Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26


ment had been found on him?
The witness, in confused and almost
inaudible tone, declared the prisoner would
then have maintained the document was
forgery and would have adduced 1t as
proof of a plot.
NJ Labori-"In that case the prisoner
must have foreseen the appearance on the
scene of man SO eminent as Nj. Bertfllon,
capable of imagining a system so ingenious
the one he has expounded today.
usughter)
NJ. Bertillon retorted that, in his opinion.
a man of the ability of the accused could
have made model line-in quarter of an
hour. every time he had occasion to write.
Replying to further questions, M. Bertfi-
Ion admitted he had discovered in Ester
Hays writing pecuiarities similar to those
in the bordereau.
Counsel pointed out that 1t was impossi-
BILE to maintain the hypothesis that Ester:
haZy was man of straw, since In 1881,
when he might very we'll have admitted
writing the bordereau. he had confessed
nothing. The reasoning of Bertilion. couh-
sci asserted therefore fell TO the ground.
After short incidental discussion of the
Weyl forgery which. 1t was believed. was
perpetrated by order of the pre1ect OF po-
lice. Col. Jouaust asked the prisoner II ne
had anything to say in reply to the wit
ness. and the attention of all present was
Immediately riveted to Dreyfus. who ex-
planned how the exclamation "Oh, the
wretch escaped his lips.
Explanation by Dreyfus.
M Bertillon" the prisoner said, was
constantly turning to me while testifying.
and calling me the guilty man. 1 retorted
wretch to him. These are the circum
stances under which 1 uttered the word.
Il have nothing to reply to the deposit
ton of the witness. But there is one thing
of which | am absolutely sure, and that is
that am not the writer of the bordereau
Referring to his papers which were seized
at the war office Dreyfus said it would not
Ia stray M m " Of
altered. He added:
Il was shown yesterday note relative
to Gen. de Miribel. There were in the doc
ument corrections made by the chief of de-
partment himself, which shows that imme-
diately after having written note he
handed it to the chief of department
Referring to the so-called "blotting-pad
letter. Dreyfus saids
This letter is perfectly genuine. Mad
anne Dreyfus can testify to that point. No
one here will doubt the word of Madame
Dreyfus. and you, gentlemen. less than
any one he added, looking steadily at the
judges. After brief adjournment the gov
eminent commissary Maj. Carriere, called
upon Capt. Valerie of the artillery to ex-
opinion the subject The captain said
he thought NJ. Bertillon's evidence might
be summarized in sentence: THE bor-
dereau was doctored and the document fab
writing with key. the key word interest
being found on the "blotting-pad letter.
attributed to Matthew Dreyfus
"The system" continued the captain,
was evidently devised to offer the pris-
oner two means of escape-either he would
deny being the author of the bordereau by
pointing to the differences of the handwrt-
trg. or lie would contend it was a plot by
showing the documents were traced over
his writings
What Valerie Would Show.
However complicated the ingenuity of
h1,y,, mil ,jcyht
the witness, II propose to show:
''First-That the document was fabri-
Gated.
SecondE'That 1t was fabricated by means
of the key word interest
"Third-That the documents written by
the prisoner In the war office contained
words written by means of the same key.
'tFourth-That the forgery was intended
to enable the prisoner to plead there
a plot against him.
'Fffth-That the prisoner alone could be
the writer"
his hypothesis, traversing practically the
same ground as already laboriously cover
ed by NJ. Bertilon, during the course of
which he pointed to what he alleged were
conclusive proofs of the value of M Eer-
tilon's system.
The witness declared that as he wished to
remain on scientific ground he would not
attempt 20 define the motives actuating the
writer of the bordereau; but he was per-
fectly convinced IL could only have been
Dreyfus. Esterhazy had declared himself
TO be the writer but that could not be
true, because 1t had been proved the Dor
dereau was forged.
In conclusion. Captain Valerie declared
the court now had in its possession material
proof of the prisoners guilt. tSensation.)
When Dreyfus was asked the usual queS-
ton the prisoner pointed out that the evil
dence of Captain Valerie only a repe-
tition of NJ. Bertil!on's. and that, conse-
quentiy, his reply to the latter applied
equally to Valerie.
Reference having been made to doctored
words in minutes written by him at the
war office. Dreyfus pointed out that those
minutes were written in the presence of a
witness. He also dwelt upon the fact that
he had already acknowledged the genuine
ness of the ''blottingpad letter. which he
reaffirmed. adding that the hypothesis that
he doctored the bordereau in order to have
means of defense fell to the ground of IL
self. since he had never attempted to turn
the system to use. (Sensation)
"All NJ. Bertillon's measures are false.
All, without exception. exclaimed the
prisoner vehemently, amid excitement.
Major Carriere asked the court to con-
front Col. Maurel and Captain Freystaet-
Freystaetter On the Stand.
As Captain Freystaetter, his breast gilt
tering with decorations, advanced with a
firm step and an air of energy, he created
d SOou llllpTtSSion. ne wore a snort Dearu,
turning gray. and flowing blonde NOUS
tache. His hair Is almost white although
he is only forty-two years of age. He de-
posed, saying:
II was a judge of the court-martial of
1894 My belief in the prisoners guilt WIS
due to the evidence of experts, and Col.
Henry and Col du Patty de Clam. l should
say it was strengthened by the reading of
documents, which were communicated to
us. the judges, in private room. Great
sensation)
The secret dOsser contained:
'First-A biographical dossier, imputing
to Dreyfus acts of treason commit ted at
Pyrotechnic school at Bourges, at the mil
itary college, and while on the headquart-
ers staff.
Second-The document known as the
Cette Caneile de D document.
''Third-A letter which, by showing the
resemblance of the handwriting proved
the genuineness of the Cette Canaille de
D. document, and which was called the
d Avfgnon' letter" (Cries of Obj
'Fourth-A telegram from foreign
military attache very distinctly asseverat-
ing the prisoners guilt"
This created a sensation and lively inter-
ruptions followed this statement
This telegram, If 1 remember rightly"
continued Freystaetter, was In the fol-
lowing terms:
''Dreyfus is arrested Emissary warm
ed" Renewed cried of "Oh! Oh!'D