The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-02-12
TRIAL OF NOVELIST Z0LA
COL. PICQUART GIVES EVIDENCE
OF HIGHEST IMPORTANOE.

The Best Witness for the Author Yet
Heard-His Words Very Damaging to
Superior Offlcers-when Seeking TO
Probe to the Truth He Was Prosecuted
Still Cries of "Death to Zola."
Paris, Feb. 1.-THE most important
evidence thus far in the zola trial was
given this afternoon just before the
adjournment Of court. 1t was that of
Colonel Picquart and constitutes the
great event of the trial. He gave it In
a passionless manner and with pitiless
completeness, and his words were very
favorable to the defendant. The i'm
preston it left was that everything
had been done by General Pellieux and
Major Ravary to shelter Comte Ester
hazy from the consequences of glaring
breaches Of discipline and honor while
Colonel Picquart was disowned, pack
ed off to Tunis and eventually ar
rested.
Colonel Picquart when he was called
narrated how he had acquired frag-
ments of telegraphic card in 1896, and
concluded therefrom that Major Ester
hazy was corresponding with suspi-
cious characters. His chiefs ordered
him to continue his Investigations, and
he procured some of Major Esterhazy's
handwriting. which, compared with
certain documents, led to the conclu-
sion that Major Esterhazy was i'm
properly using official papers. Colonel
Piquart further remarked: 81 was
struck with the resemblance of Major
Esterhazy's handwriting to that Of the
bordereau, and I submitted photo
graphs to M. Bertillon and Major Patty
du Clam, and M. Bertillon declared the
writing was exactly the same as that
of the bordereau, adding: "The Jews
would do anything in the world to pro-
cure that writing. Major Patty du
Clam said it was the handwriting Of
Dreyfus.''
Colonel Picquart said he knew that a
superior officer, whose name was
mighty, had mentioned furnishing doc
uments to a foreign power. He did not
wish to disclose further secrets while
he was still investigating. "The news
papers began an agitation" he said,
''and interpretations commenced in the
chamber, adding to my difficulties.
Then 1 was sent to Tunis, where all
letters reached me opened. When
was summoned back from Tunis, to at
tend the Esterhazy inquiry, General
Pellieux treated me as the real defend
ant, refusing to listen to my charges
against Major Esterhazy."
Resuming his testimony Colonel Pic
quart pointed out that while the anti
Dreyfus papers fac-siniles of the bor-
dereau they did not publish fac
smile of the letter written by Dreyfus
at Major Patty du Giants dictation,
las it would have been too embarrass-
ing" the witness implying that a
comparison would have tended to show
that Dreyfus was not the author of the
bordereau Colonel Picquart emphati-
cally denied General PelIieux's state
ment of yesterday that he had di-
vulged an espionage affair to outsiders.
He candidly admitted sending an agent
to Major Esterhazy's partments; but
he pointed out that at the time Major
Esterhazy's fiat was advertised to let
and his agent only brought him an un-
important letter which, however, serv-
ed to compare the handwriting. But
the agent reported that a number of
letters had been burned in a fireplace.
Colonel Picquart added that he COM
municated his suspicious of the guilt
of Major Esterhazy to his chiefs, who
never said they had additional evidence
of the guilt of Dreyfus beyond that he
himself knew. The witness could not
give any further particulars, on ac-
count of professional secrecy" The
colonel was then asked by M. Laborie
! if he saw the original bordereau and
said he was chiefly acquainted with the
| Photographic reproductions circulating
at the war ministry. He also admitted
| having seen the document containing
| the phrase "This canaille, (rascaD D.
- --'' which has been so much
| talked about in the French press.
| Colonel Picquart was the best witness
| for M. Zola yet heard. He attracted
| the closest attention and presented a
| fine appearance in the uniform of the
| Algerian Tirailleurs. He made an ex-
| celelnt impression upon all present in
court. His evidence was very dam
| aging to his superior officers and fav-
orable to Dreyfus, and it also showed
hi INTO have been the victim of perse-
cution since he began his endeavor to
probe the truth. At the conclusion of
| his evidence Colonel Picquart met with
an enthusiastic reception from the pub
| lie. There were cries of "Vive Pic
| quart" in which many of the lawyers
| joined The high military officers were
visibly annoyed at the effect of Colonel
Picquart's testimony.
| NJ Zola's carriage on leaving the pal
ais de justice was followed by a knot
| of people shouting death to Zola, .
| who could be heard through the court
windows, exclaiming "The cowards.' y
| The police dispersed athousand people
who were burning pro-Zola Journals
on the DUAL de la Meglssi. Many ar
| rests were made but the persons ar
| rested were quickly liberated.