Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26
COMEDY AT RENNES
Audience Greatly Amused
BY Witnesses,
BERT|LL0N FINISHES HIS TALK
Col.Maurel's Testimony Called
Into Question.
CAPT. FREYSTAETTER ON STAND
Oreyfus Maintains His Composure
Under All Accusations.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL

RENNES, August 26.-M. Alphonse Ber-
tillon, chief of the anthropometic depart
| ment of the Paris prefecture of police. re-
sumed his testimony before the Dreyfus
ccurt-martial this morning
NJ. Bertfllon testified a handwriting
expert and gave his reason for believing
Dreyfus to be the author of the famous
bordereau, upon which the prosecution
mainly depends to establish the charge
against the prisoner.
The comic aspect of NJ. Bertillon's per-
| formance again appealed to the risibilities
| OF the audience, though the judges paid
close attention to his demonstrations.
which We're concluded at S:80 am. the wit
ness saying in declamatory tone:
Il am convinced the writer of the bor-
dereau Is the prisoner sitting there
Dreyfus heard him without dInching, and
with an expression of disdain, which he
showed in still more noticeab BILE manner
| just before the specialists testimony, when
NJ Demange handed him paper which M
Bertfllon had submitted to the Judges as
convincing proof of the guilt Of the ac-
cused The prisoner perused 1t for a few
moments, &nd then handed it back with q
shrug of his shoulders, and without utter
| ing word
There was highly dramatic scene to-
ward the end Of the session. Maitre La
bor1, leading counsel for the defense asked
to have Capt. Freystaetter, one of the MEM
bers OF the court-martial of 1894 which
convicted Dreyfus called in contradiction
of the deposition of Col. Maurel, the pre-
sizing judge upon that occasion who had
testified that he only read one of the docu-
aptc %
Gated to the court-martial
Captains Fine Appearance.
The major. who is a finely built officer
ana who has handsome, honest face, as
cended the platform with a firm step and a
fearless air. When he was asked to re-
count what occurred. he said his convtc-'
ton of the guilt of the prisoner was FORM
ed by the evidence of the experts in hand.
writing, the deposition of Col du Patty de
Clam, And" he continued, II must add.
some slight influence was exercised over
my mind by hearing the secret dossier
read"
The witness was then questioned as to
whether one or more of the documents
were read. and he said they were all read
This was in direct contradiction of Col
Maurel, and NJ. Labori at once demanded
the conformation of Capt. Freystaetter with
Col. Maurel. The latter mounted the stage
and presented a miserable object-his shifty
eyes blearing out beneath heavy eyebrows,
and looking around him with a vicious,
hang-dog look.
How do you explain this?" asked NJ.
Labori.
Then the colonel. at bay, replied savage
ly:
II said I only read one document 1 did
not say only one document was read"
This statement called forth an outburst
of hisses and indignant obs from the
audience, which looked upon it as an in
famous confession.
The witness trembling with shame. but
evidently determined TO fight to the last,
threw fierce look of hatred at NJ. La
bori and the audience as the gendarmes
shouted: Silence Silence
After this, the audience listened SPELL
bound Capt. Freystaetter. in a distinct
bold voice, told exactly what the docu-
ments of the dossier were, and how Col.
Maurel not only read these documents,
but made comments on them. This was
practically calling Maurel a thorough liar,
and the colonel glared at the major fero-
ciously Capt. Freystaetter however, was
not dismayed, and his words, spoken in a
tone of candor and fearlessness must have
carried conviction to every hearer.
Mercier Asks to He Heard,
General MERCER then asked to be heard,
and placed himself at the side of Maurel,
The forbidding appearance of these two
men, both dressed in civilian attire, was in
striking contrast with the erect, unf1inch-
ing attitude of Freystaetter, who wore the
smart uniform of major of artillery, with
medals on his breast.
1t was a remarkable scene
General Mercier at once denied CAPTAIN
Freystaetter's declaration that the Paniz-
zardi dispatch was contained in the dossier
sation)
Captain Freystaetter, however, was un-
daunted and replied firmly, looking Colonel
Jouaust straight in the face:
Il swear that what / have said is true"
And Freystaetter added, 81 not merely
the ditpatch, but have vivid
recollection of the fact that the first words
were, Dreyfus is arrested Emissary
"
This emphatic declaration increased the
sensation.
General Mercier replied that he did not
make up the dossier. which was made up
by the late Colonel Sandherr, chief Of the
intelligence department
NJ. Labori was hotly Indignant at General
Mercier's equivocation. and asked Colonel
Jouaust again and again to have special