The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-06
SENSATIONAL DAY
In the Court Martial Trial of
Captain Dreyfus.
Charge Of Perjury Hurled al
One Witness.
HE HAD BEEN DRILLED
Col. Picquart Also Accused OF
FaIsificatiOn.
Audience Resents Dragging In
of Woman's Name.

Rennes. Sept. 6.-Two hours of the
opening of the court martial of Captain
Dreyfus were spent behind closed doors.
The length of time employed in the eX-
animation of Eugene de Cernuschi, the
Austrian refugee and witness for the
prosecution, was the subject of much
remark as being indicative OF the fact
that the court found this witness to be
worthy of more consideration than it
had been supposed that he deserved
The largest audience vet assembled
in the Lycee was present when the
open session of the court martial began
at o'clock Senator Trarieux, former
minister of justice, at once resumed his
deposition, which had been interrupted
by the adjournment of the court yes
terday. NJ. Trarieux took up the testl-
mony of Savignaud, the witness Tor
the prosecution who had asserted that
he had seen letters addressed TO M
Scheurer- kestner, formerly vice pres
ident of the senate, by Lieut.. Col PC
quart, while Savignaud was Plcquart 8
orderly in Tunis.
Savfgnaud was a perjurer and that two
officers visited Savignaud before the
court martial opened, NJ. Trarieux hint
ing that the officers had drilled Savig-
maud on the testimony he should give
Savignaud replied reiterating the
truth of his previous testimony.
Lieut. Col. Picquart then arose and
repeated his denial of Savignaud's
story.
NJ Trarieux delivered his testimony
in an emphatic tone He reviewed the
question of the Petit Bleu which he
said he was convinced was authentic.
He proceeded to comment upon the
questionable roll played by Command
ant Lauth in the affair.
COmmandant Lauth interrupted the
witness, asking that he be allowed a
hearing and on the conclusion of NJ.
Trarieuxs deposition, Commandant
Lauth confronted him.
The cOmmandant declared that he
had acted honestly throughout and that
he had not the least doubt of Lieut..
Col Picquart's classification OF the Petit
Bleu In order to fncriTninate Major Es-
A STRIKING INCIDENT.
A striking incident occurred when
Commandant Lauth a moment later
asserted that Lieut.. Col. Picquart had
always shown the greatest contempt
for the officers of his bureau, asserting
that on one occasion Picquart had
brought to the general staff in the
presence of Mesdames Henry and
Lauth a woman, Madame D. --, who
was the wife of magistrate and Lauth
tntimated Picquart's mistress.
Col PicGuart arose and cried: Il
protest absolutely"
At the same time there arose from
the spectators q chorus of indignant
cries of "Canaille,'' ."Cochon' and
Miserable"
press the Oubursts of indignation which
had been evoked by the conduct of
COmmandant Lauth in publicly naming
g. woman in a ScandalOuS connection.
Gen. Zurlinden, formerly minister of
war, followed Commandant Lauth at
the witness bar.
Gen. zurlfnden spoke in justification
of his action while he was military
governor of Paris and minister of war
IN the matter of the prosecution of
Lieut.. Col PicQuart, taking the ground
VA hesa7 FaIvr
essary in order that the court should
clear up the charge of forgery brought
against Piequart.
Moreover Gen. Zurlinden said the
minister Of justice had persuaded him
to send Lieut.. Col. Picquart before a
military court.
zURLINDEN REPROACHED.
M Trarieux replied to Gen. Zurlin-
den reproaching him with Lieut. Col
Picquarts ten months in prison.
NJ. LabOri then asked a question of
General Zurlinden regarding the petit
bleu. Col Jouaust, president of the
court martial refused to put the ques-
ton on the ground that the court was
engaged in the trial of Dreyfus and not
of the Picquart affair
NJ. LabOri, however, insisted taking
ground that the petit bleu demonstrated
the guilt Of Major Esterhazy and that
consequently it was very important for
Dreyfus.
NJ Labor then tackled General zur-
linden, who admitted that the magfs-
Ier1al inquiry showed that the petit
oleu was not tampered with when il
nrst arrived at the intelligence depart
ment and that consequently Picduart
could not have been guilty as alleged
OF distOrting the documents
NJ LabOri asked that NJ PaIeologue
the expert of the foreign office be con
suited with reference to the reading
before the court of diplomatic docu-
nents which established irrefutably the
authenticity Of the petit bleu
NJ. Paleologue. who sits behind the
judges, came to the front of the stage
and said that he did not know to what
document NJ Labori alluded.
The document" replied NJ I.abOri
IN which is recounted a conversation
between NJ DelcasSe former prime
minister. and Count Won AIunstar-T T Cd
enburg, German minister to Paris, in
the course of which Count Won Munster
Ledenburg had said Col. Schwartz
koppen had admitted that he sent Mai.
6sterhazy a number of telegraphic
cards or petit bleu''
NJ PaleoIogue responded that what
NJ Labor said was quite true and that
the document belonged to the diplo-
matte dossier
As to the petit bleu in question add
ed N. Paleologue, Col. Schwartzkoppe
could affirm whether he wrote it him
self or whether he had not seen it. but
IN any case NJ. PaleolOgue said he be
neVed 1t was sent by Col. Schwartz
azOppen-
This declaration by the expert foreign
ONCE created a marked sensation in
court.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
The following is a detailed report of
the proceedings:
The secret examination of NJ
witness for the prosecution occupied
the time of the court martial from the