Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-09-22
OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE.
General Alger Declares They Must
Answer For Neglect.

The Accused ColoneI's Remarkable
Speech in PARIS Courtroom-Comte
Esterhazy, En- Route for Paris. Dis
cusses His Share in the Dreyfus Case.
Paris, Sept 22.-The trial of Colo
mel Picquart and M Loblois,
lawyer, on the charge of re-
vealing documents concerning the IA
tional defense was to have begun yes
terday before the correctional tribunal.
The public prosecutor, however, asked
for an adjournment on the ground that
the prosecution of Colonel Picquart
on the charge of forgery and using
forged documents had been ordered by
the minister of war, NJ. Labor, who
was counsel for M lola during The
latter's famous trial, Indignantly OPP
posed the adjournment, which he said
was an attempt to hand over Colonel
Picquart into the clutches of the mil
itary authorities.
Colonel Picquart then rose and made
statement which caused a sensa
ton. He said: This is, perhaps, the
last time 1 shall speak in public. I
shall sleep, perhaps, in the military
prison of Cherche Midi. Therefore 1
wish to declare that if 1 find there the
strangling cord of Lemercier Picard. ar
the razor of Colonel Henry, it will be
murder, for 1 have no idea of COM
hitting suicide
The judges decided to indefinitely adj
journ the case, and Colonel Picquart
was led away between policemen.
Never before was such scene wit
messed in court as that which followed
Picquart's declaration. The judges, of
paralyzed with emotion.
Lemercier Picard, the man referred
to by Colonel Picquart, was detective,
understood to have been employed in
the Dreyfus affair, who was found
hanged in his lodgings about a year
ago, under circumstances which cast
some doubt upon the theory put for
ward that he had committed suicide.
The air is full of rumors of sensation
al developments. Among other things
1t was announced last night that Colo
mel Picpuart was already in the Cherche
Midi prison. 1t appears, however,
that the authorities of the La Sante
prison refused to deliver him up in
the absence of the necessary formali-
ties, but there is no doubt that he will
be in the Cherche Midi prison before
night.
The Dreyfusites are somewhat de-
spondent, the military authorities, who
are responsible for the shelving of the
Picquart trial. having apparently re-
gained the upper hand, and it is feared
that Picquart will be kept in prison
and his trial indefinitely postponed in
order to keep his mouth shut
The latest developments are that
General Pellieux will be transferred
from his Paris appointment to the
command of some provisional brigade
his name having become too notorious
A dispatch from London says: Comte
Esterhazy has been sojourning in Lon
don in the guise of an Italian count
He speaks italian fiuently A repre-
sentative of The Daily Mail caught him |
at Charing Cross as he was about to |
start for Paris. In the course of the |
interview Comte Esterhazy said he had |
constantly pass the detectives de- |
tailed to watch him while in Paris, in |
his present disguise, and that nobody |
had recognized him.
But, he added, 'I mistrusted |
events. / told General Pellieux, after |
the suicide of Colonel Henry, that it |
would be impossible to stop things, and |
that the movement would be formid
able. The generals lost their heads. /
wrote to NJ. Cavaignac a long letter
acquainting him with the salient points
of the affair. He refused to see me.
My ruin had been determined upon. I I
was thrown overheard, and had moth
ing left but to go away and await de-
Comte Esterhazy proceeded to declare
that he had vainly tried to convince
General Pellieux that the Henry docu-
ment was a forgery, but that General
Pellieux had declined to listen to him.
''There were said Comte Esterhazy,
but three persons who knew the
truth of the matter-Sandherr. Henry
and myself. The first two are dead
and 1 alone hold the secret"
Comte Esterhazy complained bitterly
of the treatment of himself and Nine
Pays, who is in prison in Paris He
declared that Judge D'Instruetion
Bontulos had Madame Pays brought
from the st. Lazare prison and Of
fered her liberty If she would reveal
al she knew about the generals.
After reference to other phases Of
the affair Comte Esterhazy said:
II intend to publish book that will
throw light upon the unhappy Dreyfus
story. Cavaignac made mistake in
pursuing me. because he struck at the
same time his relation, Colonel Patty du
Clam. may mention that l had al
ready declined pension offered me
by General Billot
Comte Esterhazy affected a gay nom
ehalance, but just as he was taking
he train he said, in sharp, nervous
.one, without pausing for breath: 81
lont know whether l shall make use
If the documents in my possession. 1t
Will depend upon the march of events"
Elevator Explosion Kills Thirteen.
Toledo, o., Sept. 21.--An explosion,
'aused by spontaneous combustion, de-
Itroyed the grain elevator of Paddock,
Hodge & Co. last night. Besides en-
.ailing a property loss of $45O,000, the
Ire resulted in the loss of 10 lives.
Among the dead are two young chill
iren of Superintendent William j.
Parks, who were visiting their father.
Eight were killed at once and the
'thers died of their injuries Eleven
'thers are suffering from severe burns
md bruises.