The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-05

headquarter's staff had no relation
with him
NJ. Labori-Why was Major Ester
hays role Of straw man not mentioned
in the trial of 1898?
Gen. Roget was not present and do
not know.
Considerable discussion ensued be-
tween Col Jouaust and NJ. Labor, the
former attempting to protect Gen.
Roget from too close questioning
NJ Labor insisted. however, and
gained his point.
The examination proceeded.
M Labori-Since Gen. Roget express
es an opinion in this case, upon what
does he base it?
Gen. Roget-On the part generally
played by ESterhazy.
M. Labori-How do you explain the
fact that Esterhazy made no confession
during the lola trial2
Gen. Roget do not know.
M. Labori-You have made a speech
for the prosecution rather than a
deposition. have therefore the right
to question and note the fact that you
do not reply.
NJ. Labor then expressed surprise
that there was no mention of a man Of
straw until so late a day, while all the
acts of which Esterhazy is accused
were long known
At the. request of NJ. Labor the re-
port of the court of inquiry which de-
c1ded whether or not EsterhaZy should
be cash1ered was read. According to
TINS report the court was not permitted
~ 81 C0NSAuG u SDeclUC questions SUD-
mitted to it by the minister of war.
one of the questions referring to Major
Esterhazy's letter to President Faure
caused Major Du Paty de Clam TO adj
init that he inspired those letters.
Th1S made a great impression on the
court of inquiry which finally concIud-
eo that there was ground for clemency.
BILLOT IS PROTECTED.
When the reading of the report was
concluded, M. Labor vainly tried to
question General Billot concerning the
1Anf
Esterhazy's acquittal, Col. Jouaust de-
claring he would not permit Gen BilIot
to be re-eXamined.
M Demange said he could not I'M
derstand why it was alleged that the
defense desired to compromise the
headquarters staff, and asked whence
arose the suggestion that Major Ester
hazy was a mere dummy.
Gen. Roget replied that one reas son
which induced the belief that Ester
hay was a man of straw was that his
confession that he had written the bor-
dereau was absolutely inadmissibla
Gen. Roget was perfectly convinced
that Esterhazy was entirely innocent
of treason (Murmurs of assent and
Gen. Roget next attempted but with
out success to refute the evidence given
on saturday by NJ. Des Fonds-I4amothe
relative to the sentence. Il am going
to the manoeuvres,' saying the circular
issued may have been indefinite
with regard to the spy, Dominique,
Gen. Roget declared that Corningue'S
Information was Valueless. He was a
man of bad character and had recently
written a letter to NJ. Labor.
Captain Dreyfus at this iuncture
pointed out with reference to the SEN
tence, I am going to the manOeuvres'
the court possessed the circular and
could decide whether it contained def
mite instructions. He recalled the fact
that in August the probatiOners were
asked which regiments they desired to
join. The situation was very clear. All
the prObatiOners at the staff headquar-
terS had participated in the June Jour
ney made by the general staff He did
not know whether or not certain Off
GERS retained doubts, but he was abso-
lutely certain he had never asked for
leave to attend the manoeuvres. The
sentence in the bordereau, I am going
to the manoeuvres'' expressed a posi-
tive idea. He not only never went to
the manOeuvres, but never could have
attended them. NJ. Deffes, a cores
pendent of the Temps, depOsed that
Major Esterhazy told him in London
that he (Esterhazy) was the writer of
the bordereau.
a judge-Did it not occur to you to ask
the obvious questions, who delivered
the documents mentioned in the Dor
dereau?
NJ Deffes-Never.
Senator Trarieux, eX-minister of jus
tice, was the next witness. He looked
straight at the judges while testifyinas.
He prefaced his evidence by saying
that he wished to throw full light upon
his conduct in this case.