The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09

which he had received menacing letters.
When doubts on the Dreyfus matter arose
NJ Scheurer-kestne questioned the witness
on the foregoing matter, and the witness
gave him certain information, including let
ters which General Gonz wrote to Picquart,
which convinced NJ. Scheurer- Kestner of the
innocence of Dreyfus. The witness urged
Scheurer- -Kestner to apply TO the minister
of justice to annul the Dreyfus judgment,
in view Of the secret document submitted
to the court martial, but as he was lacking
in material proofs, NJ. Scheurer-Kestne had
not acted Immediately. Continuing, the wit
ness spoke of the intrigues against Colonel
Picquart when the latter was transferred to
Tunis. Finally the witness laid the matter
before the government,
NJ. Scheurer- -Kestner, who was next ex-
amined said he learned last July that Col.
Pcquart had discovered that the bordereau
had not been written by Dreyfus. and he
submitted Major Esterhazy's handwriting
to NJ Bertillon, who agreed that it was in
the same hand as the bordereau. Witness
suggested to General Gonz that fresh expert
examination be made, but the general dis
suaded him from so doing.
At this stage of the proceedings M.
Scheurer-Kestner was about to give the gist
Of the correspondence between Gen. Gonz
and Col Picquart, showing that Gen. Gonz
favored reopening of the Dreyfus case, but
the presiding Judge ruled that the evidence
was inadmissihle.
NJ I.aborie then intervened, saying: II
ask that these letters be read in court. NJ.
Zola was aware of the existence of these
letters 1t is time that light was thrown
into the case
The Judge, however, reiterated that the
letters were inadmissible, as previous notice
had not been given. This caused M. La
borie to remark: "There is still time to
communicate them to you and then to the
jury"
"You know that Is impossible" replied
the Judge, "as the law formally forbids it. ="
NJ Clemenceau counsel for M. Perreaux,
here declared that Col. Picquart submitted
these letters to the president. of the Drey-
fus court-martial, who impounded them
without reading them to the court, thus it
was impossible to give notification of them
as evidence.
COL. PIcQUARTS LETTERS.
NJ Scheurer-Kestner then sketched the
contents of the letters in which Col Pic
quart wrote that fresh facts had been dis
covered which would be eagerly seized
on by the Dreyfusians, who would create a
great scandal" Gen. Gonz replied that it
was "too late to stop the matter now" Col.
Picquart, in another letter, according to the
witness, urged that the whole affair be ex-
posed, or there would be scandal.
Continuing the witness said: "I went TO
Gen. Bilot, the minister for war, and told
him what / knew. / offered to commune
cate Gen. Gonzs letters. but he refused.
Then it was agreed that the interview
should not be divulged. Nevertheless, the
government newspapers published an ac-
count of the interview. L had interviews
with the premier, M. Meline, and told him
everything 1 knew"
M. Scheurer- -Kestner further said that he
never mentioned the name of Esterhazy,
except to the government. But, some time
later. Matthew Dreyfus (brother of Alfred
Dreyfus) came to him and declared that he
also had discovered that Esterhazy was the
author of the bordereau, whereupon the
witness told Matthew Dreyfus to write to
the minister of war, which he did, denounc-
ing Esterhazy.
M Zola here asked M. Scheurer-Kestner
to give the court details of his interview
with the minister of war, and the witness
did So recounting how he had begged his
old friend to take the initiative in the mat
ter, adding: II gave him a fortnight to
make up his mind, during which time 1 was
insulted as a Prussian."
'Yes" interjected M. Zola, "as they now
treat me as an Italian
There was much stir in court when it was
announced that M. Casimir- Perier, the for
mer President of the French republic, would
be the next witness. When he was called
the presiding judge satd "You swear to
speak without animus and fear, and to
speak the truth and nothing but the
truth"
COULD NOT TELL THE TRUTH.
NJ. Casmir-Perier at this point interrupt
ed the judge, saying: Pardon me, cannot
swear to tell the truth, because 1 cannot do
so. 1t is my duty not to tell it,"
This statement caused commotion
among the audience. The presiding Judge
resumed. 1.-THE law compels you, before
even speaking or refusing to testify to take
the oath" NJ. Casimir-Pere then took the
oath.
"Can you say" asked NJ Laborie, 'if,
when you were President you knew be-
fore his arrest that staff officer was sus-
pected of treason, and that charges had
been made against him?"
The presiding judge intervened, saying:
'You cannot ask that. This Intervention
aroused murmurs in court.
Counsel for NJ. Zola then put another
question to M. Casimir-Perer, saying:
Did M. Casinir-Perier know that a secret
file of papers existed at the War Ministry"
II was not aware of file of papers con-
cerning Major Esterhazy," was the reply.
did YOU" continued Nj. Laborie know
that a secret document was handed to the
court-martial?"
'You cannot ask that question" inter
rupted the presiding judge, a statement
which caused renewed murmurs in court.
''I do not know any facts subsequent to
my presidency" said M. Casimr-Perier. 81
can only speak as q private citizen, which
L am willing to do"
You are setting a noble example," re-
piled NJ Laborie, (which other witnesses
have not deemed fit to follow, since 1t has
been necessary to bring them here by
force" (Applause)
NJ Laborie here made formal applica-
ton, 'in the interests of justice" that his
previous questions be allowed to be put.
The judges, after deliberatins: on the mat
ter refused to allow the question
M. De Castro. banker, was the next
named. He declared he recognized the
ideItity OF the handwriting Of Major Es-
terhazy and that Of the writer of the bor-
doreau. The witness revealed this discov-
cry to Matthew Dreyfus, and, he added, he
had since received a number of threatening
letters