The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-01
Neither Side Pleased With the Outcome in
the Dreyfus Case Yesterday.
SOME HOME THRUSTS MADE
Between Witnesses on Both Sides-Mercier Endorses the Statement of
a Witness Favorable to Dreyfus-Colonel Cordier Teshfes to
Many Facts Strongly Favorable to the Defendant-His
Denunciation Of General Roget-His Account of the
War Office Spy System-Spying on Drey-
fs' Private Life.

wise the woman, with whom -rendez-
vous were usually made in churches.
LEAKAGES IN DEPARTMENT Sc
CRETS.
Dealing with the leakage discovered
by tine military authorities, Colonel
Cordier said he ascertained it was oc-
curing at Bourges.
Witness recalled the fact that an ar
tificer named Thomas was sentenced
for treason in 1894. The foreign CORE
spondents of Thomas did not notice his
arrest and, consequently, a letter adj
dressed to him was intercepted and a
reply was sent. This letter asked for
plans of a shell. The headquarters
staff obtained the plans AND sent them
to Thomas correspondents. The latter
replied, thanking Thomas, n enclos-
ing bank notes, which were credited to
the funds of the headquarters staff.
COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DREY-
FUS.
Whatever had been said to the con-.
trary, witness maintained hat the
leakage at Bourges could not be
ascribed to Dreyfus. This also was the
opinion of Colonel Sandherr, who fire.
Quently had recourse to the witness
intimate knowledge Of this question in
the futile efforts to discover evidence
against Dreyfus.
Witness toll information of the leak
age of 1894 was received primarily. The
name mentioned was that of a gentle
man, As years OF age n decorated,
who used to convey to the
embassy, which the witness described
as a house with a large garden.
Colonel Cordier emphasized the fact
that the above personal description
did not bear the slightest resemblance
to Dreyfus, but resembled much more
--I~-~ L-L
been mentioned and could no longer be
prosecuted or convicted.
Referring next to what he styled the
huge undertaking of Richard Cuers,
Lajoux & Co.," the colonel declared the
object was nothing less tina recruiting
German spies for the service Of the
French government. One of Cuers' spe-
cial services, continued the witness,
was furnishing Germany with false in
formation. He, therefore, vas m
times obliged to say he had succeeded
in subordinating a French officer, and,
in this way, Cuers was induced to de-
clare he had obtained the collab oration
Of an officer of the headquarters staff.
Proof of this could be found at head
quarters in a dossier of false docu-
ments delivered to Germany. "These
"are no doubt in all the better order
because the archivist, Gribilen. wears
blue spectacles. Gaughter.)
Colonel Jouaust called the witness to
order and the remark was withdrawn,
witness declaring, amidst peals OF
laughter, "It escaped me, Monster lie
/ President. I withdraw the s~pectacles."
J WITNESS DENOUNCES ROGET.
Cordier then described the events
{ prior to the arrest of Dreyfus and
showed that only a single real leakage,
namely the plans of the fortresses, had
occurred at the time OF MS arrest. The
document known as "Cette Canaille de
D." he explained was contempora-
neous with this leakage.
"It has been said," continued the
witness, that I made a mistake or
this point and COMPOUNDED the docu-
ment with another containing the mi
tial alone I should like very much tt
see the document, in order to assure
with. 1t is not, however, of any import.
ance, except to show hat Genera
Rogets evidence concerning me is
false from beginning to end (Sensa'
tion.)
SPYING INTO DREYFUs' PRIVATE
LIFE.
Reverting to the in which tn
suspicious against Dreyfus c~rystalized
the colonel described the efforts to pr!
into the prisoners life, and said TIL
information 1t first received was yer.
a and constituted strong proc
against the prisoner. Later, however
J it assumed a different aspect. 1t wa
admitted that before his marriag
Dreyfus was not 'unimpeachable NOR
ally, nor was he entitled to wear
wreath of orange blossoms" Laugh
teri But Colonel Cordier added
latter his marriage, Dreyfus was quit
different"
The witness also said that Will
Dreyfus boasted Of his conquests, he
Cordier, was of the opinion that thos
who boasted the most accomplished tn
least. (Laughter.)
CONVINCED OF DREYFUS' limo
CENCE.
In 1894 the witness regarded as insult
ficient the sole proof against Dreyfus
namely the bordereau. He did not be
lieve the prisoner was guilty, but tn
fact that the judges were unanimou
in convicting him changed the wit
ness mind. His doubts, however, re
turned when he saw that the date c
the bordereau, received in. Septembel
had been fixed as May. Colonel Pic
quarts investigation and the infamou
campaign against Picquart increase
, the suspicious OF h witness.
I'm 1894" declared Colonel Cordie
emphatically, Il had been assured %
: the unanimity of the judges and I wa
absolutely convinced of the guilt {
Dreyfus. Now I am absolutely convint
ed of his innocence" Great excite
{ ment.)
Replying to the president, he declal
ed that the approaches of the Dreyfr
= ? family to Sandherr were not the a
= tempts at corruption and that Dreyfu
y brothers remark, "Our fortune is
- your disposal" was only the expressio
Of the family's ardent desire to sa,
an innocent member Of it.
f HENRY A SPY ON HIS ASSOCIATE
Replying to Colonel Jouaust's IT
Y quest to state what he knew regart
h ing Henry's relations with PicQuar
Cordier said good fellowship prevaile
n in the department unti1 the appearan'
Of Henry, who had been forced {
d Sandherr. He had close relations vii
n the supreme CHIEF and his colleague
suspected he might report what |
/, heard in the office divisions and VIII;