What is it to you If Dreyfus is or
DEVILS island?"
Colonel Picquart-"But he is limo.
cent"
General Gonze-"You know MERCER
(former minister Of war; and Saussier
Former military governor Of Paris) arr
mixed up in this affair. Dc you wish 4
compromise them"
The letter then continued that OF
leaving General Come Colonel Pic
quart declared he was convinced Of tn