The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-01
CAPT. DREYEUS
Is INNOCENT.
Colonel Cordiet Said He Was
So Convinced.
FIRST THOUGHT HIM GUILTY
Said He Believed Henry Committed
Forgery, Because Jealous of Picquart.
Mercier Admitted sandherr Said He
Believed Dreyfus' Brother Was Honest.

RENNEs, France, Aug. 30.-Colonel |
Oordier, deputy chief of the intelligence |
department under the late Lieutenant |
Colonel Henry, and who, since his |
previous appearance in court had been |
released by the minister Of war, Gen.
eral de Marquis de Galiffet, from his
oath of professional secrecy, was the
Afrst witness called at the second session
ofI the fourth week of the second trial
by courtmartial of Captain Dreyfus.
= The Dreyfusards expected that Colo
mel Cordier, who was deputy chief OF
the intelligence department under the
late Colonel Henry, would testify that
the bordereau was received directly by
the late Colonel ..Sandherr. Had this
expectation been realized, the testi-
mony would have been strong point
in favor of the accused, because 1T
would have been a reply to the anti
Dreyfusards, who have all along con-
tended that Henry received the border
eau and forwarded it to Sandherr, a
thing he would not have done had the
bordereau been, as the Dreyfusards as
sert, written by his accomplice, Ester
hazy, for, i'll that event, Henry would
have recognized the handwriting when
he received the bordereau from the
German embassy and would have sup
pressed it instead OF forwarding it to
Sandherr.
Colonel Cordier, however, testified
that he was absent from the intelli-
gence department. when the bordereau
arrived, but that he believed it was re-
ceived by Henry.
Naturally this statement elated the
-Dreyfusartls. but they had no good
reason to congratulate themselves upon
the remainder of Cordier's testimony,
as it was wholly in favor of Dreyfus.
The colonel declared that his belief in
the guilt of Dreyfus was first shaken
when the date of the bordereau was
given as May. The witness declared
stoutly that he was now convinced Drey-
fus was innocent.
Colonel Cordier then spoke up strong
ly for Colonel Picquart as conscien-
tious soldier and an honorable man, and
threw light upon the situation which
existed in the offices of the intelligence
, department. of the war Office. He ex-
planned that Henry was jealous of Pic
quart because the latter was given
charge of the statistical section, which
Henry had hoped to get for himself.
,Cordier expressed the belief that it was
because of Picquart that Henry commit
ted his forgery.
Dreyfus spoke few words at the con-
,clusion of Colonel Cordier's statements.
He said the scene which preceded his
arrest was so fantastic that it COM
pletely bewildered him and merely left
blunted impression on his memory.
Major Lauth first confrotned Colonel
Cordier.
The major commented upon Colonel
sCordier' testimony, especially the state
mept that there were no anti -Semites
on the heddquarter's staff, remarking
that there was one exception and that
tbs was Cordier himself, who was
always expressing, antipathy to the
Jews, especially when there was ques-
ton of int1 oducing Dreyfus to the de-
partment.
eyes," exclaimed Cordler, "quite
true. l was an anti-Semite, but my
opinions never went to the length of
bringing false evidence against the
Jews. [Sensatlon.l 1 am an honest
man and have a conscience. Re-
newed excitement.
Colonel Cordier then administered a
well deserved snub to Major Lauth by
remarking that he (the colonel) might
be allowed TO know more than Major
Lauth with reference to the work of the
intelligence department since he Cor
dier) replaced Colonel Sandherr as chief
of the department whenever Sandherr
was absent, while Major Lauth, the
witness concluded, was merely my as
Sistant. My assistant, mark you.
Major Lauth did not enjoy this little
scene at all.
General Roget next confronted Colo
mel Cordier. His evidence was not very
striking, nor was that of Colonel Fleur
or Archivist Gribelin, who also con-
tested minor points OF Cordier's deposi-
tion.
Finally General Mercier confronted
Colonel Oordier. The generals remarks
were of small Importance, the most in
teresting being his repetition of Colonel
Sandherr's opinion of Matthew Dreyfus
when the prisoners brother went to see
the colonel to ask for justice in behalf
of Captain Dreyfus. Mercier admitted
Sandherr said:
"Mathieu Dreyfus impressed me as
an honest man who was prepared to
make any sacrifice to save his brother"
M. de freyclnet said he remembered
a con gersation with General lamont, at
which there was q reference to money
coming from abroad in support OF the
Dreyfus agitation.
M. de freyclnet, however, did not re-
member the details of the conversation
nor could he say if any specific amounG
was mentioned.
M. de Freycinet then alluded to his
fears that ATTACKS on the chiefs of the
army might be prejudicial to discipline"
In short, M. de Freycinet delivered a
patriotic speech, rather than a deposi-
ton, concluding with the words:
"All the world will accept your yer.
dict, which will open an era of recon
ciliation."
The president Of the court, Colonel
,Jouaust, declined to put to the witness
some questions from Maitre Labori
leading counsel for the defense, ON the
ground that they had no direct bearing
on the case.
One of these questions referred to M.
de Freycinet's personal opinion on Nj.
Scheurer- Kestner, the former vice presl-
dent of the senate, who has interested
himself strongly in behalf of Dreyfus.
Although the colonel refused to put the