The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-18
lola WINNING HIS CASE.
a FACT OR TWO BxToREED ABOUT
THE SECRET ETIDENCR.

the light which NJ. lola demanded upon the
Dreyfus affair will DO forthcoming. The In
~sistence OF the defence in the great trial to-day
succeeded in partially breaking down the reti-
cence Of tho army authorities. and something
definite has been said about tho secret evidence
upon which thoy base their assertions of the
ruiit Of Dreyfus.
It was Gen. Pellieux and afterwnrd Gen.
Gonse who declared that they had saen the So
cret piece Of evidence which, 1t 10 affirmed, con.
stitutes absolute proof that Dreyfus is guilty.
When this dramatic crisis was reached the
court adjourned.
Tho question as to whether this secret evil
denco was submitted to the Drcyfus court
martial without the defendants knowledge 10
tho ground Upon which tho battle will rage
again tomorrow. IL this is admitted officially,
as 1t already is tacitly, nothing can prevent the
acquittal Of NJ. lola and the roopening Of the
Dreyfus case.
MN. Thovonet and Trarieux. both. of whom
have occupied the Cabinet Office OF Minister of
Justice. have given notice in tho Senate of their
intention to interpellate the Government upon
the i~llegality Of the production Of secret docu-
ments before the Drcyfus court-martial without
the knowledge of the accused or his counsel.
This will bring the Government face to face
with the real issue developed by tho Zola trial.
The Government requests the postponement of
the Interpolation until the end Of the trial.
To-day's session Of tho lola trial opened with
an effort on tho part Of the defence to obtain the
production OF the original letter ascribed to Es-
terhazy. in which the writer says that he would
be perfectly happy to be killed as a Captain of
Prussian Uhlnns sabrine Fronchmen. and OK.
presses the pleasure It would give him to kill
100, 900 Frenchmen.
Gen. Pellicux expressed q similar desire for
tho production Of the letter. saying: There is
not an officer who could write such q letter. He
could not exist in France" The question was
postponed until tomorrow.
Col Picquart was recalled, and replying to
Gen. Pellieux said: 81 am fully qualified to
speak of tho original bo,dercau. The only inn
portant document named therein Is tho Manuel
dc Tir." Esterhazy could have had that docu-
ment.
II learned that Esterhazy had sought informa-
ton regarding the mobilization Of artillery and
also that he was procuring copies in various
ways by deputy of other documents. including
practically all the points named In the horde
redu. I could say more, but the restrictions of
the secret session forbid 1t. 1 assert that the
bordereau could not have been written by Drey-
fus."
Col. Picauart's straightforward and positive
statements produced a profound sensation in
court, which was undiminished when Gen. Pei
lieux arose and demanded that Gen. Gonse be
iCSAiiCo " opOoA VI ~ ~ VI
lieux contradicted Picquart only upon the point
that Esterhazy could not have written the note
regarding Madagascsr.
Gen. Gonse testified that tho documents
named in the Gorderean were absolutely conf
Dental. No one but some officer Of the general
staff, he said, could know of tho modification of
the plan of mobilization Of 1894 and 1895.
Col Picquart-But the bordereau was of tho
date OF April, 1894.
Gen. Pcllieux-I have not said that.
Gen. Gonse-It must have been in August.
This simple deduction was made when the Dor
dereaH was In our hands in September.
NJ. Labori-Tbe charge against Dreyfus speci-
hes that the copy was made in February in an
antechamber.
Gen. Gonse-There was a motto made in August.
NJ. Labori-The jury will recognize the grave
ambiguity here.
Col. Picquart-I have said that tho author of
the borderedu was not an officer at head
quarters. The bordereau must have been made
In April. for it contains notes Of
which I drew up on that date.
M. Labori-were you delegated by the Minis.
try to attend the Dreyfus triali
Col. Picquart-I refuse to answer.
Gen. Pellieux-No moro than L.
NJ. Clemenceau-You assume that the writer
OF the bordereau must have been an artillery
officer because the document names the artillery
plan of mobilization. You admit that the
manual of artillery mobilization was distributed
before the mobilization. Might not an artillery
officer lend his manual
Gen. Gonse-But Col. Picquart's Investigation
showed that Esterhazy occupied himself very
little with artillery.
After q brief recess Gen. Pellioux again de-
manded 10 be hoard. Taking the stand, he said:
Like Col. Henry, i say let us get into tho
light The Minister of War has said that he
has absolute proof Of the guilt Of Dreyfus. 1t is
q note written upon q visiting card and signed
with an assumed name. saying. Never speak of
the relations we have had with this Jew I
have seen this note and now I wish Gen. Bois-
deffre to be called to tho bar"
The witness declared that 1t was impossible
to question the origin of the paper which proved
Dreyfus guilty. The visiting card referred to
was inclosed in o letter which was signed with
the name of q person little known. Gen. Pei
lieux declined to repeat moro than the words
Never speak of our relations with this jew"
but affirmed on his honor as a soldier that the
paper possessed the Significance he ascribcd toit
NJ. Labori-Gen. Pcllieux has spoken of some
thing subsequent to the Dreyfus affair. l wish
to observe that no piece Of evidence constitutes
proof until it has been submitted to cross-exam-
Ination. Gen. Pellieux's word does not suffice.
A revision of the Dreyfus trial is now imminent.
[Great uproar In the court.l II the word Of the
General is well founded proof will DO forth
coming. II the contrary. we shall learn the
truth and punish the guilty. You shall not pre-
vent this by threats of war.
Gen. Gonse-The army does not fear the light,
but 1t is impossible to bring here the pieces of
evidence demanded.
NJ. LaborI-This debate over mems words
might 90 on forever. Bring the pieces of evil
dence here or stop talking.
Gen. Pellieux-I have not threatened the
country with war. Gen. Billot Minister OF
War, has said that Dreyfus was Justly and To-
gally condemned.
NJ. Labori-Not legally.
Gen. P~ellieux-Provo 1t.
NJ. Labori-We have proof in the words Of
Gen. Mercier.
Gen. PellieuH-I cannot tell what happened In
1894.
NJ. Labori-The word Of the President of tho
republic himself would not DO sufficient in these