Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-11
THE DIRE YFUS CASE
Again Comes Up in Ester
hazy Trial at Paris.
The Noble Count Undergoing Court
Martial for High Treason.
Oreyius' Vile and Brother in Courts oaday's
Sensational testimony

Paris. Jan. 1o-Thc trial by court
! martial Of Major Count Ferdinand
| Walsin ESterhaZy. the retired officer Of
| the French army. who came into prom
| incncc at the latter part of November.
last, through the publishing by the
1 Figaro of a number of letters which
the count is alleged to have admitted
writing, rejecting in strong terms up
on France and the French army. was
cpe ned at O'Clock, this morning, under
! the presidency of Gen. De Luxcr.
| The hall in which the trial took place
| was guarded by the Gardee Republi-
| caine and only holders Of tickets were
admitted. Among those who filled the
hall were Nine. Dreyfus. wife of Alfred
| Dreyfus. the former captain Of French
artillery, now undergoing imprison-
ment for life, after having been con-
victed Of selling important French mil
itary plans to agents Of foreign pow
er, with which affair Esterhazy is said
to have been connected
TIVE brothers of Nine. Rreyfus. Sen
| ator Trarieux. 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 present shape only
means asking the court to confirm the
guilt of Dreyfus, ard many officers and
/ deputies, were present.
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 and
thereupOn Maitre Laborie, counsel for
| Nine. Dreyfus, asked permission to
| take part in the arguments.
/ Counsel for the government opposed
/ the application. declaring the cour.
/ would not reopen the ease of Alfred
/ Dreyfus who, he added had been just
+ ~ ard legally condemned.
| The governments counsel also OPP
! posed the application of counsel of
I Matthew Dreyfus- brother Of the pris-
4 oner If Devils ISLAND. to appear dur
/ ing the proceedings. The court re-
/ jected both applications and the taking
/ Of Testimony commenced
I Matthew Dreyfus WINS then examined.
/ He WAS asked to state the basis of his
4 accusation against Esterhazy and he re-
I piled that. without being an expert. IL
was only necessary 10 compare the writ.
ing in the Bordereau and Mai or Ester
hays handwriting in order to be con-
WINGED that they were identical. Continu-
ing. he made learned graphological
statement.
Moreover. he pointed to the majors
having subsequently tried to modify his
! handwriting as confirmation of his sus-
picions In reviewing other suspicious
actions Of the ma 1or. IN quoted n letter
in which EStcrhazy said:
II am in such plight that / can only
reckon myself by crime"
This. said Dreyfus. dramatically
was written by an officer who has the
honor TO wear the uniform Of Il French
officer
Counsel Esterhazy asked Dreyfus who
was paying the enormous cost Of circu-
Iatng pamphlets respecting Major Ester
hazy." to which Drcyfus replied: That
is my business, not yours.
This remark caused excitement among
thos'' present and brought forth shouts
Of miserable.
NJ. Schurer- keStncr one Of the vice
presidents Of the Senate. examined.
lie said that when Dreyfus con-
demned he b"lieycd him guilty. and he
did so until Matthew DreyfuS came and
mplorcd his aid The senator then made
a personal inquiry. because 1t must be
admitted that both military and civil tri.
l,unals may make mistakes"
Matthew learned. continued NJ. Scheurer-
kesfner. that an opinion had been ex-
pressed at the ministry of war that the
Bordcreau was written by EstcrhaZy-
j no senator furtnfr remarked.
81 learned that distinguished officer.
the head of the intelligence department.
had been sent away. and letters were
shown me. confidcntialy, proving that
Gen. DoDgc was of the same opinion
Col. Picquart.
lie then reviewed his communications
with the minister OF war with the view
Of rcopcnng the affair and concluded
with saying:
II cannot say the Bordereau was writ
ten by Major Estcrhazy. but 1 affirm
that the writing has a greater rcscm-
blancc to the majors than to that of
Drcyfus.
4 house owner of AutctIiel testified that
the mistress Of EsterhaZy asked him To
cancel lease signed by Esterhazy, as
the latter had declared he was dis
honorcd. said he intended TO commit sui
eide ana feared the police would seal up
his cha nberE
Al this point Major Esterhazy denied
having uttered the words attributed to
him and Mime Pays. his mistress. made
similar denial.
The question OF letter affecting the
major then arose. This missve. which
was addressed to q friend named Well
found its way into the possession Of
friends Of Dreyfus We'll denied that he
gave it 10 the friends Of the convict: but
Esterhazy, in vehement outburst said;
of all the infames Of which | am the
victim Well : treason gives me the most
pain. rendered him services OF which
/ will not state the nature here. / am not
d coward and traitor
The remarks brought forth cheers from
the audience.
Col. Pxcquart was the next witness and
the court decided to take his testimony
behind closed doors The court was then
cleared. This decision 10 conceal the
evidence az the most important witnesses
Of the trial caused much dissatisfaction.
.,
THREATENED WITH BOMBS.