The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-28
INQUIRY.
Court ofCassa-
ton Opens.
THE DREYFUS CASE.
A Statement of the Matter
Made by Reporter Bard.

Paris, Oct. 27.-The court of cassa-
ton, which is to decide upon the ques-
ton of reopening the case of Alfred
Dreyfus, opened at noon today.
Maftre Labert, who was counsel for
M. zola during the latter's famous
trial, was seated among the lawyers
occupying the first row.
Nine. Dreyfus, wife of the prisoner,
was provided with a seat in a corner
She was represented by Maitre Nor
nard.
The Dreyfus appeal case was called
Immediately after thes opening of the
court. Reporter Bard opened the pro-
ceedings by referring to the excitement
and scandals caused by the case, even
before the appeal for revision of the
trial was lodged.
M. Bard spoke Of the efforts made to
obtain q revision of the case, referred
to the denunciation of Major Esterha-
zy and reviewed Nine. Dreyfus' appeal
for a revision of the case. In so do
ing he said this appeal was based on
the assumption that the bordereau was
written by Maj. Esterhazy. He then
pointed out that there We're suspicious
facts which justified the request for the
revision. Mime. Dreyfus contended that
her husband did not write tn. borde-
reau, which some experts reported he
did write. The court, therefore, would
have to examine these facts and decide
whether a revision were justified.
M. Bard added that-the appeal for a
revision was decided upon in conse-
quence of the late Lieut.. Col Henry's
confession that he had forged a docu-
ment in the case, but M. Bard said this
forgery was committed in 1896, and
could not alone be regarded as ground
for revision or for an annulment of
the judgment rendered in 1894
Nevertheless Lieut.. Col Henry had
committed forgery, his evidence had
been the most crushing against Drey-
rus, and the evidence of a forger was
open to suspicion. There was, there
fore, the presumption of innocence,
based upon fresh fact, which led to the
appeal for a revision of the case, and
there was also ground to ask whether
another new fact had not been brought
to light, and If Dreyfus was really the
author of the bordereau and note writ
ten to Maj. Esterhazy, and found in
the apartment of Nile. Pays, in which
the writer asked what he should do re-
u.
NJ Bard cited other facts favorable
to the revision, and expressed aston
ishment at the manner in which the
whole case had been conducted. He re-
ferred to the fact that the residence of
Col Picquart had been searched while
the residence of Major Esterhazy who
was directly accused, was not searched.
Great stress was laid by NJ. Bard
on Col. Picquart's letter of July IA,
1898, to the minister of Justice, in
which he gave seven principal argu-
ments against the probability of the
guilt of Dreyfus, including the impossi-
bility of Dreyfus procuring the plans
of fortresses and projects for the move
ments of troops. undetected, whereas
Maj. Esterhazy had free access there
to.
This letter also cites interviews which
Picquart had with Gen. Billott and
Come, and says with the proof in
my hands, have established the in
nocence of Dreyfus'
To this Gen. Come replied, accord
ing to the letter to the minister of
justice. What is it to you if Dreyfus
is on Devils island?"
Col. Picquart-"But he is innocent
Gen. Gonze-"You know MERCER
(former minister of wary and Saussier
Former military governor of Paris) are
mixed up in this affair Do you wish
to compromise them?''
The letter continued that on leaving
General Come, Col. Picquart declared
he was convinced of the innocence of
Dreyfus, and he proposed 20 fight the
matter out and reveal what he knew.
These statements upon the part of the
reporter caused a sensation in court.
After further reference to Col Pie
quarts charges the hearing of the
case was adjourned until tomorrow.
The court house was emptied quietly
There were no demonstrations and nc
cries of any sort