Evening journal., 1898-10-28
THE FRENCH CRISIS.
President Faure Asks M. Du-
puy to Form o Ministry.
OPENING OF COURT OF APPEALS.
Testimony I'm First Session on the
Revision Question - Cause oi
Drisson's TaIl-Louis NnpO-
leon Raising Loan.

the request llL ne Will hNtiAANNn 'tNNNht
the task unless Unforeseen difficulties
arise.
The balance Of the cabinet is expected
to be as follows:
M. Ribot. minister Of finance.
NJ. Bourgeois, minister Of public in
struction.
NJ. Dupuy, premier and minister OF
the interior.
NJ de Freycinet, minister Of war.
NJ Constans, minister of justice.
NJ. Delcasse, minister of foreign af-
fairs.
The court Of cessation opened yes
terday noon. A mob of antirevisionlsts
attempted to force an entrance TO the
courtroom, but was driven off by the
police.
The Dreyfus appeal case was called
Immediately after the opening Of the
court NJ. Bard opened the proceedings
by referring to the excitement and
scandals caused by the case. even be-
fore the appeal for revision Of the
trial was lodged. He then reviewed the
history Of the case from the arrest Of
Dreyfus and said his condemnation was
for one Of the crimes which inspire uni
versal horror and IL struck one Of those
in whom the country had the most con-
fdence.
Continuing, M. Bard spoke Of the ef-
forts made to obtain n revision of the
case, referred to the denuncation OF
Major Esterhazy and revived Nine.
Dreyfus' appeal for a revision OF the
case. In so doing M. Bard said this
appeal was based on the assumption
that the bordereau was written by
Major Esterhazy.
Al ut.I hu 40 n
revision was decided upon I'm conse-
quence Of the late Lieutenant Colonel
Henry's confession that he had forged a
document in the case, but NJ Bard said
this forgery was committed In 1896 and
could not alone be regarded as ground
for a revision or for an annulment Of
the judgment rendered IN 1894.
Later M. Bard cited further facts IA
vorable to the revision and expressed
astonishment at the manner in which
the whole affair had been conducted.
He referred TO the fact that the resi-
dence Of Colonel Picquart had been
searched, while the residence OF ajor
Esterhazy, who was directly accused,
was not searched.
The reporter also severely criticised
Major Ravary's report on the charges
against Major Esterhazy. and he FUR
ther said that the handwriting experts.
Belhomme and Varniard. were lunstics
whose testimony was unreliable.
The most sensational part OF NJ.
Bards report was the shorthand notes
Of the examination of the late Lieu
tenant Colonel Henry by NJ. Godefrey
Cavaignac. then minister OF war. after
Henry's forgery had been discovered.
These notes showed that the confess
sion of forgery was only obtained with
the utmost difficulty, Henry stoutly de-
nying and then prevaricatng TO the
effect that he only added one phrase to
the genuine letter. and then, when driv-
en- to the last corner, protesting that he
acted for the country's good.
The drift Of NJ. Bard's conclusions
was that Comte Esterhazy was the real
culprit but that his condemnation
would have meant the ruin of the intel
ligence department.
M. Bard animadvertod severely on
the Withholding of the secret dossier
from Dreyfus himself, as the present
ing Of the documents to Dreyfus could
not have compromised the national In
terests, he said. and the course adopted
was in fragrant violation of the rights
OF French citizens since 1852
Great stress was laid by NJ Bard on
Colonel Picquart's letter Of July "A. 1895
20 the minister OF justice. I'm which he
gave seven principal arguments against
the probability of the guilt Of Dreyfus
including the impossihiuty OF Dreyfus
procuring the plans for fortresacs and
projects for the movements OF troops
undetected whereas Major Esterhazy
had free access thereto.
with the proofs in my hands I hav,
established the innocence Of Dreyfus."
To this General Come replied accord
ing to the letter to the minister o
justice:
what is It to you If Dreyfus is o,
Devils lsland?"
Colonel Picquart-But he Is innocent
General Gonze-You know Mercic
0ormer minister Of war; and Saussie
CORNER military governor OF Paris) ar
mixed up in this affair. Do you wish Il
compromise them2
The letter then continued that O,
leaving General Come Colonel picouar
declared he was convinced of the in
nocence OF Dreyfus, and he proposed {
fight the matter out and reveal what h
knew.
These statements upon the part OF th
reporter caused "A sensation I'm court.
After further reference 10 Colone
Picquarts charges that the ministry q
war and the general staff had tampere
with documents and had manufacture
evidence iu the Droyfus case and
presentation of the contradictory state
ments Of Colonel Picquart and the min
lister of war relative to the secret doct
ments alleged to have been commun
Gated 20 the court martial the hcarin
of the case was adjourned until tomoi
row.
The courthouse was omplied quietl,
There were no demonstrations and d
cries OF any sort.
Although the proceedings thus far an
so favorable TO Dreyfus. Il must n,
be assumed that there win be any rs.
clearing up of the mystery. II Iool
rather as though an attempt Is beir
made to stihe the real truth by Hbe
otlng Dreyfus without a new trial.
II Is asked by the Dreyfusites. "If u
secret dossier exists, as alleged VIII
good purpose can be served by n
court OF cessation giving declsi,
without seeing it, since that is the on
real proof il any, Of the guilt Of Ore
fus2''
NJ Duprv who .va infarx.f,,,.o4 a. 81