The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-01


the letter and said he thought Major
Lauth could say something on that
point, whereupon the major rose and
declared he did not know -'Corningue- -
NJ LabOri then asked to be allowed
TO question Major Lauth. but Colonel
JOuaust refused Counsel insisted, but
Colonel Jouaust waived him down.
whereupon NJ Labori cried:
AWKWARD QUESTIONS SUP
PRESSED
You suppress all awkward ques-
tons (SeuSatiOn-)
The government cOmmissary, Major
Carriere, said; 7 desire TO point out
that the defense is always asking TO
speak while 7 am always refused per-
mission to do so when ask
Colonel Jouaust, out of patience. re-
torted:
Il have heard enough; be quiet. The
incident is closed"
This cavalier treatment of the gov
ernment commfssary. who, however,
makes himself ridiculous whenever he
opens his mouth. caused general laugh
ter.
General Sebert followed He also
proved a trump card for Dreyfus as
he declared the wording OF the border
eau revealed professional ignorance
He also said the man who wrote it was
not an artillery officer. and said such
an officer as Dreyfus could not make
the mistakes he referred to. General
Sebert entered into lengthy expIana-
tiOns of his statements, pointing out
known the interesting parts of the fir
ing manual and would not have writ
ten in the bOrdereaU: Take what in
rerests YOU
The general again declared that the
bordereau could not have been written
Fy an artillery officer, or by one who
had passed through the polytechnic
school. This made a profound impress
sion on the court. which was iutensi-
fed when General Sebert concluded
fearlessly; 7 am happy to have the
strength to carry here my stone to-
wards the edfffce of repara ton which
the court is building up with so much
care and confidence while holding itself
aloof from outside passions
OFFERED INFORMATION.
Major Ducros deposed that he COM
manded a field battery, that he knew
Dreyfus and offered him certain fnfor-
nation But he pointed out Dreyfus
never asked him a question, although
ne knew he (the WlEueSS) possessed
most interesting information, notably.
particulars about the pneumatic
brake
General BTercier here interviewed and
said that at the time Major Ducros
was speaking of the DucrOs field piece
having been rejected in favor of DepOrL
cannon, and he said. Dreyfus. there
fore, could have no object in procuring
particulars of the DucrOs gun More
support for Dreyfus was forthcoming in
the deposition Of Major Hartman of the
artillery, who expressed the opinion
not know what he was writing about
since he spoke OF the ''120 short" gun
when he meant the '-120 long gun.
The major led the court through a
maze of technical details about artiI-
lery until Colonel Jouaust asked him
to refrain from technicaEtieS. as far as
possible. evidently fearing that Hart
man might reveal secrets of the ser
vice. His evidence was directed en-
tirely to show that Dreyfus was not the
author OF the Oordereau and that the
artillery Information mentioned in il
was accessible to many officers Of all
arms in the spring Of 1884 So far as
the dispositions were concerned Drey-
fus certainly had every reason to be
pleased with t0day's proceedings.
PROCEEDING IN DETAIL
Following is a detailed report of the
days proceedings.
The Dreyfus court martial opened
today with the reading of an official re-
port on NJ DubreuL, who August %,
testified to having met Dreyfus and
German attache at the house of a mu-
tual friend named BOdson- The cross
examination of the witness had reflect
ed on his character, but the report to-
day was to the effect that ne never was
a horse dealer as claimed by NJ Labor,
leading counsel for the defense: that
his character was most respectable and
that he was held in general esteem
NJ Demange insisted that the judg-
ment of the court of COutances in
regard to NJ DubreuiI should be read
witness box and announced that he had
arranged for all papers in the case to
be sent to the court
IN the meanwhile NJ DubreufI read
letters endorsing his character, and
thanked the court for the opportunity
to defend himself against the attacks
of NJ LabOri.
The prisoner was questioned as to
the date of his relations with Madame
Bodson, and replied that it was in 1857,
and NJ. Dubreuil thinking Dreyfus had
said 1855, offered amidst laughter to
give the date verified by two of NJ
BOdsOn's vaIets-
Dreyfus expressed intense indigna-
tiOn at the reference made IN the court
OF his person relations with Madame
BOdsOn:
Il emphatieauy reassert.'' said he.
that never met any foreigners at
Madame Bodson's and I want the court
to make such inquiries as are necessary
to obtain the truth on this point"
FURNISHED DREY YFCS A HORSE
German. a groom, one Of the Wit
nesSes cited by Col JOuauSt testified
that he was at MuIhausen in 1886 where
he was employed in a livery stable
which he said, furnished horse to the
prisoner
Asked if the horse jumped, witness
replied: Give him his head and you
viii see"
Dreyfus. witness claimed. attended
the German maneUvers at AIsace at
that time
Col Jouaust-Have you seen the
prisoner since2
Germain-Yes- recognized him in
the Bois de BouIogne as Lieut.. Drey-
fus-
Col Jouaust-How did you know
that2
Germafn-An officer named D'Infre-
vile. major told me
Col Jouaust-DO you recognize him
in the prisoner?
Ciermain-( looking at the prisoner),
Yes
NJ Demange inquired whether the
witness had not been prosecuted Cor
swildlinE and been acquitted2
German replied in the negative, but
he admitted that he had been convicted
OF enbezzlement June Il. 1888
Counsel also shovel Cferrnafn vas