The San Francisco call., 1898-02-17
PELLIEUX
 HINTS AT
 EARLY WAR Creates a Sensation at the Trial of
 ZO1a. Intinates That France May Soon Need Her
 Army. Danger Is Perhaps Nearer Than the People Believe"
 He Says. DEFENSE OF ESTERHAZY. The General Insists That the Acquitted Man Was Not Traitor to
 His Country
Danger Is Perhaps Nearer Than the People Believe"
 He Says.
DEFENSE OF ESTERHAZY.
The General Insists That the Acquitted Man Was Not a Traitor to
 His Country.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


 PARIS, Feb. 16.-The Palafs of Jus tice on the ninth day of the trial of M Emile Zola and Perrieux was crowded as usual The presiding judge re jected M. Clemenceau's request of yes terday that he appoint magistrate t' question Mime. de Boulancey if among the letters she has from Major Ester hay there is not one containing tht following expressions:
 Firstly, General Saussier (then thu commander-in -in-chief of the Frencl army and military governor of Paris is a clown. In our country the Ger mans would not show him in a circus.
 Secondly, "If the Prussians got as fal as Lyons they might throw away theil guns and keep only their riding whip! to drive the French in front of them?'
 M. Laborie, counsel for M. Zola, re nounced the examination of the mem. bers of the EsterhaZy court-martial but he energetically demanded that General Elliot, the Minister for War be called to testify. The presiding judge, M. Delgarogue, invited NJ. Labo- rie to present conclusion to that ef- feet.
 General PellieuX, who conducted the investigation into the charges brought against Major Esterhazy, created a sensation by protesting against the ac- ceptance of the evidence of amateur experts who have not seen the original bordereau," adding that he also desired to raise his voice in the most emphatic manner against islanders which are cal culated to destroy confidence in the h 6 Nff Hn ,fo -I,1 d. ger is perhaps nearer than people be- lieve.''
 This statement of the general had a marked effect in court. General Pel- lieux said the first fac-simile which ap- peared in the Matin was the nearest correct of all. He added that there was writing on both sides of the pa per, which was f1imsy, and he be- neved that when the bordereau was phO- tographed, it was impossible to pre- vent the writing on the reverse side from showing through. As the ink used was somewhat faint, the wit ness thought it necessary to touch LID the writing in order to render 1t more distinct.
 Continuing, General Pellieux said he considered the proceedings showed that the defense attached no weight to the evidence of the sworn experts who had
 
 compared 1t with the acknowledged handwriting of the accused, while the testimony of amateurs, one a dentist and another foreigner, was received with full confidence.
 Such tactics do not surprise me. |" added the general since they were foreshadowed in my office by Matthieu Dreyfus, when bringing charges against Major Esterhazy. I asked him if he desired a second expert report on the bordereau. As he did not re- ply, I concluded that if the expert ex- animation had not been favorable to him, he would have demanded au- other.
 For some time there has been much talk of handwriting, people discussing who could have written the bordereau. Well l will prove to you here, with the papers in my hand, that the officer who wrote the bordereau belonged to the ministry of war, was an artilleryman and was seconded for service on the staff.'
 The statement of General Pellieux caused a sensation. M. Laborie here interrupted the witness, saying:
 T ask that Colonel Picquart. who is at the present moment at the house of Magistrate Berliese, be summoned to hear this evidence
 K. piled the presiding Judge
 M. Laborie, however, returned to the charge, protesting and insisting that Colonel Picquart be called. When Gen eral Pellieux was allowed to continue his evidence he said:
 An analysis of the bordereau indf- cates that only an artillery officer at tached to the war ministry could have known the facts or have used tha technicalities employed in the border eau. An infantryman could never in his life have spoken of the things of which the bordereau speaks. (Sensa- tion.)
 And now" exclaimed the general. raising his voice, what remains of ali this fabric? Not much. Yet they ac- cuse officers of acquitting a guilty man Tn pursuance of orders" Prolonged sensation)
 The general also said: T have the soul Of soldier, which revolts at hear ing the infamous aspersions showered upon us, and I can keep silence m longer l cannot stand still and see men trying to detach the army from its chiefs, for, if the soldiers cease to nave confidence in them, what will the chiefs do in the day of danger. which is, perhaps. nearer than people think Then, gentlemen of the jury, your sons would be led to simple butchery. but a f the same time M. Zola will have gained fresh victory and will have achieved a new debacle and will be able to lay his history before Europe, from which France has been wiped out.
 The effect of this outburst was in- tense. In conclusion General Pellieux said:
 We should have been glad if the court martial had acquitted Dreyfus. as 1t would have shown there was no traitor in the army for ali of us to mourne"
 Leaving the witness stand the gen. eral was long and loudly cheered.
 Advances made on furniture and pianos. win or without removal. J. Noonan, 10l7- 1923 Mission