Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-28
DREYFUS' APPEAL
Taken Up by the Court Of
Cessation at Paris.
N. Bard Proposes to Show Drerus
Did Not Write Bordereau.
Succeeds ia Surprising and Astonishing The
Court on First Day.

Paris. Oct. 27.-The court Of cassa-
ton, which is to decide upon the ques-
ton of reopening the Dreyfus case.
opened. at noon, today. A few specta-
tors about the palace were kept moving
by the police and inside municipal
guards We're stationed in all the cor
ridors leading to the court room and
only ticket holders were admitted to
the court room.
Maitre Labor. who was counsel for
NJ. lola during the latter's trial, was
among the lawyers occupying the first
row. Nine. Dreyfus was provided with
seat in corner. She was represent
ed 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 inspired universal
horror and it struck one of those in
whom the country had the most con-
fidence.
M. Bard spoke of the efforts made to
obtain a revision of the case, referred
to the denunciation of Major Ester
hazy and reviewed Nine. Dreyfus's ap-
peal for revision of the case.
In SO doing, NJ. Bard said this appeal
was based upon the assumption that
the BOrdereau was written by Major
Esterhazy. He then pointed out that
there were suspicious facts which JUS
titled the request for the revision.
Nine. DreyfuS commended that her
husband did not write the Bordereau
which some of the experts reported he
did write. The. court. therefore, would
have to examine these facts and decide
whether a revision We're justified
M. Bard added that the appeal for 4
revision was decided upon in conse-
quence of the late Lieut. Col. Henry's
confession that he had forged a decu-
ment in the case. but NJ. Bard said this
forgery was committed in 1896, AMI
could not alone be regarded as ground
for revision or for an annulment of
the judgment rendered in 1894. Never
theless, Col. Henry had committed for
gerry. his evidence had been the most
crushing against Dreyfus and the evil
dence of a forger was open to suspi-
cion.
There was. however, the presumption
of innocence. based upon fresh fact,
which led to the appeal for a revision
of the case, and there was also ground
to ask whether another new fact had
not been brought to light and If Drey-
fus was really the author of the Bor-
dereau and note written to Major Es-
terhazy and found in the apartment Of
Mademoiselle Pays, in which the writer
asked what he should do respecting the
Bordereau.
M. Bard next read Col Patty Du
CLAIMS report of the arrest of Dreyfus,
then captain of French artillery, do
ing staff duty, in which the colonel SAID
that Dreyfus, while writing to his die
tation, betrayed intense excitement"
But NJ. Bard added amid the sur
prise of his hearers, "the photo taken
OF this writing does not give the slight
est indication that Dreyfus was labor
ing under excitement"
Dreyfus, NJ. Bard also said. denied 10
Col. Du Clam the claim that he ever
had relations directly or indirectly with
foreign powers.
Col. Patty Du CLAIMS report further
showed that Dreyfus had to write in
eliminating documents in 10 different
ways. sitting and standing, with and
without gloves, and with ordinary and
broad pointed pens.
During the session of the court, an anti
hevisionlst mob. numbering about 100 peo-
pie and headed by NM. Dumont. Mile
voys and Lasies, shouting "Vive rArmee.
NM f 1nc ,{cst
Jews), attempted to enter the court OF
cessation, but the passage of the mob
was barred by the police and large REIN
forcements were sent to guard the an
proaches to the court.
Great stress was laid by M, Bard on
Picquart's letter of July IA, 1898, to the
minister of justice, in which he gave
seven principal arguments against tho
probability of the guilt of Dreyfus. in
Guiding the impossibility Of Dreyfus pro-
curing the plans of fortresses and pro-
1ects for the movements of troops uude-
tected. which Major Esterhazy had free
access thereto. This letter also recites
interviews which Col. Picquart had with
Generals Blot and Come, and says:
With the proof in my hands I have
established the innocence OF Dreyfus'.
To this Gen. Come replied according to
the letter to the minister Of justice:
What is 1t to you II Dreyfus is on
Devils Island?'
Col. Picquart-"But, he Is innocent
Gen. Gonze-'You know Mercier (for.
mer minister of war; and Saussier (for-
merly military governor Of Parish are
mixed up In this affair. Do you wish ia
compromise them?'
The letter then continued that on leav.
Ing Gen. Come, Col. Picquart declared he
was convinced Of the innocence OF Drev.
fus and he proposed to fight the matter
out and reveal what he knew.
These statements upon the part Of Re.
porter Bard caused sensation in court
After further reference to Col. Pic
quarts charges that the ministry OF war
and general STAFF had tempered with doc
uments and had manufactured evidence
in the Dreyfus case, and a presentation
of the contradictory statements OF Col,
Picquart and the minister of war rela-
tive to the secret documents alleged to
have been communicated to the court {
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