Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-31

nhu sttldled the question, but did not |
think there had been any marked
change.
Counsel then asked whether Gen.
Mercier had meant to intimate that
Esterhazy's handwriting had become
more or less like that of Dreyfus since
1884, to which the general replied that
he had not wished to express an onjn-
ion, but he reiterated that Nj. Bertil-
lon had shown that Esterhazy's hand
writing had become more like that of
the bordereau.
M. Labor retorted that, in that case,
Gen. Mercier should not have reppated
the evidence of M. Grenier before the
Court OF Cessation, as M. Grenier
showed that Esterhazy' IS caligraphy had
become less and less like the writing
Doth OF the bordereau and of Dreyfus.
BERTILLoN IN HIGH DuDeEoN.
M. Bertillon, at this juncture, said
he desired to speak, hut the president
OF the court hastily rose and said, amid
laughter, the sitting is suspended
Then, M. Bertillon resumed his seat
in high dudgeon.
On the resumption of the sitting, M.
Georges Picot, member Of the insti-
tute, was called for the defence, Maitre
Demange, Of counsel for the prisoner,
explaining that Picot was summoned
because, in May last he had an inter
view with a foreign military attache,
in the course Of which mention was
made of the document inserted in the
dossier by Gen. Mercier.
Col Jouaust recommended the wit
ness to be very cautious in his state
ments.
After promising to exercise care, M.
Picot started with saying that he had
an interview with the Austro- Hun
garian military attache.
Col. Jouaust stopped the witness,
saying:s You cannot continue like
this. :"
Major Carriere, the government COM
missary, also exclaimed, sharply: 81
| protest in the name of the government
and the state against the indiscretion
| committed by the witness.
M. Picot then recommended his testi-
mony, saying he had an interview with
"a certain military attache," and that
| the conversation turned upon the
Dreyfus case. The attache expressed
surprise at the 'tincorrect attitude of
French officers in doubling the word
Of foreign officers.
my impression" added the wit
ness, was that he was anxious to
assert firmly and unequivocally the
absolute innocence of Dreyfus. " (Sen-
| sation J
Regarding the bordereau," con-
tinued M. Picot, the attache said
| only three documents, enumerated,
were referred to, the fact being that
the others were padding, meant to
swell the dossier. :"
He noticed that the attache employed
the expression hydraulic brake" and
never pneumatic brake.
In regard TO Esterhazy, the attache,
M. Picot said, declared that he consid
ere6 him a swindler. The attache also
asserted that Col. Schwartzkoppen dis
missed Esterhazy because he only
brought information devoid Of interest.
II was then, continued M, Picot
that Esterhazy tried to enter the Wal
Office. and almost succeeded, and 1t wa,
then that he wrote to Col. Schwartz
koppen the letter since known as th,
bordereau. In reply to the writer O
the bordereau, added M. Picot, Col
Sch wartzkoppen wrote tine Telegram
card known as the petit bleu, hut, OF
reflection, he crumpled it up, ant
threw it in the fireplace.
The evidence Of Mn. Meyer, Molinie
and Giry, all of whom are Handwriting
experts Of the first rank, was stronl
point for Dreyus. They were mos
emphatic in declaring that the Dor
dereau was written by Esterhazy, ant
created better impression than M
Bertillop, by not introducing the fan
tastic diagrams which the latter deemel
necessary.
The action OF Gen. Mercier, In ask
ing to be allowed to reply to, M. Moli
nier, and then getting up and confirm
ing the professors. statement tina
Esterhazy changed his handwrltin
since 1894, puzzled the audience. Tina
Esterhazy should have deemed IT ad
i yisshle to change his handwriting sine
the date of the bordereau appears, q
/ first sight, to indicate that he wrote y
, and that Mercier should support Prof
Molinier aroused discussion as to u
generals motives. There are som
{ people who see in Mercier's unsolicite
, testimony yesterday, in support OF To
! honorable nature OF M. Matthew Drel
fus' visit to Col. Sandherr in 1894, !
0 behalf Of his brother, and the general
4 move today, an indication OF SON
4 change OF attitude also, perhaps,
q preclude to a candid ayowal OF his mi
! takes Of 1894 On the other hand, mar
/, persons think Gen. Mercier, .feariII
q that Saturdays exposure will discre,d
him altogether with the judges, ri
4 conceived the idea of giving way
r certain points, which moreover 9
: extent, to reinstate himself by {
Z affacration of impartiality.