The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-11
. wHIrEwAsHlNG EsTEnHAzY.
Trial otthe Connt n Cut ana Dried
Affair.

Trial oftho Count Cut and Dried
Affair.
a'aris, JAM 10.-The trial by court
Iharsial of Major Count Ferdinand
Waisln Estt.rhazey, the retired officer
OIL tho French Army who c1me In
prominence in the latter part of No
Vcmber last through the publication
py Figaro of number of letters, which
the Count is alleged to have admitted
Winting. rejecting in strong terms up
on france and the French army, was
opened at O'Clock this morning.
The clerk Of the court said the court
martial was held In order to end the
contradictory rlmorss which had been
spread by the excited public. There
upon Alattre Laborte, counsel for Nine
Dreyfus, asked permission to tllie part
tn the arguments. Counsel for the
Government opposed the application,
declaring that the court would not re-
open the case of Alfred Dreyfus who,
he added, had been justly and legally
condemned
The Governments counsel also op-
posed the application OF counsel for
Matthew Dreyfus, brother Of the pr!s-
Cner of Devils Island, to appear dur
ing the proceedings. The court reject
ed both applications and the taking of
testimony commenced
Counsel for the Government said
that public trial nlight be inmical TO
the interests of the national defense,
and demanded n secret hearing. The
court retired ard arcter am hours alb
sence, returned and the president an
nounced. in the name of the French
people, that 1t had been decided by n
majority OF five TO two that the trial
should be public, until the moment
when publicity might appear Ia prcju-
dice the national defense.
The count having thus yielded to
public opinion, the report of the inves-
tigating officer. Major Ravary, was
read. 1t completely white washed
Count Estel'hazy, and was generally
regarded as boing q serious indictment
OF Col. Plcquart, whose arrest. when
this trial is finished, is anticipated,
Colonel Pcquart, according to the
lntransigeant. was in the latter part
oil November sentenced to thirty days
detention in q fortress. He was an
olilccr summoned from the United
states to Paris in connection with the
Dreyfus affair, and his statements
were reported to be the basis of the
ESterha2ey
The report of Major Ravary does
not adduce much evidence, except the
deciaration of the experts that the
famous Borderaeu (note) was not writ
ten by Count EsterhaZey. 1t contains
the counts protest against the "cal-
luminous imputations" made by Colonel
ilcquart who. 1t appears. without au-
tnorlty, caused him 10 be Shadowed
me report observes that the Colonel
IS the soul of the present agitation
ana that he Is guilty of serious short
comings and indiscrctions.
me Judge put n series OF casy uues-
ions 10 Major IGsterhazey, 10 which
the latter evidently had made answers.
Inc Major ended by following Major
RaEary's cue. and accused Colonel pic
quart of hurglariz!ng his room and
stealing letters
Mathieu Dreyfus was then examined.
lie was asked to state the basis of his
accusation against Major Esterhazcy
anu replied that, without being an eX-
pert, 1t was only necessary to compare
me writing in the Bordeareau and
Major EsterhaZey's handwriting in
order to be convinced that they were
Identical. Continuing NJ Dreyfus
MADE n learned graphological state
ment. Moreover, he pointed to the
fact that Major Esterhazey subse-
quenily tried to modify his handwrit
ing as confirmation of his suspicious
In reviewing other suspicious actions
OF the Major, NJ. Dreyrus quoted a let
ter In which EsterhaZey said: "I am
in such a plight that I can only re-
cover myself by crime"
counsel for Major Esterhazey there
upon asked NJ Dreyfus who was pay
inE The enormous costs of clrculat
ms pamphlets respecting Major Ester
hnZey,' to which Mr.. Dreyfus re-
piled:
That Is my business, not yours"