The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-22

Guenee supplied in 1894 could be main
tanned against Dreyfus-
LAJOUX GETS A BAD NAME
Replying to a question as to the
character of Lajoux and the confidence
which could be placed in his state
ments, Gen. Gonse handed in g. report
acter.
Dreyfus then made statement re-
gardfng a passage of Rollins evidence
referring to the searches made in his,
Dreyfus, residence in 1894
Everything said the prisoner, was
seized without exception"
Col. Jouaust-SOme of the pages were
missing of your notes taken at the lee
lures given by the military college?
That has been the subject of remark.
Dreyfus-No, my colonel, not in 1884.
(SensatiOn).
Ferret, a former secretary of the
ministry of war who is alleged to have
caught Dreyfus prying into the work
of some of his fellow officers during
their absence, testified that towards the
end of 1893, on returning from his lunch
at an hour the officers We're usually out,
he found Dreyfus in the fourth bureau,
standing with a stranger, a civilian at
the table, consulting a document which
seemed to the witness to be connected
with the transport of troops.
NJ. Demange-Why did you not give
this evidence in 1894? Witness said he
regretted he had overlooked it Be
sides, he added, it was not his bust
ness to suspect his chiefs.
M. Demange-The court will form its
own opinions of this five years silence.
NJ. Labor asked when the witness
first mentioned these facts.
Ferret do not remember. (Mur-
murs).
NJ. Labori-Try. 1t would be interest
ing to have an explanation.
Ferret-It was about year ago.
The prisoner protested against such
statements, which, he said, We're moth
ing but vile fnsinuatiOns, collected by
a former minister of war. Great SEN
sation).
7 never went into my office" con-
tinued Dreyfus, ''at any other time than
the hours of duty. 1 declare it was
impossible, or at least most difficult
for a civilian to enter the Offices of the
ministry of war"
Dreyfus added that while his wife
was at HOulgate Normandy in August
or September, 1894 he happened to go
to his Office at noon, though the usual
hour was 2 o'clock.
Colonel JOUaust questioned Dreyfus
relative to his hours of duty and the
difficulty of introducing a stranger into
the offices, after which General Gonse
asked for permission to speak in or
der to complete his evidence. He said
he received a letter yesterday evening
from LIE Chatelier, chief engineer of the
department of roads and bridges, in
which LIE Chatelier said:
GENERAL GONSE'S LETTERS
During six or seven years had
permit for the ministry of war and
d Il
did not have to show my permit more
than ten times. On another occasion
was accompanied by a friend, who
entered without any more formality
than opening the gate and saIuting the
sentry" (Laughter.)
General Gonse read another letter of
similar purport and Dreyfus said:
1.-The rule was strict. The letters only
prove that certain persons did not OBJ
serve it,
NJ. Demange-It also proves that
since the ministry of war was so easily
entered, others besides officers could
easily procure information. (Murmurs
of dissent.)
Lieut. Col. Berth, who was chief of
Dreyfus' entry into the department,
testified to the prisoners great zeal at
first and said that this later was re-
placed by great carelessness in matters
of detail.
In face of this" said Berth, ST
gradually ceased to consider him an as
Sistant. He left an enormous amount
of uncOmpleted work. Thus after de-
voting much time to initiating him into
the secrets of the concentration of
troops on the eastern railway system
in time of war I did not receive any
service in exchange"
Witness added that the reports he
gave Dreyfus when he left We're such
that he could never enter the railroad
department.
A TALK WITH DREYFUS.
Proceeding, witness reiterated that
Dreyfus was in a position to acquaint
himself with the questions of the east
ern railroads mobilization and de-
scribed conversation which he had
with Dreyfus in 1893 which in the opin-
ion of the witness, threw a curious light
on Dreyfus idea of the fatherland
Lieut.. Berth spoke to the COMPARE
sons of handwriting and referred to
the prisoners attitude at the court
martial of 1894 He said it painfully
impressed him and he was convinced
of the guilt of Dreyfus by the evidence
of NJ. Bertillon.
When the witness told the minister
of war of his impressions the latter
sent him to President Casimir- Perier
to whom Berth expatiated on the in
jury which would result from the
treachery of Dreyfus and the harm
which might result if he escaped
According to Berth NJ. Casimir- Per
Ter appeared much impressed and wit
ness gained the impression that he was
speaking to a soldier who regarded
the matter from the same point of view
as himself (Sensatfon).
Referring to his interviews with M
Scheurrer- Kestner CORNER vice presi-
dent of the Senate) whom always re-
garded as an honorable man Obeying
the dictates of his conscience" Lieut..
Col. Berth controverted part of Col.
PicQuart'S evidence on the subject.
At the conclusion of his deposition
the witness declared he never ordered
Dreyfus to procure information con-
corning the entire networks of rail-
roads which prisoner sought to ac-
quire from Capt. Cuignet.'
WANTED-FEMAL HELP.