New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-28
DREYFUS CASE TAKEN UP.
POWERFUL PLEA FOR DREYFUs BE-
FORE THE COURT OF CESSATION.

HEARERS -PICQUAET'S BOLD DECLARA-
TIoN-oNLY ONE SMALL DISTURB
ANcE MARKS THE DAYS
PROCEEDINGS.
Paris. Oct. 27.-The Court Of Cessation. which
4. 10 decide upon the question Of reopening the
.sse OF Alfred Dreyfus. the prisoner OF Devils
island who is alleged to have been falsely con-
victed Of selling important military plans TO
agents Of a foreign Power. opened at noon to-
aay The hall was full OF people, but there was
% demonstration early around the Palace or
Jus.icc The gates, however were closed as a
matter Of precaution. and only ticket-holders
core admitted The few spectators about the
palace were kept moving by the police. and in
aide the building Municipal Guards were sta
,,oned in all the corridors leading TO the court
room
Naltre LabOri, who was c6uL7e for NJ. Hola
during the latters famous trial. was seated
among the lawyers occupying the first row
Nine Dreyfus. wife of the prisoner. was pro-
,-ded with a seat in a corne1 She was repre-
sented by Matre Mornard.
HISTORY OF THE CASE REVIEWED.
The Dreyfus appeal was called immedi-
.,e,v after the opening Of the court. Reporter
Bard opened the proceedings by referring TO the
excitement and scandals caused by the case.
even before the appeal for a revision or the
.-,al was lodged. He then reviewed the history
y, the case from the arrest Of Dreyfus. and said
HE condemnation was for Of the crimes
which inspire universal horror. and II struck
one Of those in whom the country had the most
confidence.
Continuing NJ Bard spoke Of the efforts made
IN obtain a revision OF the case. referred to
the denuncauon of Major Esterhazy. and
reviewed Nine Dreyfus's appeal for re-
v,si.n. IN so doing NJ Bard said this appeal
was based on the assumption that the bor-
dereau was written by Major Esterhazy. He
then pointed out that there were suspicious
facts which Justify the request for revision.
Nine Dreyfus contended that her husband did
no, write the bordereau which some Of the ex-
perts reported he did write. The court, there
fore. would have TO examine these facts and
decide whether revision was justified. NJ
Bard added that the appeal for revision was
decided upon in consequence Of the late Lieu
tenant Colonel Henry's confession that he had
forged document in the case: but NJ. 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
FORGER'S EVIDENCE OPEN TO SUSPICION.
Nevertheless NJ. Bard then said, Lieutenant
Colonel Henry had committed forgery, his evil
dence was the most crushing against Dreyfus'
and the evidence of forger is open to suspi-
cion There was. therefore. the presumption or
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 has not been brought TO light and II Drey-
f,ls vas really the author of the bordereau and
note written to Major Esterhazy and found in
the apartment Of Mile. Pays, in which the
writer asked what he should do respecting the
bordereau
NJ Bard read Colonel Du Patty de CLAIMS re-
port of the arrest of Dreyfus, then a captain
Of French artillery. doing staff duty. in which
the Colonel said that Dreyfus, while writing to
his dictation. betrayed intense excitement"
But" NJ Bard added, amid the surprise Of
his hearers. the photograph taken of this
writing does not give the slightest indication
that Dreyfus was laboring under excitement"
Dreyfus NJ Bard also said. denied to Colonel
Du Patty de Clam that he had relations.
directly or indirectly with foreign Powers. Colo
mel Du Patty de CLAIMS report further showed
that Dreyfus had TO write discriminating docu-
ments in ten different ways sitting and stand
Ing with and without gloves. and with ordinary
and broad-pointed pens.
FACTS FAVORABLE TO REVISION.
u. Bard cited further facts favorable to the
revision and expressed astonishment at the
manner in which the whole affair had been con-
Quoted He referred to the fact that the house
Of Colonel Pcquart had been searched while
the house Of Major Esterhazy who was directly
accused. not searched.
The Reporter also severely criticised Major
Ravary's report on the charges against Major
Esterhazy. and he further said that the hand
writing experts BehOmme and Narniard, were
lunatics. whose testimony was untrustworthy.
After referring to the fact that the experts who
examined the bordereau differed widely in opin-
ion, VI. Bard expressed the belief that II the
bordereau was the principal factor in the con-
demnation Of Dreyfus on the testimony OF ex-
per,s his condemnation ought to be revoked
Great stress was laid by NJ. Bard on Colonel
P!cquart's letter Of July IA, 1898. TO the Minis
ter Of Justice in which he gave seven principal
arguments against the possibility Of the guilt
OF Dreyfus. including the imposs.bilty Of Drey-
fus procuring the plans Of fortresses and prof.
ects for the movements of troops undetected,
whereas Major Esterhazy had free access
thereto
SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS.
This letter also cites interviews which Colonel
Picquart had with Generals Billot and Gonse,
and SAYS:
With the proof in my hands have established
The innocence OF Dreyfus.
To this General Gonse replied according to
The letter TO the Minister Of Justice:
What is il Il you If Dreyfus is on Devils lslandE
Colonel PcQuart-ISut he Is innocent 49,,
General Gonse-You know Mercier Gorner Min
iser Of War and Saussicr CORNER Ahtar$ Gov
ernor Of Paris mixed up In this AFFAIR. do you
wish TO compromise them?
The letter then continued that on leoving Gen
eal Goase Colonel Picquart declared he was
Convinced Of the .nnoceacs Of Dreyfus, and ne
Il md reveal