Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-12
ZOLA'S BEST WITNESS
HE IL COL. PIQUART, OF THE Al
GERIAN TIRAILLEURs.
HE MAKES A FINE IMRESSION.
His Testimony Very Damaging to
His Superior Omcers and Fnvor-
able to Dreyfus-PopuIar "Boosv
for Zoln-Apti-Hebrew Riot.

|
OF NJ Iola and Perrieux commenced. NJ.
Zola and Colonel Picquart were greeted
with hostile cries on their arrival.
| The proceedings opened with the recall
OF General Pellieux. who testified that
| General Saussier. the former Military
| Governor of Paris, desired a public trial
for Major Esterhazy. but General Billot,
the Minister for War, ordered that the
trial be in secret. Nevertheless, the wit
ness added, the court-martial refused 70
Keep the entire proceedings secret, and,
therefore, II was impossible to contend
that Major Esterhazy was acquitted by
order Of the authorities.
| General Pellieux also said: "Tf the men,
bers of the court-martial, who spilled
| their blood on battle-felds while others
were-now no one knows where" pro-
| longed applause), had been heard here,
| they would have Indignantly repudiated
| the accusations against them. j, their
| chief, will be their mouthpiece, and l af-
| firm that the court-martial was regular"
referring to the papers examined at
| the War Office by unauthorized persons,
| the General said they referred to carrier
| pigeons ana not 10 DreNluS.
The Dreyfus papers, added General Pei
lieuX, were sealed after the conviction Of
Captain Dreyfus in 1891, and were not
opened until quite recently when the wit
ness opened them in order TO re-examine
the writing of the "bordereau." The pa
| pers had since been sealed up and had
not been reopened.
| General PellieuX also said he desired TO
| emphaticaly deny the statement Of Nj.
| Leblois, that NM. Leblois and Henry held
| a two-hours' conference with him in a
| private room.
PICQUART'S TESTIMONY
| Colonel Pcquart was then called and
narrated how he had acquired fragments
| OF a teegraphic card in 1896, and con-
| cluded therefrom that Major Esterhazy
| was corresponding with suspicious char
| acters. His chiefs ordered him to
| continue his investigations, and he pro-
| cured some Of Major Esterhazy's hand
writing, which, compared with certain
| documents, led to the conclusion that
| Major Esterhazy was improperly using
| official papers. Colonel Picquart said
| further Il was struck with the resem-
| GLANCE Of Major Esterhazy's handwriting
| 10 the bordereau, and / submitted
photographs to NJ. Bertillon and Major
| Patty du Clam, and NJ. Bertillon declared
| II was exactly the same as that Of the
| 'bordereau' adding: The Jews would
do anything i'm the world to procure that
writing Major Patty du Clam said 1T
was the handwriting of Dreyfus.
Continuing. Colonel Picquart said he
knew a superior officer whose name was
| mighty, mentioned as furnishing docu-
menfs 10 a foreign Power adding that
| he did not wish TO further disclose Sc
crets while he Uhe ColoneD was still in
vestgatng.
Continuing he said: "The newspapers
began ar agita>On and interpretations
| commenced I'm the Chamber. adding TO my
difficulties. Then / was sent TO Tunis,
where all letters sent me were opened.
When / was summoned back from Tunis.
to attend the Esterhazy inquiry General
Pellieux treated me as the real defendant.
refusing to listen to my charges against
Major Esterhazy."
Colonel Picquart pointed out that while
the anti-Dreyfus papers published fac
SMILES of the "bordereau," they did not
publish a fac-simile Of the letter written
by Dreyfus at Major Patty Du Clans die
tation "as it would have been too en-
barrassing." the witness implying that
comparison would have tended to show
that Dreyfus was not the author OF the
"bOrdereau."
ISSUE WITH PELLIEUX.
Colonel Picquart emphaticaly denied
General PellieuXs statement of yesterday
that he had divulged an espionage ailalr
10 outsiders He candidly admitted send
ing an agent to Major Esterhazy's apart
ments but he pointed out that at the
time Major EsterhaZy's fiat was adyer-
tised to let and his agent only brought
him an unimportant letter, which, how
ever. served for a comparison OF hand
writing. The agent reported that a num-
ber of letters had been burned in a fire.
place.
Colonel Picauart added that he commu-
nicated his suspicious of the guilt OF Ma
ior Esterhazy 10 his chiefs VINO never
said they had additional evidence OF the
guilt of Dreyfus beyond what he hlmseH
knew.
The witness concluded by stating that
| the intrigues of officials, of which he had
been the victim. had been aimed to pre-
vent him from demonstrating the guilt
Of Major Esterhazy.
N. Iaborie then questioned Colonel Pic
quart regarding the secret document, and
the witness said: 81 knew OF the exist
ence of the secret document. but only
saw il when General Pellieux showed IL
10 me-" s.,o..
The witness could not give any further
particulars, on account of professional
secrecy"
The Colonel was then asked by NJ La
horie If he saw the original "bordereau'
and admitted that he mad, but said ne
was chiefly acquainted with the photo-
granhic reproduction circulated al lhe
war Ministry. He also admitted having
seen the document in which figured the
nbrase "This 'canaille rascaD -,
which had been so much talked about III
the French press.
ZOLA'S BEST WITNESS.
Colonel Picouart was the best witness
for NJ Zola thus far heard. He attracted
The closest attention. and presented me
aonearance in the elegant uniform OF the
Agerian TYrailleurs He made an excel
lent impression upon all present In court.
tIis evidence was very damaging 10 ms
sunerior officers and favorable TO Drey-
fms and il also showed him TO have Deeh
the victim Of persecution since ne began
his endeavor TO probe the truth.
At the conclusion OF his evidence Colo-
nel Picouart met with an enthusiastic re-
cention from the public. There were cries
of Long live Picquartr and Long ive
the armyl' in which many of the law
yers joined. -,
Tho higher military officers were visi-
49,. annoved at the effect of Colonel Pic
quarts testimony.
Major Ravary was the next witness.
NJ iaborie reproached him with impro-
rarIv conducting the Esterhazy inquiry.
a. which the Major replied: Military
,net,ce Is not conducted like yours" The
yenark caused murmuring in the court.
which was then adjourned.
~.