The times., 1898-01-11
THE ESTERHAzY TRIAL
Picquart May Also BE Arraigned
at Paris.


Paris, Jan. 1O.-The trial by court
martial of Major Count Ferdinand
| Walsin EsterhaZy, the retired officer Of
the French army, who came into prom
inence the latter part of November last
through the publication by the Figaro
of number of letters which the Count
is alleged to have admitted writing, re-
fectinS in strong terms upon France
and the French army, was opened at 8
o'clock this morning under the preSi-
dency of Gen. De LIiXer.
Although there was an animated
scene about the neikhborhood of the
court martial, there was no demonstra-
tion and the police kept the people
moving
The hall in which the trial took place
was guarded by the Garde Republic
aine, and only holders of tickets were
admitted. Among those who filled the
hall We're Nine. Dreyfus, wife of AL
fred Dreyfus, the former captain Of
French artillery, now undergoing i'm
priSOnment for life after having been
convicted of selling important French
military plans to agents of a foreign
power with which afs3ir E,sterhazy is
said to have been connected; the broth
ers Of Nine. Dreyfus, Senator Trarieux,
the former Minister of Justice (who
postponement of the court martial, on
the ground that to try the case in it's
present shape only means asking the
court to confirm the guilt of Dreyfus),
and many officers and deputies.
Count EsterhaZy appeared in uni
form 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, and,
thereupon, Maitre Laborie, counsel for
Nine. Dreyfus, asked permission to
take part in the arguments.
Counsel for the government opposed
the application, declaring the court
would not reopen the case of Alfred
Dreyfus, who, he added, had been just
ly and legally condemned.
The governments counsel also op-
posed the application of counsel for
Mathieu Dreyfus, brother of the prison.
er of Devils Island, to appear during
the proceedings.
The court rejected both applications
and the taking Of testimony COM
menced.
Counsel for the government declared
public trial might be inimical to the
interests of the national defense and
demanded a secret hearing.
The court retired, and after an hours
absence returned, and the president an
nounced in the name of the French
people that il had been decided by u
majority of five to two that the trial
should be public until the moment
when publicity might appear to preju-
dice the national defense.
The court having thus yielded to pub
lie opinion, the report of the investigat-
ing officer, Major Rayary. was then
read. 1t completely whitewashed Count
Esterhazy, and was generally regarded
as being a serions indictment of Col.
Picquart, whose arrest, when the trial
Is finished. is anticipated.
The report of Major Ravsry does not
adduce much evidence, except the dec
laration of the experts that thu famous
Rordereau note was nos written by
Count Esterhazy. 1t contains the
Counts protest against the ''calamitous
ir1putations" made by Col. Picqnart
who. it appears, without authority,
caused him to be shldowci.
The report observes that the Colonel
is the soul of the present agitation and
that he is guilty of serious shortcom-
ings and indiScTetions. Upon one oc-
casion, il is pointed cut, when his su-
periors urged him not to persist, he
exclaimed "Oh. they won't do any
thing up there; but / Will compel them
to act
Col. Picuuart according To the In
November a. was SEN
fenced TO thirty days detention in a
fortress. He was an officer summoned
from Tunis II Paris in connection with
the Dreyfus affair ard his statements
were reported to be the basis of the ac-
brought against Count Ester
hazy
They do not realize the terrible cam |
paign which is being prepared
The report continues with the state |
ment that Col Picquart, in 1896. was |
while examining secret docu- |
mentS belonging to the general staff. |
and concludes:
Every step taken in this affair |
which causes such anguish TO all real !
y French hearts, is intended 10 obtain |
a reversal of a judgment legally and |
justly pronounced. No tangible judi |
ciaI proof OF Major Esterhazy's guilt |
IS forthcoming, nor is there adequate !
evidence to support the charge of high |
treason
The general impression is that the
irst days proceedings have been abSO- !
utely crushing for DreyfuS and his !
,artisans. The examination of Ma
hieu Dreyfus and NJ. Scheurer-kest-
Ter. a vice president of the Senate. re-
editl All luCItulDlt ldtk VI lcuIiIdllplls
m which the accusations against Count
Gsterhazy are based, and also the
limsiness OF the reasons for believing
hat eX-Capt. Dreyfus is innocent
While the astonishing doings of Col.
who first made the charges
gainst Count Esterha2y. gave a got
p air to the whole Dreyfus case.
In fact Major Ravary, who examined
hto the charges made by Col. Picquart.
,harges the latter with nothing short of
burglary and theft in obtaining posses
;iOn of the counts correspondence
'rouble probably awaits Col. Picquart.
On the other hand. d one-sided aspect
vas given the trial by the court decree
ng after the examination of NJ Ma
hieu Dreyfus and Scheurer- kestner
hat the examinations should be con-
Iuded. but the remainder OF the wit
lesses examined in camera. the plea
,eing secrecy in the interest of the
ational defense.
A striking feature of the days doings
vas the vehement anti-Dreyfus atti-
ude of the spectators in the court
oom, whose shouts and derisive laugh
er often drowned the words of Drey
us and ScheurerKest