Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-26

Rennes, Aug 26-The opening of the
sixth session Of the third week of the
second trial by court martial of Captain
Alfred Dreyfus of the artillery, charged
with treason, occurred at an early hour
this morning. NJ Bertillon, the hand
writing expert, who is at the head of the
anthropometric department of the pre-
lecture Of police Of Paris, resumed his
testimony regarding the handwriting of
Dreyfus and his reasons for believing the
artillery officer guilty.
In this case Bertillon testified as a
handwriting expert and gave his rea-
sons for believing Dreyrus the author of
the famous bordereau on which the pros
ecution mainly depends to establish the
charge against the prisoner
The comic aspect of Bertillon's per-
formance again appealed to the risibili-
ties of the audience though the judges
paid close attention to his demonstra-
tions, which We're concluded at $50 a..
m., the witness saying in a declamatory
tone:
II am convinced the writer of the bOr-
dereau is the prisoner sitting there'
Dreyfus heard him without flinching
he showed in still more noticeable man.
ner just before the specialists testimony
when Dennange handed him the paper
which Bertilon had submitted to the
judges as convincing proof Of the guilt
of the accused. The prisoner perused it
for few minutes and then handed it
back with a shrug Of his shoulders and
without utteling a word.
There was a highly dramatic scene to-
ward the end of the session. Labori
asked to have Captain Freystmeter, one
of the court martial of '94 which convict
ed Dreyfus, called in contradiction of the
deposition of Colonel Maurel, presiding
judge on that occasion, who had testified
that he only read one of the documents
out of the secret dossier communicated
to the court martial
The captain, who is a finely built officer
and who has handsome, honest face,
ascended the platform with firm step
and fearless air. When he was asked to
recount whas occurred he said his con-
viction of the guilt of the prisoner was
formed by the evidence Of experts in
handwriting.
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
We're read. and he said they We're all
read.
This was in direct contradiction Of
Colonel Maurel, and Labori at once de-
.,c
meter with Maurel.
The latter mounted the stand and pre-
sented a misera BILE object. his shifty eyes
blearing out beneath heavy eyebrows and
looking around him with vicious hang
dog look.
''How do you explain this?" asked
Labor.
Then the colonel at bay replied saw
agely:
Il said I only read one document.
did not say only one document was
read"
This tatement called forth an out
burst of hiases and indignant "oh's'' from
The audience, which looked upon it as an
infamous confession.
The witness, trembling with shame,
Dul SNIucutly " Ill u lue
last, threw a fierce look of hatred at
Labor and the audience, as the gen.
darmes shouted:
"Silence! Silence!"
After this the audience listened spell
bound as Freystmeter. in bold voice,
told exactly what the documents of the
doss:er We're and how Maurel not only
read those documents, but made COM
ments on them.
This practically called Maurel thor
ough liar and the colonel giared at the
captain fiercely.
Freystmeter, however, was not dis
mayed and his wores. spoken in tone
of candor and fearlessness. must have
carried conviction to every hearer.
Mercier then asked to be heard and
paced himself by the side of Maurel.
The forbidding appearance of these two
men. both dressed in ci- liam attire. was
in striking contrast with the erect un-
flinching attitude of Freystmeter, who
wore the smart uniform 0f a captain