The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
. Y.


MAJOR Hartmann. who was still supposed to be
on the stand during this episode. quietly de-
stroyed Mercier's point by announcing that
| Germany began experiments with the n.y.
| draulic brake In 1890 and abandoned them in
| 1893. the year before the bordereau was writ
| ten.
Prot Havet Of the French Institute made n
| new and interesting analysis OF the bordereau
| from n literary standpoint He pointed out
| that 1t was defective in it's French and con-
| tanned several slight psculiarities which were
| common to foreigners but rare in native
| Frenchmen. The witness said he had exam
| ined many OF Dreyfuss letters. but never dis
| covered one OF these pecularites. On the
| other hand. they occur constantly In Ester
hays writings.
PIcoUART coNFRoSTs GoNsE.
After recess Mai re- Labori applied to the
| court to have read the correspondence be-
| tween Col. Picqunrt and Gen. Gonse. in regard
| to the Esterhazy and Dreyfus cases, These
| letters have already been printed.
Gen. Gonse repeated his old explanation
that he had advised Col. Picquart to make a
| discreet investigation. but not to mix the two
| affairs
! Col. Picquart mounted the platform beside
| Gen. Gonse and there was a sensational scene
| in which Gen. Gonse. Col. Picquart and M.
| Labori took part.
| Gen. Gonse. when pressed for his reason for
| desiring to keep the Dreyfus and Esterhazy
| cases separate, was driven to say it was be-
| cause Dreyfus had been condemned. His
| case was closed "a a matter OF law. and there
| was no reason why they should have concern
| ed themselves further with any OF the circum-
| stances. 1t was true the prisoner might have
had accomplices. hence he (Gen. Gonsel had
| ordered Col. Picquart to investigate EsterhazJ.
l l. a. nrAr
| affair.
The discussion became general between the
| three men. Col. Picquart finally asking his
| former chief the direct question: Did you
| not believe in September. 1895. in conse-
quence OF information which placed before
| you. that Dreyfus was innocent?"
Gen Gonse stood silent
| THE PERSECUTION OF P1coUABT.
Then Maltre Labori plunged into the
details OF the persecution OF Col. Picquart
| at the War Office Gen. Gonse admitted
| that he ordered Col. Henry to open Plcquarts
| letters He said the only circumstance justi-
| tying tho action was that Col. Picquart omit
ted TO inform him OF the results OF the Ester
| hazy inquiry.
NJ. Labor asked Gen. Gonse II the real OBJ
ject Of Col Henry's forgery was not to impli-
| cate and ruin Col. Picquart
| Gen. tIOlSe replied. htHEy ulu HOl Souhuo
| in me what his motive was. 1t was unfortu-
nate he made this forgery to have new proof
against Dreyfus. for there was no need OF
| any"
NJ Labori-was Henry's forgery made to In
Huence his chiefs or the public?
Gen. Gonse-I cannot undertake to give
Henry's thoughts.
M. I.abori-Did you seek new proofs against
Dreyfus in the Henry forgery
| Col Jouaust-I refuse to put that question.
NJ. Labori-Didn't you know that tho Spe-
| rama letter was vulgar forgery concocted for
| the purpose OF running an honorable officer?
| Col. Jouaust-You must not put questions In
| the form Of deductions.
| Gen, Gonse-I read the Speranza letter and
| kent IL, believing it was possible 1t would prove
| OF value.
NJ Labori-Anything against Col. Pcquart
was welcome at the War Office. was 1t not?
Gen. Gonse-I considered it necessary to
keep watch Of Col. Pic1uart's movements.
| NJ Labori-What was the object In opening
Col Picquarts letters?
Gen. Gonse lhesitatinR II thought that per-
haps they might contain fresh proof OF Drey-
| fuss guilt.
NJ. I.abori-In other words Col. Picquart was
o suspect
Gen. Gonse was much embarrassed at this
question, but finally answered in tho afflrma-
| tive.
NJ. Lahori asked IL Gen. Gonse knew that
| Commissary Tomps had been urged to make a
case against Col. Pcquart for delivering fac
smile OF the bordereau to the Mdtin.
Gen Gonse denied that he knew anything Of
| this matter.
NJ Labor then asked Gen. Gonse II he did
| rot know that the erasure in the petit bleu
was made in order to ruin Col. Picquart.
Gen Gonse-I don: know who made the al
! teration.
NJ Labori-Doesn't Gen. Roget know?
Gen. Roget jumped up and came to the
rescue OF his discounted chief. He said he
sent for the petit bleu ono day to examine
| it with Capt Cuignet when he discovered
traces OF the erasurs therein.
N. Labori-Did you not also discover traces
OF Vaccinations against Col. PicIuart?
Gen. Roget replied that he took the respon-
sibility for his own acts. but not for those Of
other persons.
NJ. LABoRI TO FILE EXCEPTIONS.
At this point Col. Jouaust interrupted and
ordered n. Labori to bring the scene to close.
NJ. Labor replied that he would file exceptions
to the ruling Of the Court against several OF his
questions.
| Major Lamothe. an eK-artillery officer at
tached to tho general stan. emphasized tho
fact that there was nothing secret In the firing
manual and Drsyius could not have had the
belief that he was go ing to tho manpuvres.
Moreover. no stagare In his second year could
| have written the bordereau. The witness
added that no beloved the date OF the bor-
dereau had been chang in order TO TT the
possibility OF Dreyfus having written 1t. The
witness then read the circular in regard to the
Then a succession OF Generals came up to
contradict various points in the evidence given
by the last witness.
Gen. BOsdefIre said any stagiaire might
:. have thought Of going to the manGuvres Gen
Deloye argued that the firing manual was not
public property. Gen. Mercier came to say
, that only an officer Of the General Stan could
, know ofthe troop plans mentioned In tho bor-
, At last Gen. Roget began an arrogant badger
r | ing OF tho witness, asking first II he had not
openly expressed his conviction OF Dreyfus's
| guilt in 1894 This tho witness readily admit
! | ted but said that revelations since had caused
| him to change his mind. Gen. Roget in an
Insulting manner then accused tho witness OF
speaking falsely when he uscrbpd the border
eau TO April 1894 There were loud MUIR
/ | murs in the audience and the witness indig-
| ~, cd IA in y.