Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-08-20

witnesses, at the beginning are heard
with certain restlessness which settles
into general drowsiness on the part
of a majority of the audience who are
unable to catch one out of ten words
spoken, in consequence of the deplor-
able acoustic properties of the court
room. The reporters are at an equal
disadvantage as only few OF them, inn
mediately beneath the stage, can fol-
low the proceedings intelligently.
Major Cuignet did not snow TO great
advantage in the cross examination. lie
is a well-known, smartly uniformed
young officer and began his evidence III
a loud voice in obvious imitation VI
Col. Picquart, whose fearless manner
and resonant tones made sucn an I'M
perssion yesterday. Major Culgnel eV-
identity, however, committed an mas
erection in dragging In Col. Schnelder
name, which caused sensation III
court. The judges began TO lean Iheir
heads together and look serious. Iheh
Major Carriere, the government coih-
mssary, rose and with pralseWoitny
absence of his usual transforming geS-
lures and carefully avoiding mehtioh
OF Col. Schneider's name, maze lew
remarks refusing in behalf OF the gov
eminent to accept responsibility loi
Major Cuignet's indiscretlon, the ldct
being that the government nad Desu A
TO get apprehensive OF troupe IL Tue
foreign attaches names continue 10 NC
banded about the court as mas Ire.
ouently occurred since the opening Vi
the trial.
Other parts of Cuignet's evidence
evoked smiles of incredulity and sup
pressed laughter, as when he oeclareo
his belief in M. Bartellon's wondrous
chart. When M. Demange TOOK up the
majors cross-examination, not a very
brilliant performance in itself, MAJOR
Cuignet Immediately showed uneasa-
ness. wnlch was accentuated every llnle
counsel asked a pointed question anu
especially where counsel thresned OUT
the contradictions with CulgnetS eV1-
dence before the court of cessation.
Dreyfus, too, was effective when ne
arose and protested against CulSnet
bitter attacks.
Another interesting indiscreet staOe-
ment of this witness was that the
secret dossier only contained the PICK
of the documents the ministry OF war
had in it's possession, and Cuignet said:
81 think the court ought to see the rest
of the documents. | would then see
that the Dreyfus affair is part OF a big
matter and that there was not only one
spy. The court would see that the MIL
itary attaches do nothing but spying.
Gen. De BolSdettre followed. he is
tall and like every general except Mer-
cier who has appeared in court, ne
boasts of very conspicuous bald patch
above rim of gray hair
De Boisdeffre spoke in a blunt man
ner and in somewhat grutf tones, put
with a certain air of sincerity which
had it's effect on the judges.
The cross-examination by M. De-
mango was not productive. The adyo-
cate puts his questions in sorry TO
trouble YOU sort of tone, quite differ
ent from the hard, judging manner OF
NJ. Labori.
M. Demange, however, scored one
point When Gen. De Boisdeffre insln-
uated that he knew Col. Picquart had
relations with Dreyfus in the fall OF
1896, counsel questioned him, with the
result that the general was Obliged TO
admit that he had no proofs of the ae-
curacy of his statements, but relied on
impressions
Gen. Gonse gave his evidence in a
quiet tone. His most interesting re-
mark was with reference to the letter
of Col. Schneider, whom, however, ne
was careful not to name. But the
whole telegram of the Figaro he viz
tually declared to be lie, as he salG
I'VE have in our bureaus many letters
enabling us to affirm the authenticity
of the letter"
The most interesting portion OF the
proceedings was the last half hour,
when Gonse, Picquart, Billot and Drey-
fus were ON their feet in series or
combinations, a move which, however,
had dramatic elements and which pro-
duced much emotion in court, and oc-
casioned from Dreyfus unexpected out
bursts of snt-up feeling. The prisoner
spoke several times to-day with an in
dignation which rang sincere.
Following is the days evidence IN
detail:
Major Cugnet was the first witness
called. Before beginning an account
of the special Investigations into the
case which | was ordered to make by
ministers of war, from NJ Cavaignac to
M. De Freycinet," said the witness, Il
wish to mention a personal fact which,
in conjunction with the evidence al
ready heard will constitute fresh proof
of the prisoners indiscreet behavior
when employed on the headquarters
staff. I was on the staff when Dreyfus
was a probationer, during the latter
half of 1893. Among other duties, |
was connected with the railroad ser
vice and the mining of railroads, with
the view of interrupting traffic in case
of need. 1t is hardly necessary TO
point out the secret charcter Of such
matters Dreyfus was probationer
on the eastern railroads and had been
ordered to specially study the mining
on them and possessed information re-
lating solely to them. One day Drey-
fus asked me TO give him the general
scope of mining which | possessed, CIV
ing as a reason for his request that he
was anxious to increase his knowledge,
and that it was nececcary for him TO
know the general scheme in order to
properly carry out the work intrusted
to him. l replied that l did not see
the necessity of giving him the scheme
and that, in any case, he had better
apply to his own chief, Major Berlin.
Dreyfus pretended Berth would not
impart any information Day after