The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-31

OF the accused materially, III ~ ais w
cause his Introduction Of Colonel Schneid
er. the Australian military attachc as
champion OF Dreyfus. was rather calcu
lated to arouse resentment and adversel,
to influence the Judges. especially as
was followed by General Roget's taetfu
protest against Colonel schneider's I'M
complimentary allusion TO French officers
Tomorrow's proceedings behind closet
doors, will deal with the question whether
Captain Dreyfus was In a position to di-
vuige the Information regarding the artil-
lery which was promised In the bor'
dereau. The session will be very impor-
tant and is bound TO have tremendous
influence upon the judges one way or the
other because they are all artillery off,
GERS and will be able to appreciate such
evidence better than the cryptographiC
idicsyncracies that have been laid before
them by the handwriting experts.
The Dreyfusards express confidence that
their artillery witnesses, Major Hartman
and Major Ducros, will effectively satisfy
the Judges that Dreyfus was ignorant OF
the matters mentioned in the bordereau
or as an artillery officer, would not have
been guilty OF stating the errors which 1t
contained.
The court room continues crowded aud
quite number of ladies now succeed in
obtaining admission. Town loafers are
making regular business OF forming a
queue outside the entrance to the pubic
park and court room as early as O'Clock
In the morning and selling places as high
as 3 to 5 francs according to their situa-
ton. Those arriving later must purchase
these places because only a limited num-
Der can secure even standing room.
The local papers publish the doubtful
statement that Charles De Freyclnet, on
leaving the court room yesterday after
his deposition, remarked TO friend: u
am leaving an atmosphere of acquittal."
Following are the proceedings in de-
tail:
The first witness today, NJ. Paul Meier,
member of the institute and director of
the school of ancient manuscripts. de-
scribed his researches in connection with
the Dreyfus case which led to his ccnyic-
tion that the bordereau was not only In
Esterhazys handwriting but was actually
written by Esterhazy He explained that
in his evidence before the assi2es court
he was unable TO be so positive in regard
TO the writer because he had only seen a
fac smile of the bordereau, but in the
court of cessation he saw the original
bordereau.
Il convinced my self" said NJ. Meier. by
a magnifying glass that 10 bnrdereau was
written in a free hand and without hest
in the formation of the strokes which re-
veals the use OF a method of tracing. /
can affirm that IL is in the handwriting
and in the very hand of Esterhazy. That
is perfectly clear to me- (Commotion.1
At the conclusion of his testimony the
witness gave a demonstration OF the fall
lacy of the Bertillon system.
Prof Auguste Molinler OF the school
Of ancient manuscripts, gave similar
evidence. The members of tie court mar
tial were apparently much interested and
asked Prof Molinier a number OF ques-
tions to which he upheld his conclusions
that Esterhazy was the writer of the bor-
dereau.
General MERCER requested to speak and
called attention to the fact that in his
testimony before the court of cessation
Prof. Molinier said a change was apparent
in Esterhazy's handwriting after 1894 and
asked that the professors former evidence
DO read.
NJ Labor, leading counsel for the de-
Tense, inquired II General MERCER in
tervened with the object OF verifying Prof.
Moliniers evidence. Counsel added that
It seemed 10 him that General Meroier
interviewed less in the character OF wit
ness than as a representative of the gov
eminent commissioner. He therefore would
be grateful to the general II ne would
kindly explain the bearing OF his re-
marks.
MERCER replied that on this special
point he desired 10 confirm the evidence
of Prof Mnlinier which. he said cor
roborated VI. Bertiilon's statement that
Esterhazy, the man Of straw, changed his
handwriting in order to replace Dreyfug.
In conclusion, General Mercier said:
Having emphasized the point in regard
10 the change in Esterhazy's handwriting
10 1897. perhaps before, ! am satisfied"
tCommotlon)
Prof Giery also Of the school Of ancient
manuscripts, traversed ground similar to
that covered by Prof Molinier
NJ. Labori asked II the witness had mo-
ticed change in Esterhazy's callgraphy
and Prof Giery replied that he had studied
the question, but did nor think there had
been any marked change.
Counsel then asked whether General
Mercier had meant to intimate that Ester
Hays handwriting had become more or
less like that OF Dreyfus since 1894. to
which the general replied that he had
not wished to express an opinion, but he
reiterated that N Bertilon had shown
that Esterhazy's handwriting had become
more like that Of the bOrdereau.
NJ Labori retorted that in that case |
General MERCER should not have revealed |
the evidence of NJ. Grenier before tho |
court of cessation. as Grenier showed that
EslerhaZy's caligraphy had become less (
and less like the writing OF both of the I
bordereau and Of Dreyfus. NJ Bertillon
at this juncture said he desired to speak |
but the president Of the court hastily rose I
and said. amid laughter THE sitting is |
suspended"
Then NJ Bertlllon resumed his seat in |
high dudgeon.
On the resumption OF the sitting, NJ. 1
georges Pleot, member OF the institute, |
was called for the defense. NJ De Mango
OF counsel for the prisoner explaining that (
flcot was summoned because in May last 1
ne had an interview with foreign mill |
tary attache. in the course OF which men |
non was made Of the document inserted in |
the dossier by General Mercler.
Colonel Jouaust cautioned the witness
10 be careful in his statement
After promising to exercise care. NJ. /
Ficot started with saying that he had an |
interview with the Austro Hungarian milf |
tary attacbe. Colonel Jouaust stopped the
witness, saying. "You can not continue |
like this"
MAJOR carriere. the government com
mifsary, also exclaimed sharply: Il pro-
lest In the name Of the government and I
me state against the indiscretion commit |
ted by the witness"
M Picot then recommended his tcsti- |
mony, saying he had an interview with "a
certain military attache. and that the con- |
versation turned upon the Dreyfus case. /
Inc attache expressed surprise al the in |
correct afiittlia M