Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-08-18
He Was Counsel for Dire yfus Be-
fore the Board OF
Cessation.
PICQUART FINISHES EVIDENCE
If II go
An Arrest of a Man Who Pro-.
claimed Himself Laborl's ~
rAssailant. - -

was resumed at the Ly Gee at 7:25 this
morning, Colonel Picquart, former chief
OF the intelligence department of the
war Office, was called to the witness
stand and continued his deposition,
which was interrupted yesterday by sd-
journment.
Thescolonel gaye'his testimony in the
same loud and fearless tone of voice
that characterized his manner yester-
day. LIE began by declaring he thought
it necessary to Immediately reply to
General Roget's veritsble arrsignment
0f1iitn while on the stand. I-,
at the outset of Colonel Picquart's
remarks Roget interposed and said he
would reply to them. Continuing, Col
onel Picqnart proceeded to discuss the
secret coss.er as being the handspring
Of The condemnation of Dreyfls. He
took up The documents successfully,
referring TO the writers and addresses |
of the letter as A and b.
Maitre Mornard, who argued the case
in behalf of Dreyfus' family for revision
OF the prisoners sentence before the
court of cessation, was present this
morning to assist M. Demange, counsel
for the defense.
At the conclusion of Colonel Pic
o,-fb
MerCier rose together and asked to be |
confronted with the witness. The con-
frontation, however, only lasted few |
minutes and did not prove sensational,
having reference to comparatively mi |
nor points. After Picquart reiterated |
his statements, court adjourned at II 40 |
Q. m. until tomorrow. The deposition |
of Colonel -Picqnart occupied the entire |
session.
Col. Plcquart practically occupied |
the whole of. tOdays sitting with a |
masterfai presentatIoa of his si0e of |
the case. He spoke five hours and his |
voice at the end of that time began to |
show signs of fatigue. His testimony |
was followed with the closest attention |
by the members of the court martial |
and by the audience and during the
brief suspension by the court, Generals
Mercier, Roget, Billot and De Boise
and different other witnesses gathered
in groups, Rninatedly discussing Pic
quarts evidence, which, though it con-
tanned but few new facts, so cleverly
placed before the tribunal and was
spoken so effectively that it. could not
fail to repeat the impression made yes
terday. --.-..---------.-.
During the deposition Col. Picquart
said his suspicious were aroused against
Esterhazy because of his immoral life
and eagerness to get into the war office.
Finally be secured sample of Ester
;iasy's handwriting and was struck with
itsssimilarity to the bordereau. He be-
gan Aan investigation. Continuing he
said: "When l saw beyond doubt that
the handwriting of the bordereau was
EsterhaZy's and seeing the documents
mentioned therein might have been
supplied by Esterhazy, that the words,
4 am going to the manoeuvres' could
perfectly apply to Esterhazy and that
Esterhazy had secret advices at his dis
posal and copy of a document SO vol
luminous as the firing manuel re-
solved to consult the secret dossier and
see what part of the treachery might be
whether the dossier contained anything
indicating EsterhaZy.
Il frankly admit | was stupefed on
reading the dossitr. Iexpected to lind
matters of gravity !herefu and found,
in short, nothing but a document which
might Apply just as much to Esterhazy
rs TO Dreyfus, an unimportant docu-
ment mentioning UAglgnon and a
document which seemed absurd to ap-
ply 10 Dreyfus, namely, the "Uette
canaIl.e de d. document.
LASTLY, lrecognIzed report ap-
pended III the handwriting OF Gonse, !
which appeared to be as worthless as
The second document"
Dreyfus drank in all the witness
words, which came as balm to wounds
Inflicted upon him by MeTcier and Ro- |
get, and the prisoner frequently and
closely scanned the faces OF his judges
as though seeking to read their
thoughts.
From the standpoint of the spectators
the session was the most uneventful |
one since the opening of the trial. Even
| the conformation at the end lacked
dramatic force similar to the incidents
which have marked almost every Lre-
vious sitting
Picquarts deposition was a fine per.
formanLe He spoke without notes
and in view of the mass of facts ad-
duced it must be ranked as feat of
memory.
Members of the court martial took
oopious notes during Picquart's testi-
mony and it was quite evident that sew
eral explanations he gave came as fresh
light Then when Picquart concluded
both General Roget and General Mer-
| cier jumped up and asked that they be
heard enthusiastically. M
Colonel Jouaust asked General Roget
Ito speak first. He thereupon faced
EColDnel Picqnart, who replied promptly
L to the questions which the general de-
| livered in theatrical manner and with
| frequent gestures. General Mercier
adopted a quieter demeanor. Neither.
however. said anything that could be
described as damaging to Colonel Pic
quarts evidence.
MAN WHO SHOT LABoRL
RENNEs, August 18.-The man who
attempted to murder Maitre Labor,
| leading counsel for Captain Dreyfus,
has been arrested at Dol, In this depart
ment. His name is Glcrot and he Is a
native of the department OF Cotte dn
| Nord. He has confessed.
Glorot Tas arrested. because he said
IN Cabaret Yesterdays Il am the man
who shot Labor. The police, It Is
! now believed, think the prisoner is only
q lunatic or sdrunkard deeirons Of At
| traefing attention and bis so-called con-
feaaion pIay turn out 70 he nothing