New-York tribune., 1898-11-29
HOW DREYFUS WAS TRIED.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES BY A FORMER
CABINET MEMBER.
NJ. POINCARE SAYS THERE WAS NO EvI-
DENCE But THE FORGED BORDEREAU
NO HELP FOR PICOIrART YET.

NO HELP FOR PICQUART YET.
Paris Nov. 2S-M De Freyclnet, the Minis
ter Of War In the Chamber of Deputies to-day
refused TO intervene in the Picquart case. and
the Deputies approved the Governments dec
laraton regarding the separation OF military
and civil powers by vote of 49, to 1:5.
The Chamber was crowded to-day much in
terest being taken in the announced intention
Of some Of the Deputies to interpellate the Gov
ernment on the Pcquart case. Paul Deschanel
Republican. announced that he had received
request to interpellate the Government regard
ing the Picquart proceedings and NJ. Dupuy
the Premier. proposed an immediate discussion
Of the matter
NJ Fourniere Socialist. asked for adjourn
ment Of hour and a half in order that the
Republican Deputies might be able to consult
with their colleagues In the Senate regarding
the adoption OF a common policy. The Cham
ber rejected the motion by a vote Of 252 to 24f
NJ Bos Radical Deputy. opened the discuc
sion. He said that while there had been some
honesty in the Dreyfus prosecution. there had
been nothing but dishonesty In the Picquart
affair. These remarks caused unroar. Con
tinuing NJ Bos detailed the history OF the Pic
quart "persecution" recalling Colonel Pcquarts
exile to Tunis. and asked the Minister Of War
summoned for December r.
The Deputy also accused General Zurlinden.
the Military Governor OF Paris. who he said.
had promised revision Of the case. of having
broken his word This caused another uproar.
NJ. Bos ended by insisting that the Govern
ment ought TO postpone the trial Of Picquart
by court martial. the charge against him be-
ing that he had disclosed the contents OF GER
tain military documents to his counsel for legai
purposes growing out OF the Dreyfus affair, un-
til the decision of the Court Of Cessation In the
revision of the Dreyfus case is made known
This brought forth lively applause from the
majority Of the Deputies.
NJ Millerand. Radical Socialist. spoke in
similar strain. He said 1t was absolutely neces-
sary to postpone the Picquart court-martiai IN
order to avoid the scandalous contradictions
which otherwise likely to arise between
the verdlcts Of the court martial and the Court
of Cessation.
WILD SCENE IN THE CHAMBER
The President Of the Chamber at this stage
of the proceedings frequently obliged 10
intervene in order to quiet the uproar on all
sides.
NJ Poncar6. Republican. then made i'm
passiOned speech. in the course or whlch ne
said II was not necessary to confound the army
a
the court-nartiai were above suspicion. but
the prosecution Of Picquart savored OF reprsal.
Applause) Colonel Picquart's secret imprison-
ment. NJ Poincare further remarked. was be-
vond all precedent and there were guilty per-
sons who were enjoying scandalous immunity.
(Applause)
There are other forgers besides PicGuart who
ought 10 be prosecuted" exclaimed the Deputy.
"These njustices will end by exa5perating the
nation"
NJ Poncare. who was Minister of Public In
struction lS93-'9j created a sensation by add
ing:
We were attacked for tie Dreyfus prosecu-
ton in 1894. but I learned OF the Dreyfus af-
far through the newspapers
Tremendous applause and uproar followed
this assertion.
NJ. Barthou who was Minister Of Public
Works in 1894. here lnterjected:
II am ready to indorse the words OF NJ
Poincare which are true"
This called forth more applause and exclama-
tions Of 1T Is absurd 1T is inconceivablei"
NO CONFESSION FROM DREYFrs
Thereupon NJ Poncare added: THE only
proof of Dreyfus's outlines In 1894 consisted
OF the bordereau. No Cabinet Minister. nor
even the President Of the Council Of Minister'S
heard any mention Of the confession Dreyfus
is alleged TO have made to Captain Lehrun-
Renault." (Appause)
NJ Cavaignac, the former Minister OF War
here intcrjected:
General MERCER secured these confessions
General MERCER was Minister OF War at the
time of the Dreyfus trial
NJ. Poincare continued: Captain Lebrun-
Renault, when he examined by the Presi-
dent Of the Council did not mention the Drey-
fus confession"
This statement caused applause 10 break forth
from all parts OF the house. during which NJ
Cavaignac tried to sreak but was howled down.
although one Deputy shouted:
Let us hear the hero OF the forgery.
NJ Poincare ended by saying
"Silence has weighed heavily upon me- and l
am now happy to have had the opportunity to
tell what | know Of the case" CRenewed ap-
plause)
CAVAIGNACS RETORT
NJ Cavaiglac reasserted that Captain Le-
brun- Renaut's evidence given to General
Nercier His report exists" he exclaimed.
amid uproar and cries Of date" date but
ocrhaDs Captain Iebrun- Renault has since
tractcd his admissions"
Shouts of surprise followed this suggestion.
NJ de Freycinet said: The Government. on
assuming Office found the proceedings pending
We have only one anxiety. and that is to ascer-
tain the truth We do not object to furnishing
the Court OF Cessation with all the evidence
available. excepting the evidence involving the
national defence Both the civil and the mill