Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-26
COMEDY AND DRAMA.
Bertillon's Comic Performance suo.
ceeded by Dramatic Scene In
the Dreyfus Trial
President Of Former Court Martial
Given the Lie by Colonel
Freystaeter.
Labori Asks That Maruel Be Con.
fronted and the Evidence Be.
comes Interesting.

Rennes, Aug. 26.-Bertillon resumed
his testimony this morning as hand
writing expert and gave his reasons for
believing Dreyfus was the author of the
bordereau. The comic aspect Of Ber-
tillon's performance. which was con
Guided at $3.50. again appealed to the
risibles Of the audience. His explana-
ton was as unintelligible as yesterday.
The audience became very much bored
and towards the last even members of
the court martial paid only the most
perfunctory attention.
Bertillon accounted for the similarity
of Esterhazy's handwriting and that of
the bordereau by saying Esterhazy
might have been practicing imitation of
the bordereau since 1894 with view to
substituting himself for the prisoner.
He declared Esterhazy was man of
straw and scoundrel. Witness admit
ted he was not now positive there was
a cryptographic signature of alfred
Dreyfus" in the bordereau, to which he
testified in 1894, adding 1t was a matter
of no Importance. Labori asked that
since witness admitted Esterhazy wrote
by the same mathematical method as
Dreyfus. Why he did not attribute the
bordereau to Esterhazy. Bertillon said
the key of the work was found on
Dreyfus pad and Esterhazy might have
had access to it. Bertillon admitted he
discovered in Esterhazy's handwriting
peculiarities similar to those of the bor-
dereau. He concluded by saying in a
declamatory tone: 'I am convinced
the writer of the bordereau is the pris-
oner sitting there Dreyfus heard him
without flinching and with an express
sion of disdain.
At the conclusion Of Bertillon's tes-
timony Dreyfus was called on to answer
and said: II have nothing to reply to
the deposition of witness. But there is
one thing of which I am absolutely
sure, and that is that am not the
writer Of the bordereau."
There was a highly dramatic scene
towards the end of the session. Labori
asked to have Maj. Freystaeter, one of
the members of the court martial of
1894, called in contradiction of Col
Maurel, presiding judge upon that oc-
casion, who testified that he only read
one of the documents in the secret dos
sier. Freystaeter said his conviction of
the guilt of the prisoner was formed by
the evidence of experts on handwriting.
the deposition of Patty de Clam.
"and" he continued, II must add, some
slight influence was exercised over my
mind by hearing the secret dossier
read He declared all the documents in
the dossier were read. This was in di-
rect contradiction of Maurel. Labori
demanded the conformation of Frey
staeter with Maurel. The latter, when he
mounted the stage, presented miser-
able aspect. His shifty eyes, blurring
out beneath heavy eyebrows, were look
ing around him with vicious, hang
dog look. How do you explain this?''
asked Labori. The colonel, at bay, re-
piled savagely: II said had only read
one document. / did not say only one
document was read" This called forth
an outburst of Kisses and indignant
"ohs" from the audience, which looked
upon 1t as an infamous confession The
trembling with shame but evil
IDENTIFY determined to fight to the last,
threw a fierce look of hatred at Labori
and the audience. Then the audience
,;.
distinct and bold voice, told exactly
what the documents of the dossier were
and how Maurel not only read these
but made comment upon
them. This was practically calling
Maurel a liar and the colonel glared at
the major fiercely. Freystater, how
ever, was not dismayed and his words.
spoken in a tone of candor and fear
lessness, must have carried conviction
to every hearer.
Mercier then acked to be heard and
placed himself by the side of NIaurel.
The forbidding aspect of these two men
was in striking contrast with the erect
and untiinching attitude of Freystaeter.
1t was striking scene.
Government Commissary Carriere
called upon Capt. Valerie to explain
Bertillon's system and give an opinion
on the subject. The captain said he
thought Bertillon's evidence might be
summarized in sentence: THE bor-
dereau was a doctored document, fab
ricated by means of secret writing, or
written with n key-wOrd -
However complicated and ingenious
to the human mind 1t might appear"
continued the witness, II propose to
show: First, the document was fabri-
Gated; second. that it was fabricated
oy means of the key-word Interest:
.hird. that the documents written by
he prisoner in the war office contained
words written by means of the same
Key: fourth, that the forgery was in
ended to enable the prisoner to plead
hat there was plot against him; fifth.
hat the prisoner alone could be the
vriter.''
Valerie then attempted to prove hy-
,othesis. trayersing practically the
'ame ground already laboriously COW
,red by Bertillon.
n reply . Valerie Drsyfus declared