The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-11

In September. 1894, when Caslmir Perier
was the president Of the republic, Dupuy
prime minister. and General MERCER In
charge OF the war office. there came to
light the famous bordereau. whose dis
covery caused the crash Of riot the MUIR
der OF several men. the resignation of the
president. the fall of number of min-
listers and judges and brought France TO
the verge OF revolution.
A bordereau Is a memorandum, or list,
setting forth certain items. The bordereau
OF the Dreyfus case was brought to the
French war office by a servant Of Colonel
Won Schwartzkopper the military attache
OF the German embassy at Paris. This
servant was a spy in the employ OF France
The memorandum was in fragments and
had been picked up by the spy. 1t was
delivered to Colonel sandherr. then in
charge Of the intelligence office OF the war
department
This officer pieced the fragments to-
gether. and the text. as the restoration dis
closed. was as follows.
In the absence Of any news indicat-
ing your desire to see me /. neverthe-
less, send YOU. sir, certain iuforma-
ton az interest.
l. uote on the hydraulic brake OF
120 inethot OF operating this piecel.
2. note on the OUTPOST troops. "a
few notifications VIII be made by tho
new planl
3. A note on notifications of artil-
lery formation
4. A note relating 20 Madagascar.
o. The scheme relative to the muu-
ual of Held firing March a. 1890.
This last paper is extremely difficult
10 procure. and | can have II at my
disposal only for a few days. The
ministry has issued a definite number
TO the corps, and these corps are ro-
sponsible for them; each officer Ia
Obliged TO return his copy after the
maneuvers. H. therefore, you wish
me TO take from It whatever may in
terest YOU, and hold 1t afterward at
my disposal, l will take 1t, unless Won
want me to make a COPY in eXtenso
and address 1t to you.
| am Just leaving for the maneuvers.
1t at once occurred to Colonel sandher
that some officer of the general STAN WA
selling secrets of the French army 10 m
German government
He began his Investigation by sec,irln,
specimens OF the handwriting OF the ora
GERS OF the stan and comparing them wit,
the writing in the bordereau. Al tbt
stage OF the case Colonel du Patty dc Clan
ana the Marquis de Mores, two genera
stan officers, suggested that the writin,
resemoled that of Alfred Dreytus. a cop
taln OF artillery, who had been a membe
OF the general staff about a year. Now
tnese Two officers We're fierce and notorlon
Jew palters' and Dreyfus Is a Jew.
ine suspected officer was derived from
prominent family OF Alsaoe, and went [,
Farls In 1884. Entering the military scboo
he soon rose rapidly in the army The lew
ism othcers had been long hated by tn
french officers and their friends OUTSIDE
the army To Patty dc Clam was asslgne,
Ine work of the preliminary Investigation
me colopels hrst step was 10 submit Nh,
poFacreau TO an expert in handwriting
VINO promptly reported that II the nor
We're not careful forgery 1t was certainl,
the work OF the person whose handwrltin,
accompanied 1t for comparlson-a letter IL
Dreyfus' hand.
Having thus fortified himself, paty a.
clam on October IA sent for Captain Drey
rus, and that officer was placed under mr.
rest the same day. 1t was Commnndan
Henry who took charge of the accused. an
Dreyfus was driven to the Cherche Mid
prison, locked in solitary cell and charge
with treason. The formal accusation, trial
CONVICTION and punishment Of Dreyfus FOL
lowed rapidly. This trial was secret an,
irregular TO the last degree of extraya
gance. The only evidence against the al
legged traitor was the bortsreau, and al
the experts who TESTIFIED as to the wriliu
disagreed, an acquittal seemed certain an,
had been rendered had 1t not been for tn