The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-27
DREYFUs CASE OPENS.
Arguments on Revision Heard by
Court of Cessation.

Paris, Oct. 27-The court of cessation,
which is to decide upon the question of
reopening the case of Alfred Dreyfus,
thea Apfisoner of Devils Island, who is
alleged to have been falsely convicted
of selling important military plans to
agents of a foreign power, opened at
noon today. The hall was filed with
people, but there was no demonstration
around the palace of justice, the gates
of which were closed and as a matter
of precaution only ticket holders were
admitted. The few spectators about
the place were kept moving by the po-
lice and inside the building, municipal
guards were stationed in all the corri-
doris leading to the court room.
Maitre Laborie, who was counsel for
NJ. Zola during the latter's famous trial
was seated among the lawyers occupy
ing the first row. Nine. Dreyfus, wife
of the prisoner, was provided with a
seat in a corner. She was represented
by Maitre MOrnard
The Dreyfus appeal case was called
Immediately after the opening of the
court Reporter Bard opened the pro-
ceedings 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 condemnation was
for one of the crimes which inspire uni
versal horror and it struck one of these
in whom the country had the most con-
fidence.
Continuing, NJ Bard spoke of the
efforts made to obtain a revision of the
case. referred to the denunciatiOn Of
Major Esterhazy and reviewed 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 Ester
hazy. He then pointed out that there
iain fa wi
request for the revision. Nine. DreyfuS
cOntended that her husband did not
write the Bordereau which all the eX-
pertS reported he did write. The court
therefore would have to examine these
facts and decide whether rvision was
justified.
NJ. Bard added that the appeal for
revision was decided upon in 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 1886
and could not alone be regarded as
ground for a revision, or for an annul-
ment of the judgment rendered in 1894.
Notwithstanding the fact, NJ. Bard said
that Lieutenant Colonel Henry had
committed forgery, his evidence was the
most crushing against Dreyfus; but he
continued the evidence of forger is
open to suspicion. There was therefore,
the presumption of conscience, based
upon fresh facts which led to the appeal
for revision of the case and there was
also ground to ask whether any other
fact had 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 apartment
of Madamoiselle Pals, in which the wri-
ter asked what he should do respecting
the bordereau.
MBard next read Col. Patty du CLAIMS
report of the Dreyfus arrest, then a cap
tain of French artillery doing staff du-
ty in which the colonel said that Drey-
fus, while writing his dictation, ''be-
trayed intense excitement" !"
But" NJ. Bard added, amid the sur
prise of his hearers, 1.-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 Col. Patty Du Clam that he ever had
relations, directly, or indirectly with for
efgn powers.
Col. Patty Du CLAIMS report further
showed that Dreyfus had to write in
eliminating documents in ten different
ways, sitting and standing, with and
without gloves and with ordinary and
broad-pointed pens.