The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-26
AUTHOROFTHE BORDEREAU
NJ BERTILLON Starts nv TO PROVE
THAT DREYFUS WROTE 1T.
Though the Court of Cessation Has Already
Decided That He Did Not-His Lawyers

n Ions Evidence Technical and Dull
I special csbis Dsipatch 10 THE SUN.
RESNEs. Aug 25.-The greater part OF to-
days session OF the Dreyfus court martial was
taken up with expert testimony as to the hand
writing Of the bordereau. and probably several
days more will be devoted to the same subject.
The fact that the Court OF Cessation definitely
pronounced judgment on this point favorable
to Dreyfus 10 entirely ignored.
Those who have not followed events closely
express surprise that the defence has not pro-
tested against this virtual defiance OF the
authority OF the highest tribunal OF France.
The reason is that Dreyfuss defenders an
nounced In advance OF the tra that they would
welcome the fullest investigation Of the whole
question Of the alleged reasonable conduct Of
the accused without any restriction whatso-
ever. This was a needlessly bold course TO
adopt In country OF which Dumas once said:
1T were ACCUSED OF stealing the towers Of
Notre Dame should not. undertake to defend
myaelf should bolt"
There 10 good reason to believe that II Drey-
fus had insisted on his rights under the de-
cision Of the Court OF Cessation, the court
martial would have openly announced its
defiance OF thu decision. and would have gone
on Just as It is now doing; but It would then
have been settled beyond peradventure that
any unfavorable, judgment by these Judges
Wouiu iuNo ocoh ptohpty ny tu6 su-
preme judicial tribunal. 1t Is difficult to say
what may now happen In the event. by no
means impossible. OF q decision against the
prisoner.
The work OF appropriation now going on
has no interest to the outside world beyond
furnishing an opportunity for II to marvel and
perhaps smile at Bertilon. the principal hand
writing expert. He seems the most striking
example OF a fanatical devotee OF science, In
whom genius Just oversteps the line Of
sanity. to those who have seriously
studied his demonstration Of the the
sis that Dreytus Is the only pos
shle writer Of the bordereau. 1t must be con-
fessed that It 10 a wonderfully clever dsqui-
sition. the only fault OF which is that II starts
from false premises. At all events the defence
considers 1t necessary to seriously controvert
his theory. and a conflict Of expert evidence.
always confusing aud always futile. will be ono
OF the features Of this amazing proceeding
called a trial.
The disappointing announcement that Du
Patty de Clam would be unable to appear was
the first incident OF to- days session. Maitre
Labori requested that an independent oom-
mittee Of doctors be sent by the court to ex-
anime the condition Of Du Patty de Clam. but
Col. Jouaust the President OF the court, re.
fused to grant the request.
Rowland Strong. the Paris correspondent OF
ths London Observer. was the first witness He
repeated the story OF his relations with Ester
hazy who. he said. offered to sell the Witness
written confession that he was the author Of
the bordereau.
In reply to question BY Colonel Jouaust.
the witness added that EsterhaEy had not
only admitted having written the bordereau.
but affirmed that the documents named there
In were delivered to the German Government
by WE'LL.
WE'LL was the next witness on the Govern
ment list. but as he did not respond when his
name was called the Registrar read his testl-
mony before the Court OF Cessation. in which
he quotes Esterhazy as saying at the time Of
the 1894 court-martial: 'Dreyfus is innocent
but he will be condemned because he Is q
Jew"
The deposition Of WE'LL also says that he re-
ceived an anonymous letter asserting that he
and Esterhazy were to be accused OF being ac-
completes OF Dreyfus. This. by the way. is tho
full theory which 1t 10 persistently rumored in
Rennes will soon be announced by the General
staff coterie.
Corporal Leveque. another Beaurepaire wit
ness. added his tttle-tattle to the effect that
Dreyfus once looked over his shoulder in the
War ONCE when the witness was copying an
official document.
NJ Colbert. the Bank OF France expert. who In
lcof uoCiuEou tHdt Iho hdnu"EltlnR Vi tHo
dereau was not that OF Dreyfus, repeated his
testimony before the Court OF Cessation. de-
scribinR how he was attacked by everybody at
headquarters when he gave his opinion against
their theory. The witness entered into an an
alysis OF the handwriting Of the bordereau
whom Col. Jouaust INTERRUPTED him. saying:
These are trifles and not important"
The witness retorted with dignity and ON
phasis: Permit me to say. Mr. President. that
I am here to tell the truth and to give my evil
dence in such manner as to carry the greatest
weight"
Col. Jouaust responded. testify: We'll. get
to work."
The witness continued his exposition.
Then came the famous expert. Bertillon. and
with him were one sergeant and three soldiers.
loaded down with what appeared to be q con-
turing apparatus. This was disposed about
the stage. and the witness. in q deep. sepul-
ehral voice began the wonderful disquisition
which nobody has yet understood except Its
author and Drsytus himself. The latter. by
the way, was greatly fascinated by NJ. Bertil-
Ions logic. saying that II his premises were ad-
mitted his conclusions were inevitable.
NJ. Bertillon explained at the outset that only
Intelligent persons could understand his sys-
tenn. which would require the remainder OF
to-day and part Of tomorrow to demonstrate.
The effect OF this announcement was a rapid
exodus from the hall. only a few persons re-
naming.
NJ. Bertllon succeeded fairly we'll in keeping
the attention Of the Judges. frequently dis
trbutinR fresh charts and Photographs among
them and calling their attention to points with
such detail that the court was compelled to try
to follow him. Even this scientific hureaucrat
was unable, however. to suppress his animus.
for he dropped the subject at one point to in
dulge in bitter denunciation OF Dreyfus as
traitor.
In tho midst OF this diatribe the witnesses
eye caught one Of his charts. which he seized.
and. resuminR his professional manner. pro-
ceeded to explain its mysteries amid the
laughter OF such OF the audience as were
awake.
NJ Bertillon. by the way. rejects as i'm possible
the idoa that Esterhazy wrote the bordercau.
mo matter il the man himself says so and
manifold witnesses should come and say they
saw him do it,"
There was great pile of charts and photo
graphs in front OF each Judge when the hour
of adjournment was reached NJ Bertillon,
who had been engaged silently writing at a