The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-30

RENNEs, August 20.-General Mev-
cler. the former minister Of war. aud
most of the other generals Interested
in the case were present In the hall
of the Lycee this morning when the
second session Of the fourth week Of
the SECOND trial by court martial Of
Captain Alfred preyfus, Of the aFtll-
lery, charged with treason, was open
ed. There was no special Incident.
Colonel cordler, deputy chief Of the
Intelligence department uRdeF the late
Lieut.. Colonel Henry, and who, since
his previous appearance 10 court had
bean released by the minister Of war,
General Marquis de Gallifet, from his
oath Of professional secrecy was the
FIRST witness called to-day. He testiaed
to the eject that the late Colonel
sRpaheTT, and not Lieut., Colonel Hen
~, received the famous bordereau.
The witness deposed strongly In IN
vor OF Dreyfus. and was most amusing
in delivering his testimony. He kept
the court, and the judges. IN FoaFO OF
laughter by his comical manner and
wlttIclsms, He Is short. stout man,
with jol1y face and a very red nose. :,
The colonel declared that his ballet
in the guilt of Dreyfus was irst shaken
when the date OF the bordeEsRu was
given as May. The witness declared
stoutly that he was now convinced
Dreyfus was innocent.
Colonel CordIer then spoke up strong
~ for Colonel Picquart, as a coRAelen-
tious soldier and an honorable man,
and threw light upon the situRtIon
which existed In the ONCE Of the iutel'
lIgence department Of the war office.
He explained that Henry was Jealous
Of Piequart, because the latter was
given charge of the statistical section,
which Henry had hoped to get for him'
self. Cordier expressed the belief that
it was because of PiOquart that Henry
committed his forgery.
The evidence of Colonel cordier Yves
delivered in loud voice, accompanied
by humorous gestures. He several
times mentioned the ambassador Of
Germany, which caused the president
Of the court, Colonel IouAust, to IN
tervene, and tell the witness that lie
must rat introduce the ambassadors
name or rster to Germany. The hRsty
corrections of the witness when he res
peated the same slips OF the tongue, as
he did more than oncst and the amusing
manner In which he avoided mentions
ing Germany at other times caused the
greatest merriment. During his testl-
mony no fewer than Ave Witnesses rose
and asked to be confronted with him.
But the colonel received the interruP-
tons with the utmost good humoT.
Dreyfus spoke a few words at the
conclusion of Colonel CordIer's state
ments. He said the scene which pre-
coded his arrest was 50 fantastic that
1t completely bewIldeTed him, and
merely left a blunted impression on his
memory.
The prisoner is now accustomed to his
surroundings, and has apparently re-
covered his self-confdeuee. as he
speaks readily and clearly. and follows
the witnesses closely, taking notes Of
various. points OF their dispositions,
Major Lauth first confronted Colonel
cordIer. and tried to score against him
by pointing out that CordIer was ineor-
rect in saying there was no anti-sem'
ties on the general stan. since cordter
himself was one, The colonel retorted,
turnIng the tables on the major as
raising his hand, he cried:
"ouite true: I was an anti'semite.
but never bore false witness against
the Jew. 1 am an honest man"
The audience applauded these re-
marks