The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-18
DREYFCS DEFENSE.
M. Bertulus and Colonel Picquart
Favor the Prisoner.
MADAME HENRY ON THE STAND,


other Forgery Brought to Light II
the Celebrated Case.
Rennes. Aug. 1S.-The case for thu
defense in the Dreyfus trial by cour
martial began yesterday. Genera
Roget, M. Bertulus. the investigating
magistrate, the widow of the late
Lieutenant Colonel Henry and Colone
Picquart were on the stand.
Mr.. Bertulus. who was examining
magistrate in the early stages of the
Dreyfus revision proceedings, and who
has long declared his absolute con-
viction of the innocence of Dreyfus,
was the first witness put forward by
Maitre Demange in behalf of the ac-
cused. He declared that Colonel Du
Patty De Clam and Mile. Pays were the
authors of the Blanche" and "sper-
ANA" kilograms sent to Picquart.
M. Bertulus then related the notable
interview between himself and Liet-
tenant Colonel Henry July 1S, 1898,
shortly before Henry committed sui
eide. This, naturally, was painful
recital for Nine. Henry, the widow,
who was much distressed and wept
silently as the dramatic scene, when
Bertulus and Henry proceeded to seal
up the seized papers, was depicted.
After recapitulating his other evil
dence before the court of cessation M.
Bertulus energetically affirmed his be-
lief in the innocence of Dreyfus. He
declared the bordereau was in three
pieces and not in little bits. He also
said 1t did not reach the war office by
the ordinary channels.
M. Bertulus also said his belief in the
innocence of Dreyfus was also based
on documents in the secret dossier
which he had seen and the absence of
a motive which could have tempted
Dreyfus to have committed such
crime. without motive" emphatic
ally declared the experienced magis-
trate, there was no crime. You have
been told that Dreyfus is guilty. For
myself l believe. and believe pro-
foundly, in his innocence. If come
here to tell you SO, you will understand
that it is because my conscience tells
me that in SO doing l am performing
a duty, an absolute duty The court
of cessation has declared the border
eau to be the work of Esterhazy. Now,
the court of cessation is the supreme
authority in all matters Of Justice in
France"
The evidence of M Bertulus was, on
the whole, favorable to Dreyfus in the
judgment of civilian listeners. Unfor-
tunately his reputation is blown upon.
n hnlU how of %>
South Railway gang, and, as the magis-
trate sent to investigate their swindle,
played into their hands. M. Bertulus is
an epicurean and has shocked Rennes
people by his rather gay relations with
former actress, who somehow rolls in
riches.
Nine. Henry. after M. BStulus had
deposed, asked leave to speak. She
stood up in STACEY manner, raised her
left hand and said "Je demande la
parole" q ask to be heard). She
wanted to contradict what Bertulus
had said regarding the friendship of
her husband and Esterhazy. "On July
18, the day my husband called on M.
Bertulus," she said. "the colonel, in
the course of conversation that even
&,
charming reception. He described how
the magistrate advanced to meet him
and held out his arms. said to my
husband: Are you sure of this man?
Are you sure he is sincere? am very
much afraid that his kiss was the kiss
Of Judas was not wrong. This man
is indeed the Judas imagined"
Referring to the papers which ar
rived at the same time as the bor-
dereau, Nine. Henry said
"These papers were not all torn in |
thousand pieces. I was able to note
that personally. Letters often came en-
tire. NJ. Bertulus has maintained that
everything arrived in pieces. That is |
false. have nothing more to say"
M. Bertulus said he did not desire to
reply to Mme Henry, adding: "She is
only woman"
II am not a woman" exclaimed Nine.
Henry, furiously; 81 speak in the |
name of my husband"
The incident caused great excite
ment in court
Colonel Picquart was then called to
the witness stand. He protested most
firmly against all suspicion of having
caused the disappearance of any docu-
ment relating to Dreyfus. He described
the CONSERVATION in the war office
when the treason was discovered, and
the relief experienced when It was
thought the guilty person had been
discovered 1t was then the witness
discovered the similarity between the
of Dreyfus and that of the
hn n 1T
Patty de Clam, who was supposed to
lave psychological knowledge"
Beyond the bOrdereau,' added the
Witness there was nothing against
Dreyfus-absolutely nothing"
The colonel next declared that In
1894 he did not know the contents of
he secret dossier, but be believed, like
I'll other officers. that 1t contained
rlshtful proofs against the prisoner.
When he became acquainted with its
contents, however. he found that his
earlier impressions were entirely
Continuing Colonel Picquart
defended himself against the charge
hat he had always directed his efforts
owards the rehabilitation of Dreyfus.
lie said he had only directed the in
,estigetions made to the end when he
became aware that the writings of
Esterhazy and the bordereau were
IDENTICAL, and that. consequently. the
harges against Dreyfus no longer ex-
sted.
Colonel Picquart then declared he
Iad never seen Dreyfus copy the small.
st document in the war Office. He
Ldded: ut was in Major Du Patv ds
Ilam's department that the search
hould have been made, or, rather, in
lis private room, where he worked
lutte alone"
Du Patty de Clam, continued the wit
less, had been guilty of grave impru-
lence in having, contrary to the regu-
ations, had confidential documents