Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-10-31
COURT OF CESSATION HOLDS Al
MOST ABSOLUTE CONTROL.
CAN DISCOVER THE TRUTH
MAY EXAMINE ANY WITNESS, HOW
EVER HIGH HIS POSITION.
Dreyfus Likely to He Brought to
France at an Early Day-Count
Esterhazy Said to He At
tempting to Levy
BlackmaiI.

PARIS, Oct. S0.-By Saturdays decision
the court of cessation obtains the most alb
solute control over the Dreyfus case. 1t
can demand and examine any documents
whatever, including the dossier. of any
case bearing upon the Dreyfus matter and
can examine under oath any witness, how
ever high his position.
In short, if the court makes a sincere
use of its powers, the truth will have "a
much better chance Of being discovered
than would have been the case had it mere
ly ordered revision before another court
martial, whose members might have been
actuated by desire to shield the general
staff Having concluded its inquiry, it can
present new dossier to either a civil or a
military court for the final decision. its
proceedings will not be public, and there
can, therefore, be no objection to a COM
munication of the alleged secret dossier, if
this is still in existence, while the numer-
Gus generals who have expressed their be-
lief in the guilt of Dreyfus will now be
called upon to explain the grounds of their
convictions.
Although the liberation of Dreyfus has
not been ordered, the court can order him
brought to France at any moment, and
will probably do so at an early stage of
the inquiry. The court refrained from
dering his release on Saturday because it
would have been a presumption OF his in
nocence-
Paul DeRoulede. of the Patriotic League,
turned the patriotic manifestation at La
Bourget to-day in memory of the soldiers
who fell there in the Franco-Prussian war
of 1910, into a revolutionary demonstration
against the decision of the court of cassa-
ton. He delivered violent anti-Dreyfus
speech.
Marcel Habert, member of the chamber
of deputies, followed with still more in
flammatory haraEgue. There were, how
ever, no disorders.
AS President Faure left the Grand opera
house tonight about IL O'Clock he was
greeted with prolonged shouts Of Viva
rarmee," and "A bas lie juifs.''
Count Esterhazy, 1t is reported, has writ
ten to several generals demanding money,
under threats of exposure.
Nowhere is there any sign of agitation
to-day. The city is quiet. The anti-Semite
papers vainly endeavor. by abusing the
judges of the court of cessation. to lash the
public into hostile demonstration. but
the people seem rather inclined to resent
the culpability or imbecility of the high
officers OF the general staff. who allowed
themselves to become the prey of unscrup-
ulous forgers. This refers especially to the
officers deputed to investigate the Dreyfus
affair.
1t is believed even now that important
facts are concealed in order to shield the
headquarters staff.
Most of the Paris papers approve the
decision of the court of cessation, although
the GauloiS and the Eclaire declare that,
even now, revision is by no means certain.
The Liberte bows to the decision, but
does not think it will end the agitation
The Figaro announces that Comte Ester
hazy has been deprived of his membership
in the Legion of Honor.
The Dreyfus decision seems to have de-
layed solution of the cabinet crisis.
NJ. DeFreycinet Is again hesitating TO
accept the portfolio of minister of war on
the ground that in view of the role the
Protestants have played in the Dreyfus
case it would be inadvisable for two Prot
estants. himself and NJ. Ribot, to hold the
portfolios of war and justice.
LONDON, Oct. 31.-The Paris correspond
ent of the Times, pointing out that a Gu
rious dilemma has now developed in the
Dreyfus affair says:
III the secret dossier Is now communicat-
ed to the court of cessation, it is conceiya-
BILE that 1t may incriminate Dreyfus, but it
will certainly convict General Mercier, ths
minister of war at the time of the convic-
ton of Dreyfus. of a criminal violation OF
law in communicating to the court-martiai
documents that were not communicated to
Dreyfus and his counsel.
1T is said that, in order to shield General
Mercier, who acted thus owing to his weak
ness or his ignorance, all subsequent min
listers of war have adopted an obstinate
attitude.
If on the other hand, there had never
been a secret session. the whole case rests
on the bordereau, and must fall to the
ground. How, then. since Lieutenant Col
orel Henry's admission of forgery. could
the generals have declared Dreyfus guilty.
The allegation that the dossier, If there
be one, contains a letter from Emperor
William to Colonel Schwarkoppen German
military attache in Paris). is utterly i'm
acter and habits. He would never have
written to military attache-"