Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-30
TUESDAYS DREYFUS EVIDENCE
PLEASING TO NEITHER SIDE.
COLONEL C0RDIER TESTIFIES
DECLARES HIS FIRM BELIEF IN
DREYFUs' INNOCENCE.
Makes n Point Against Dreyfus, How.
ever, in Testifying. That Colonel
Henry Received the Bor-
dcreau-M. DeFreyclnct
on the stand.

oh thS
RENNES, Aug. 29-Neither side was
pleased with the outcome of to-day's pro-
ceedIngs before the court-martial that is
trying Captain Dreyfus. The Dreyfusards
expected that Colonel Cordier, who was
deputy chief of the intelligence depart
inent under the late Lieutenant Colonel
Henry. would testify that the bordereau
was received directly by the late Colonel
Sandherr. Had the expectation been real
: lied. the testimony would have been a
strong point in favor of the accused, be-
cause it would have been a reply to the
anti-Dreyfusar who have all along con-
tended that Henry received the bordereau
and forwarded II to SanGherr, thing he
would not have done had the bordereau
been. as the Dreyfusards assert, written
by his accomplice, EsteThazy, for, in
tiAt event. Henry would have recognized
the handwriting when he received the bor
dereau from the German embassy and
would have suppressed it, instead of for
warding IL to Sandherr.
Colonel Corder, however, testified to-
day that he was absent from the intel
ligence department when the bordereau
rived, but that he believed it was received
by Henry.
Naturally, this statement elated the anti
Dreyfusards but they had no good reason
10 congratulate themselves upon the re-
mainder of Cordier's testimony, as it was
wholly in favor of Dreyfus.
On the other hand, the procession of
generals and officers of the general staff
who demanded an opportunity to confront
Colonel Cordier was a good piece of tao
ties from the point of view of the anti
Dreyfusards, because although the points
they contested We're not Of the first i'm
portance, Yet their very appearance on
The stage and the contradiction of some
Of cordiers statements left disagreeable
impression,
The appearance of General Mercier to
question Colonel Cordier came as surprise
10 many in the audience, who had supposed
that, after last Saturdays scene. when
Mercler was confronted with Captain Frey
staeter, he would remain quiet. But Mer-
cer is game to the death.
His action to-day Is Interpreted as intend
ed 10 show that he is not going TO throw
up the sponge. The part he played in 1894
lays him open to arrest, and this is a con-
slant topic of discussion in the cafes and
at other meeting places in Rennes. There
appears, however. to be a good reason why
the government will not take any such
serious step until the trial is over. Colonel
,kpuaust, president of the court-martial,
could adjourn the trial indefinitely If Mer-
cier, who is an important witness, were ar
rested. If the trial were adjourned for
more than forty-eight hours it would lapse,
and the proceedings would have to be gone
over again from the beginning.
To-day's attendance was the largest since
the opening of the trial. Everybody was
on the qui vive to hear the testimony of
Charles De Freycinet senator, former pre-
mier, former minister of foreign affairs and
former minister of war. This adroit poli-
- tician, the white mouse of French poll
tics, sat upon the fence as well as he
could. His expression of a fear that the
Dreyfus agitation would injure the discip-
line of the army greatly annoyed the Drey-
fusards. as calculated to influence the
judges against the accused. But he fol-
lowed ii with a eulogy of the pioneer OF
the Dreyfus campaign NJ. Scheurer-Kest-
ner, former vice president of the senate
whose character he said he held in the
highest esteem.
NJ Labori then secured another conces-
sion favorable to Dreyfus by getting NJ
Dc Freycinet TO admit that he could not
recall q single fact going to prove that
money had been sent into France from
abroad TO promote a campaign in favor OF
Dreytus. The general feeling however, is
mat his appearance on the witness stand
Colonel Cordier, deputy chief of the in.
telligence department under the late Lieu.
tenant Henry, and who, since his previous
appearance In court, has been released by
the minister of war, General de MarGui:
de Gallifet, from his oath of professional
secrecy, was the first witness called to
day. He testified to the effect that the late
Colonel Sandherr and not Lieutenant Col
oncl Henry received the famous bordereau
The witness deposed strongly in favor o.
Ipreyfus, and was most amusing in de
livering his testimony. He Kept the cour
and even the judges in roars of Laughter
by his comical manner and witticisms
He Is a short, stout man with Jolly fact
and a very red nose. The colonel declared
that his belief in the guilt of Dreyfus wa!
re shaken 1sg when the dn date # the bor
declared stoutly that he was now con
WINGED that Dreyfus was innocent.
Colonel Corder then spoke up strongl,
for Colonel Picquart, as a conscientious
soldier and an honorable man, and threw
light upon the situation which existed IL
The offices of the intelligence department
of the war office. He explained that Henr.
was jealous of Picquart because the latte
was given charge of the statistical sec
ton, which Henry had hoped to get TO
himself. Cordier expressed the belief tina
II was because of Picquart that Henr,
committed the forgery.
given In loud voice, accompanied b.
humorous "asides." He several time
mentioned the ambassador of Germany
which caused the president of the court
NJ. Jouaust. TO intervene and tell the wit
ness that he must not introduce the am
bassador's name or refer to Germany. TIL
hasty corrections of the witness when Il
repeated the same slips of the tongue. a
he did more than once, and the amusn
manner in which he avoided mentionn
Germany at other times caused the great
est merriment. During his testimony n
fewer than five witnesses rose and aske
10 be confronted with him. but the colo
mel received the interruptions with the vi
most good humor.
Dreyfus spoke few words at the con
clusion of Colonel Cordier's statements
lie said the scene which preceded his ar
rest fantastic that it completed
hewildered him and merely left blunte
impression on his memory.
The prisoner is now accustomed to hi
surroundings and has apparently recovere