The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-08-19
PICQUART TESTIFIES
Former Chief Of Intelligence De-
partment on the Stand,
FAVORABLE TO THE PRISONER.

Upon the Accused omcer Charged
with Treason.
Rennes, Aug. 19.-Colonel Picquart
practically occupied the whole days
sitting with a masterful presentation
of his side of tho case. He spoke for
FIVE hours, and his voice at the end Of
that time began to show signs Of IA
tigue His testimony was followed with
the closest attention by the members
Df the court martial and by the audi
ence.
Colonel Picquart explained how he
had been unable to attend to his du-
ties on account OF family bereavement
and Colonel Henry had acted in his
stead. lie spoke OF the QuenelN case.
Quenelli was a returned convict, who
had been caught red handed in a
criminal act Colonel Picquart pro
tested against the allegation that he
had consented TO the communication
OF the secret dossier. without the pris-
oner's knowledge, to the Dreyfus court
martial.
The colonel then proceeded to dis
cuss the phrase of the bordereau. 81
am going to the maneuvers." He said
there was no question OF probationers
going to the maneuyers in September.
The witness rebutted the charges
against him OF unnecessarily delaying
the prosecution of EsterhaZy. He said
his object was to avoid arousing sus-
picion in regard to an officer who, per-
haps, was entirely innocent What a
mistake" he added, would have been
pverted in 1894 had they acted in the
same way in regard to Dreyfus."
What the witness gathered about
Esterhazy's character, he continued,
created the worst impression upon him
but he learned nothing to connect Es-
terhazy with any act of espionage.
Therefore, he did not mention his sus-
picions An agent however, was or
dered to watch Esterhazy, who had
completely compromised himself
through his relations with an English
company, of which he had agreed to
become director. Moreover, Esterhazy
gambled, led q life of debauchery, and
lived with Mile. Pays.
The colonel said it would facilitate
his explanations if he were permitted
to see the secret dossier, adding: 81
have already had it in my hands, but
l fear my memory may fail me on
some points"
What you ask" replied the presi-
dent of the court martial, lis impos-
sible. The minister's orders are alb
solute. The secret dossier can only be
examined under certain conditions"
The minute detail with which the
colonel dealt with the evidence, the
clearness of his language, and his de-
ductions had grand effect upon the
audience and elected general admir-
alton. The former chief of the intel
ligence department concluded his ex-
animation of the first portion of the
secret dossier by saying:
May l be allowed to express deer
regreat at the absence of Major Du
Patty De Clam? 1t seems to me indis-
pensable that this officer, who wrote
the commentaries on the secret dossier
| should be summoned to give evi-
| dence here. He would give us his
"reminiscences, and would help him.
But" added Picquart, "since l an
! dealing with this question of the com
mentaries of Major Du Patty de Clam
| permit me to point out to you, gen
! tlemen, that this document was not
the property of any particular min
lister. It was classified as belonging tC
the intelligence department, and as
you see, 1t formed part of a we'll de-
| fined dossier--a dossier which was
| shut up in one of the drawers of my
| desk, and which was abstracted from
it. The commentary, therefore, Is
upon a secret dossier document which
was improperly removed from my de-
partment.
you cannot imagine. gentlemen
| what people, in order to get money, Il
only a modest 20 franc piece, have
brought to the intelligence department
in the shape of so-called information,
which examination has proved to bC
worthless"
Colonel Picquart explained how ht
had acquired the conviction that the
! bordereau was written by Esterhazy
| and how he ascertained that the anti
! Dreyfus proofs were worthless. He
detailed how he first learned of the ex,
istence of EsterhaZy, and his efforts u
discover something about him.
81 knew Esterhazy was anxious L
enter the war office, and I did not re
gard his desire favorably. communi
Gated my impression to my chiefs, who
approved all my steps, and the ap
plication of Esterhazy was rejected.
His insistence, however, only IN
creased my uneasiness regarding him
and resolved to obtain a specimen o.
his handwriting. l was Immediately
struck with the similarity of his hand
writing and that of the bordereau, and
forthwith, l had the letters of Ester.
hazy, which were in my possession
1 nh nh Cd hn nh
graphs to Major Du Patty de Clam anC
M. Bertillon (the handwriting expert)
between Aug. 25 and Sept. s."
Colonel PicQuart, continuing, saiC
Patty de Clam, on seeing the writing
forthwith declared it was that of Mat
thew Dreyfus, the brother of Captain
Dreyfus.
at NJ. Bertillon's request left tn,
photographs with him. When he re
turned them he said he adhered to thi
opinion, and earnestly asked to see tn
original, when / saw beyond a doub
that the handwriting of the bordereal
was Esterhazy's, and seeing that tn
documents mentioned therein Nigh
have been supplied by Esterhazy, tha
the words L am going to the maneu
vers could perfectly we'll apply 4
Esterhazy, and that Esterhazy hat
secretaries at his disposal to copy
document 30 voluminous as the firin
manual, l resolved to consult the sc
cret dossier to see what part of tn
treachery he ascribed to Dreyfus an
to assure myself whether the dossie
contained anything indicating Ester
haZy.
II frankly admit was stupefed o.
reading the secret dossier. l expecte