The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-10


going. think 1 have shown that when all
the points Of the accusation are examined
they vanish SO much for the technical val
ue or the bordereau. have argued, foot by
foot, with my honorable friends on the 9TH
er side and have shown the fallacy of the
mental process whereby they reached the
point where they were able TO affirm on
their soul and conscience that Dreyfus was
guilty. might, therefore, say, with pride,
tnat have demolished the case OF the pros
ecution- But 1 am not entitled to do so.
merely say TO the court: Be careful. You
must be certain. and before you can say
Dreyfus is guilty you must, on your souls
and consciences, be able TO declare that
there Is no doubt that no one but he had
the documents enumerated in the borde
Iedu. But You do not know what the docu-
ments are. That is my last word on this
portion OF the case. I have now to deal with
the material evidence"
THE HANDWRITING EXPERTS.
After the usual brief adjournment of the
court Nj. Demange resumed his speech for
the defense. He dissected the handwriting
evidence, and reminded the court of the
groans with which NJ. Scheurer-Kestner
was greeted when he displayed the hand
wiring OF Esterhazy in the tribune of the
Senate 'Is that all you have?' disdain-
fully asked the senators. To-day the prose-
cution has no more. NJ Demange said he
did not understand NJ. Bertillon's conclu-
sions. He produced in court a monumental
work, said the lawyer, but I am convinced
and hope TO prove that NJ Bertillons sys-
tenn Is false. But must do him the justice
OF saying that when the project of police
applied TO NJ. Bertillon he appealed TO
man of genius. who, by the creation of the
society an inestimable benefit Still / can
also say you have fallen into error which
may be fatal to an innocent man."
proceeding, NJ. Demange demolished NJ.
Bertillon's theories, dealing at great length
with the different contentious, admitting
that some of them might content certain
p1t hn adI Tod -0t
be forgotten that genius had a dangerous
nelghbor. 1t did not do to have too much
genius and NJ. Bertillon's work was liable
to land the judges in serious error. The
declarations of M. Bertilon himself showed
that the experts had not proved the guilt
of Dreyfus. If the handwriting of the bor-
exclamation: This handwriting has fright
full resemblance to mine" be explained.
eau was written in his natural hand by
Esterhazy. The paper on which 1t was writ
ten also condemned Esterhazy.
linen Nj. Demange examined at length the
theory that Esterhazy was a straw rnsn,
and showed this was quite unrenablc by
every action of Colonel Picquart who was
How, if Esterhazy a straw man. could
he have lost his head at the moment of his
plated n sIi al Ts ee'sS ea me Goe 4b
lives of Dreyfus and Esternazy, saying
there were nothing but idle tales against
the former, while the latter always in
search of a five-franc piece. When the time
arrived for the judges to say whether the
bordereau was In the handwriting IF Drey
rus, they would have to remember that all
the experts admitted that 1t was not. While
all of them admitted that it showed traces
have to compare the demeanor of Drey fus
during the past five years with tlat of
Esterhazy to-day; one on Devils island,
appealing TO General De Boisdeffre against
his conviction, demanding Justice; the other
full OF denominations and abuse, writing in
sulting letters to the generals
DREYFUS LACKED MOTIVE
After reverting briefly to the charges in
connection with the Robin shell, NJ De-
mango protested against General Mercier's
refusal to discuss motives as being merely
psychological question. while In reality
question OF common sense. There was an
entire lack Of motive in the case of Drey-
fus, while there was every motive upon
the part Of Esterhazy. Dreyfus was rich
and happy; he had two children. who were
his pride and joy, and joy of whose de-
voted courage all were aware-all that and
everything a,.d man eogld desire Why should
Demange my conviction comes from an
h fndess heart hear ann convinced that the
in their minds, will find it impossible to
declare the prisoner guilty, for they will
rather turn their eyes to the man hiding
on the other side of the channel. / ask
you once more whether the noble dignified
of an honest loyal soldier?'
After this NJ. Demange, with his voice
broken with emotion, tears streaming down
his face and hands trembling. concluded
his brilliant flight Of oratory. "Ah, gentle
to restore you to your weil-earned repose,
for have now been addressing you for two
days. But there is one thing which de.
word of the defense will have been said,
and you will go to your private room to
consider your verdict. Once there, what
But is he guilty? You will ask yourselves,
we gSons w TO Say ne v e5 Hno
they contain" And when you say to your
selves. after having heard that the de-
latter, but. speaking from sincere. honest
convictions. We do not know what he
sent; another may have given these. docu-
ments; but he-no, no-there were things
to yourselves. further, that this writing is
not his, when you say to yourselves there
mel a man OF whom we have to say. 1T Is
he. will there be, gentlemen, no doubt In
your minds? That doubt will be sufficient
It would not permit honest, logical
sciences to say this man Is guilty.
NOT THE SPIRIT OF TRAITOR.
VERY well, gentlemen, I ask only one
thing and that is that at this moment you
cast one more backward glance. Remember
what the prisoner was on Devils island.
Remember how. for five years. this man. in
spite of the most horrible sufferings, not
withstanding the most cruel torture, was
never for a single moment alone, a guard
being with him night and day; never allowed
to exchange syllable with fellow-crea-
ture ! am not speaking Of the torture of
his being placed in irons. 1 am speaking of
the terrible mental torture to which he was
subjected. Well, gentlemen the spirit which
these sufferings, these tortures could not
curb, that spirit which remained proud and
high, / ask you is it the spirit Of a traitor?
! ask you If it is not that of a loyal, true
his children, that they may bear an honored
name, this man here who has the culp of
honor on his family, l ask If you can be-
lieve him to be villain and traitor to his
motherland. No. have no need to proclaim
his innocence. / say your verdict will not
be verdict of guilty, for you have been en-
lightened. The judges of 1894 had not been
so enlightened. They had not before them
Esterhazy's writing. But you had it. That
is the conducting wire. And God has per-
mttted you, gentlemen, to have Ii.
MY task is now accomplished. 1t is for
you to do yours I pray Cod exclaimed
pray God that you will restore to our France
the concord of which she has so much need"
Then turning to the audience, in which
cry eye was fixed upon him, NJ. Demange
added in conclusion: LAS to you whoever
you may be- FTenchmen. be you with
or against me, find inspiration in the sublime
idea of NJ. Mornard before the Court of Cas-