The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-31

Roget-secret Session to BIO Held
Today
RENNEs, August so.-At the opening
in the 1ycss this morning of the third
session of the fourth week of the Sec
ond court martial of Captain Alfred
preytus, of the artillery, charged with
treason, NJ. Paul Meyer, member of the
institute and director of the school of
ancient manuscripts. was the first witt
ness called. He deposed in favor Of
preyeus.
After hearing NM, MolInler and GIry,
and N. Picot, a member of the institute,
all Of whom testified in favor Of Drey-
rus General Deioyo testified against the
prisoner on the artillery references.
Then the court, on the application of
the government commlssary, Major
carrlere, ordered that tine opening part
OF to-morrow's session be behind closed
doors, for the purpose Of discussing doc
uments relating to the artillery.
The evidence OF NM, Meyer, Mollnler
and CRY, ali of whom are handwriting
experts Of the first rank, was a strong
point for Dreyfus. They were most
emphatic In declaring that the borde-
reau was written BY Esterhazy, and
created a better impression than N.
Bertillon by not introducing the fan
tastic diagrams which the latter deem
ed necessary.
The action Of General MercIer, in ask
ing to be allowed to reply to NJ. Mo-
liner and then getting up and confirm
ing the professors statement that Es-
terhaEy changed his handwriting since
1884 puzzled the audience. That Ester
hazy should have deemed 1t advisable
10 change his handwriting since the
date OF the botdereau appears, at first
elght, to indicate that he wrote It, and
that General Mercier should support
Professor Mollnier aroused discussion
"a to the generals motives. There are
some people who see in General Mer-
eier's unsolicited testimony yesterday
IN support Of the honorable nature OF
NJ. MATTHEW Dreyfus' visit to Colonel
sandherr In 1894, in behalf Of his broth
er. and the generals move to-day an
Indication Of some change Of attitude,
perhaps q candid avowal OF his mis-
takes Of 1894. On the other hand, many
persons think General Mercier, fearing
that Saturdays exposure will dlscredit
him altogether with the Judges, has
conceived the idea Of giving way on
certain points, which, moreover. are al
most incontestable, and thus, to some
extent, reInstate himself by On atfecta-
tlon of impartiallty.
NJ. PIcot related an interesting con-
yersation which he had with the Aus
tro-Hungarian military attnche, Colo
mel Schneider mention of whose name
provoked a prompt protest from Major
carriere in the name Of the government
and state. Colonel Schneider, accord
ing to this witness, admitted that Es-
terhazy acted as a spy, and wrote the
bordereau.
General Roget, with his usual shrewd-
ness. seized upon NJ. PIoOt'G statement
that Colonel Schneider expressed aston
lament that French officers should
have the bad taste to question the word
OF foreign officers to mount the plat
'nr-,. and make short speech In
defense Of the attitude Of the French
officers, concluding with the remark;
interviewed because when French
officers are attacked thew have the
right to defend themselves"
These words Will be published all over
France, and will tend to make General
Roget more popular with the army
General Deloyo repeated his testl-
mony before the court OF cessation. re-
lating to the 100 short cannon hydro
q ,eumatIc brake and the Robin shell.
preyfus, in reply. made a really clear
abatement, explaining that he saw the
hyi, p..eumatic brake once at BourBes
once ut the school of war and that
he never saw 1t used, because, while
on the general stan, he was never pres
emit at firing practice.
Major Cartlere then made his up
piicatIon to have the court sit behind
close doors tomorrow, explaining thai
he desired to submit to the court GER
Tain documents prepared by the gun
rory bureau, containing Information
,hIcb II wns not desirable to discuss
public.
The court. after delIberatIon, granted
the application. and also acceded tC
the request of the defense that thelE
witness, Major Hartmann. Of the artil'
lery. be allowed to be present, as hi
would give important testimony. show
ing that Dreyfus could not have writ
ten the paragraphs in the bordereau
concerning artillery.
Patent Granted.