The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-11
DREYFUS CASE INVOLVED.
CAPTAIN DENIED THE RIGHT
TO APPEAR.
ance on the Stand of the
Principal Witness.


nence in the latter part of November
last, through the publication by Figaro,
Of a number of letters which the count
is alleged to have admitted writing,
rejecting in strong terms on France
and the French army, was opened at
9 o'clock this morning under the presi-
denCy Of Gen de LuXer. Among those
who filed the hall were Nine. Dreyfus,
wife Of Albert Dreyfus, former captain
of the French artillery, now undergoing
imprisonment for life after having been
convicted of selling important French
military plans to agents CT foreign
power, With which affair EsterhaZy is
said to have been connected: the broth
er of Nine. Dreyfus, Senator Traireux,
the former minister of justice (who
last week wrote a letter asking for the
postponement of the court martial. on
the ground that to try the case in its
ptesnt shape only means asking the
court to confirm the guilt of Dreyfus)
and many officers and deputies.
Count Esterhazy appeared in uni
form, and escorted by republican
guards. The clerk of the court said
the court martial was held in order
to end the contradictory rumors which
had been spread by the excited public.
Thereupon, Maitre La Borie. counsel
for Nine. Dreyfus, asked permission
to take part in the arguments. Coun-
sci for Matthew Dreyfus. brother of the
prisoner, of Devils island. also asked
permission to appear during the pro-
ceediugs. The court rejected both ap-
plications
Before the taking of testimony began
the question of holding the investiga-
ton in secret come UP.
Counsel for the government said
that a public trial might be inirnicaI to
the interests of the national defense
and demanded secret hearing The
court decided, hy a majority of i've to
Two, that the trial should be public.
until the moment when publicity might
appear to prejudice the national de-
teEse. The court having thus yielded
TO public opinion. the report of the
Investigating officer. Mai Ravarv. was
read. 1t comp etely whitewashed Count
EsteIhazy, and was generally regarded
as being serious indictment of Col
PlcGuart, whose arrest when this trial
IS finished, is anticipated.
Col Ptcquart, according to the In
transigeant, was in the latter part of
November sentenced to thirty days de-
tentton in a fortress. He was an Off
Ger summoned from the United States
to Paris in connection with the Dreyfus
affair, and his statements were report
ed to be the basis of the accusations
brought against Count ESterhazy The
report of Maj. Ravary does not adduca
much evidence, except the decIarat ion
of the experts that the famous note
was not written by Count Esterhazy.
The report observes that the colonel is
the soul of the present agitation, and
that he is guilty of serious shortcom-
iEgs and indiscretions. The report con-
tinueS with the statement that Col
Plcquart, in 1896, was surprised while
examining secret documents belonging
to the general staff, and concludes:
Every step taken in this sad affair.
Whlch causes such anguish to all
really French hearts, is intended to
obtain a reversal of judgment legally
and justly pronounced. No tangible
judicial proof of Mai Esterhazy's
guilt is forthcoming, nor is there ade-
Guate evidence to support the charge of
high treason The court then adjourn
ed until o'clock.
When the trial was resumed, Mai.
EsterhaZy testified that he became
aware Of the plot against him through
anonymous letters which led to his
Il. L
had communicated the results of that
meeting to Gen Billot, the minister of
war, and President Faure The major
ended by following Maj. Ravary's cue.
and accused Col. Picquart of burgIariz
ing his residence and stealing letters.
Matthew Dreyfus was then examined
He was asked to state the basis Of
his accusation against Maj. Esterhazy
and replied that, without being an ex-
70
the writing in the note and Mai. Ester
hays handwriting in order to be con-
WINGED that they were Identical In re-
viewing other suspicious actions of
the major, NJ. Dreyfus quoted a. letter
in which Esterhazy said: 'T am in
such plight that 1 can only recover
myself by crime" Counsel for Mai
Esterhazy thereupon asked NJ. Drey-
Jus who was paying the enormous
costs of circulating pamphlets respect
ing Maj. Esterhazy." to which NJ.
Dreyfus replied: THAT is nv bust
ness, not yours This remark caused
excitement among those present and
brought forth shouts of Miserable"
M Scheurer-kestner, one of the vice
presidents of the senate, was en-
amined. He said that when he was
condemned he believed Dreyfus guilty.
and continued in that belief until
Matthew Dreyfus came and fmplored
his aid. The senator then made a per
sonal inquiry, because it must be ad-
mitted that both military and civil
tribunals may make mistakes"
Matthew learned, continued NJ.
Scheurer-kestner, that an opinion had
been expressed at the ministry for war
that the note was written by Mai.
EsterhaZy. The senator further re-
marked: ct learned that a distin-
guished officer, head of the intelligence
department. had been sent away. and
letters were shown me confidentiaIIv
proving that Gen. Donge was of the
same opinion as Col Picquart." M.
department had been sent away and
communications with Gen. Billet (the
minister for war; with the view of re-
opening the affair and concluded with
saying, Il cannot say the bordereau
was written by Maj. Esterhazy. but l
affirm that the writing has a greater
resemblance to Maj. Esterhazy's than
that of Dreyfus."
and the court, after a hasty delibera-
ton, decided to take his testimony be-
hind closed doors. The court was
then cleared.
This decision to conceal the evil
dence of the most important witness
of the trial caused much dissatisfac-
ton
The general impression is that the
days proceedings have revealed the
utter hollowness of the Dreyfusfan
charges against Comte Esterhazy and
the f1imsiness of the reasons for their
belief in the innocence of Dreyfus
The evidence of Matthew Dreyfus was
exceedingly weak. There was a SEN