The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-28
And Hold that There Was No Treason,
and Therefore the Court-MartiaI
Condemnation Cannot BE Upheld.
ANOTHER FRENCH CABINET
n. DUPUY ASKED BY PRESIDENT
FAURE TO FORM A MINISTRY.
An Eminent Statesman, who Has
Candidate for the Presidency.

PARIS, Oct. 27.-There was much excite
ment in and around the Palace of Justice to-
day while the Court of Cessation was in
session. The court is to decide on the
question of reopening the case 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 foreign power The hall was
filled with people, but the gates of the pal
ace were closed as matter of precaution.
only ticket holders being admitted. There
was no trouble at the opening, but during
the afternoon an anti-revisionist mob num-
bering about one hundred persons and
headed by NM. Drummont, Millevoye and
Lascies, shouting Vive parmee," and "a
morte les juifsl" attempted to enter the
court. The passage of the mob was barred
by the police and large reinforcements was
sent to guard the approaches to the court.
The belief is general tonight that the
court will pronounce neither for revision
nor for annulment of the decision in the
Dreyfus case, as either course would entail
awkward consequences. To avoid these 1t
is expected the court will decide that as the
affair now presents itself there has been
no treason and that therefore the con-
demnation pronounced upon Captain Drey-
fus by the court-martial cannot be upheld.
MRS. DREYFUS PRESENT.
The Dreyfus appeal case was called i'm
mediately after the opening of the court at
noon Maitre Labori, who was counsel for
NJ lola during the latter's famous trial,
was among the lawyers, occupying the first
row. Madame Dreyfus, wife of the pris-
oner, was provided with seat in a corner.
he vvoc Yxv
Reporter Bard opened the proceedings by
referring to the excitement and scandals
caused by the case, even before the appeal
for a revision of the trial was lodged. He
then reviewed the history Of the case from
the arrest of Dreyfus. and said his con-
demnation was for one of the crimes which
inspires universal horror, and 1t struck one
of those In whom the country Mad the most
confidence. Continuing. NJ Bard spoke of
the efforts made to order revision of the
case, referred to the denunciation of Major
Esterhazy and reviled M. Dreyfuss appeal
for 8. revision of the case. In so doing NJ
Bard said this appeal was based on the as
sumption that the bordereau was written
by Major Esterhazy. He then pointed out
that there were suspicious facts which JUS
tify the request for the rehearing. Nine.
Dreyfus contended that her husband did
not write the berdereau, which some of the
experts said he did write. The court,
therefore, would have to examine these
facts and decide whether revision was
justified.
M. Bard added that an appeal for a re-
vision was decided upon in consequence of
the late Lieutenant Colonel Henry's con-
fession that he had forged document in
the case, but M. Bard said this, forgery
was committed in 1896, and could not alone
be regarded as ground for revision or for
an anEulment judgment rendered in 1894.
Notwithstanding the fact. NJ. Bard said,
that Lieutenant Colonel Henry had COM
mitted forgery, his evidence was the most
crushing against Dreyfus: but, he contin-
ued, the evidence of a forger is open to
suspicion. There was, therefore the pre-
sumption Of conscience, based upon fresh
facts. 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 if Dreyfus was really
the author of the bordereau and note
written to Major Esterhazy and found in
the apartments of Nine. Pays, in which the
writer asked what he should do respecting
the bordereau.
COL. DE CALMrS REPORT.
NJ. Bard next read VCol. Du Patty de
CLAIMS report Of the arrest of Dreyfus, then
captain of the French artillery doing staff
duty, IL which the colonel said that Drey-
fps, while writing his dictation, betrayed
iintense excitement" But" NJ Bard
added, amid the surprise of his hearers.
4 "the photograph taken of this writing does
not give the slightest indication that Drey-
fus was laboring under excitement" Drey-
fus, NJ. Bard also said, denied to Colonel
Du Patty de Clam that he ever had rela-
tions, directly or indirectly, with foreign
powers. Col. Du Patty de CLAIMS report fur
ther showed that Dreyfus had to write in
eliminating documents in ten different
ways, sitting and standing. with and with
out gloves, and with ordinary and broad
pointed pens Later NJ. Bard cited further
facts favorable TO the revision, and express
ed establishment at the manner in which
the whole affair had been conducted. He
referred TO the fact that the residence of
Colonel Picquart had been searched. while
the residence of Major Esterhazy, who was
directly accused, was not searched. The re-
porter also severely criticised Major Ra-
vary's report on the charges against Major
Esterhazy. and he further said that the
handwriting experts. Belhomme and Var
niard, were lunatics whose testimony was
unreliable. After referring to the fact that
the experts who examined the bordereau
differed widely in opinion. NJ Bard con-
cIuded with expressing the belief that the
bordereau was the principal factor in the
condemnation OF Dreyfus on the testimony
OF experts. and his condemnation ought to
be revoked.
PICQUART'S LETTER
Great stress was laid by NJ Bard on Col.
Picquart's letter OF July II. 1898, to the min
lister Of Justice, in which he gave seven