The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-11
No Opportunity Given the Novelist to
Prove His Charges Against French
Government officials.
COL PICoUHRT DENOUNCED
BY GENERALS GONZ, PELLIEUX AND
OTHER ARMY OFFICERS.
Testimony of Former Members of the
Cabinet-A Point for the Defense
Gained by M. Clemenceau.

Trarieux, the former minister of justice,
was completed at to-day's session at the
Assizes Court of the Seine before which
NJ ZoIa and NJ. Perreaux, manager of l.
Aurore, are being tried, the former for writ
ing and the latter for printing a letter
rejecting on the Esterhazy coErt-martial.
Mr.. Trarieux said that while he minis
ter Of justice he had nothing to do with
the Dreyfus affair. He approved of M.
Scheurer-K -Kestner's agitation of the matter.
When Commandant Fornisetti was called
M. Delagorgue, presiding judge, refused to
allow him to be questioned regarding the
Dreyfus case, and M. Laborie, counsel for
NJ. Zola, announced that owing to the action
of the court, he would abandon the ex-
animation of Commandant Fornisett
Captain Lebrun-Renaud, and others whom
he only desired to question regarding the
Dreyfus case.
Major Patty du Clam was called and re-
fused to reply to questions put to him rela-
tive to Nine. De Comminges. The major
also refused to reply to other questions on
the ground of professional secrecy"
General Gonz and Colonel Henry gave ex-
plana tions of the indiscretions of Colonel
Piquart, who had knowledge of some of the
secret papers of the Ministry for War.
General Felieux, who was appointed to
| investigate the Dreyfus case and on whose
report Major Esterhazy was court-mar-
| tailed, was examined. General Pellieux said
he would tell the whole truth and not plead
| professional secrecy He then proceeded
to relate the story of the Esterhazy in
quiry, and said NJ. Matthew Dreyfus and
| M. Scheurer- -Kestner both admitted that
they could not prove the charges against
Major Esterhazy. General Pellieux then in
dulged, amid applause in an outburst
against Colonel Picquart, whom he accused
Of divulging an espionage affair to an out
slider, exclaiming: "Such conduct is shame
| full"
| Referring to the bordereau the general de-
clared that the alleged fac SMILES pub
| lished were all fictitious. AS to the COM
promising letter sent to Major Esterhazy,
which might raise suspicious that he had
shady relations with a foreign agent, Gen.
Pellieux said: 1T is inconceivable that any
/ one could be so naive as to employ this
method of correspondence in a matter of
| such gravity" General Pellieux here ex-
! pressed indignation at the 'inexcusable ac-
tion of ColonelsPicquart in having Major
| Esterhazys S rooms burglarized without au-
| thority of any kind Colonel Picquart ad-
| mitted this the witness continued, land
/ when the court-martial acquitted Major
| Esterhazy I not astonished. / was
/ proud of having contributed to the ac-
quittal of Major Esterhazy which proves
| that in the French army there are not two,
but only one traitor" General Pellieux was
about to refer to the Dreyfus' case when
the presiding judge gently interposed his
usual veto.
M Dupuy, the former premier. was then
called, and M. Laborie began to question
him regarding the case of Dreyfus, which
the presiding judge vetoed, whereupon M.
Laborie announced that he would throw up
the examination of M. Dupuy and other
former ministers, as the rulings of the pre-
siding judge made it fruitless.
M. Thevenet, a former minister of justice.
| who was next examined, said he could
easily understand why M. Zola was exer-
| cised by the ''veiled Lady story. M. Zola.
he added. had acted in good faith. for COM
| plete light had not been thrown on this
matter, and that Zola's was not the only
mind troubled. M Thevenet expressed
satisfaction at the acquittal of Major Ester
hazy, which, he said proved there were no
| traitors in the French army, but he boldly
insisted" that complete light had not been
cast on this grave affair. which, he added,
interested the whole of Europe. He further
| expressed regret that the government had
| not spoken in order to restore tranquility
for the country. Uproar in court and vari-
| Gus cries) Continuing M. Thevenet said
/ he was astonished that the officers, instead
/ of giving open testimony, should haye taken
refuge behind professional secrecy"
M. Sale, lawyer, followed NJ. Thevenet
on the witness stand The presiding judge
refused to allow questions 10 be put to him
| concerning the Dreyfus case, and a heated
discussion between the judge and M. La
| borie ensued. The latter asked for a short
| adjournment in order to draw up formal
application that these questions be allowed.
When the hearing was resumed M. La
borie submitted the application referred to-,
| NJ. Clemenceau, counsel for l. Aurore, sup
porting him in a skilful maneuyer. The
latter asked that formal notice be taken of
the fact that NJ. Sale, on the witness stand,
has not denied that he was aware, though
a member of the court-martial, that a secret
document was submitted to the court-mar-
tiaI" The court refused both applications,
but NJ. CIemenceau by this ingenious ex-
pedlent of reading a question in the form
of an application practically obtained what
he wanted. The court then adjourned.
The excitement heightens daily over the
outcome of the unequal conflict between
fighting to impress the jury with the unfair
ness of the whole proceedings, looking to
the attitude of the general public on the
case. However, it is evident that he has a
difficult task before him.
Compared with the wild tumult of the
previous days, to-day's proceedings were
calm even to dullness The aspect of the
court was little changed. though many
ladies in springlike toilettes gave a touch of
color to the scene. The chief interest cen
tered in General Pellieuxs statement He
spoke for twenty minutes and was listened
to in silence until he referred to the foTger-
les. when the audience indulged in tumult-
uous conflicting comments. His statements
produced a profound impression. which,
however, was partially destroyed by. NJ. La
berries and NJ. Clemenceaus subsequent
examination.
Another scene occurred after the evidence
of Deputy De la Batut, whom Major Patty
Du Clam dubbed "a liar" Both men were
brought before the judge amid frenzy of
yells but the matter ended without the ex-
= pected duel.
-rna faat,,rp NJ fha daxt- ,,ro,.,at-,.... 80.