New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20

yut, the contradictions with Cuignets evidence
before the Court OF Cessation. a.
Dreyfus too was effective when he rose anu
protested against Cuignet's bitter attacks.
During the course Of his deposition MAJOR
cuignet referred to the extraordinary oossie''
which, IL is doubted. however, the Government
u,,u consent TO 1roduce Cuignets reference 10
these documents very mysterious anu 90
nobody took the trouble to question him on 'l'e
subject they evidently attached little weight u
his remark -,
Another interesting indscreet Statement Va
,h,. witness was that the secret dosser only
contained the pick of the documents 'he 4"
,strv of War had in its possession. Cuighe'
said
81 think the court ought TO see the rest OF the
Ao,rmsrts II would then see that the Dreytus
offair Is part of a big matter and there was not
only one spv The court would see that the
military attaches do nothing but spying
RoIsDEFFRE BALD AND BLUNT.
co,oroI do Roisdeffre followed. He is tall,
ora uLa everv general who has appeared IN
court except General MERCER, he boasts OF
very conspicuous bald patch. the heads or the
generals being adorned by little more IMAM d
rim of gray hair De Boisdeffre spoke IN
HUNT manner and in somewhat gruff tones but
with q certain air Of sincerity, which had lls
effect on the judges.
The General was treated with obvious defer-
ence by the members Of the court martial pul
he did not appear to relish the novelty Oh pelhs
questioned by Junior officer, one or the JuoseS'
who wished for few harmless explanations
The cross-examination of NJ. Demange was not
very productive. Moreover counsei puts ms
questions in a SORRY to trouble you sort OF
,ore-cuIte different from the hard, lungins
manner of NJ Labor NJ. Demanges cross-eX-
animation, however, scored one point. Generai
De Boisdefre having insinuated that he Kne"
Colonel Picquart had relations with the Dreyius
family in 1896 counsel questioned him, with the
result that the General was obliged 10 aoinI'
that he had no proofs of the accuracy Oh MS
statements but relied on impressions.
General Gonse gave his evidence IN q Qu'e'
tone His most interesting remark was WIN
reference to the letter Of Colonel schneioer'
whom. however. he was careful not to name
But the whole telegram of the Figaro TIC
virtually declared TO be a lie as lie said:
1--WE have in bureaus many letters en-
abling US to affirm the authenticity of the let
DRAMATIC SCENES IN COURT.
The most interesting portion Of the proceed
1ngs was the last half hour, when Gonse'
Picouart. Billot and Dreyfus were on their feet
In q series Of confrontatons. move which had
dramatic elements and which produced such
emotion in court as to occasion from Dreyius
unexpected outbursts of pent-up feelng. Inc
nrisoner spoke several times to-day with an IN
dignation which rang sincere. But ne never
struck those chords which thrilled his hearers
last Monday and Saturday. The confrontatiohs
Of Dreyfus and then Pcquart with General
Gonse and General Billot with Picquart were
on side issues which did not raise questions Oh
fundamental Importance, and cannot be salo 10
have had much effect either way, so far as the
Testimony itself is concerned. But from the
point Of view Of the prosecution. 1t Is always
clever game TO bring the generals on the stage
in the role of indignant defenders OF the honor
of the army, for as superior officers their ap-
pearance is bound to exercise certain impress
sion on the judges, all of whom are OF Junior
rank.
Moreover. to-day gave General Billot the
opportunity for Of those meiooramauc
sneeches on the loyalty Of former Ministers of
War which always go down with the crowo, anu
which this morning elected outburst OF cheer
inc from, the public In court, which demonstra-
lion was quickly suppressedaby the gendarmes
and the hearing was adjourned until Mohoay'
Nf THE TESTIMONY.
q. Major Cuignet the first witness called, was
not in uniform as he Is not at present attacheo
10 any corps Before beginning an account
of the special Investigations into the case which
was ordered to make by the Ministers OF war
from NJ. Cavaignao TO NJ de Freycinet" said
the witness 81 wish to mention a personal TACT
which. in conjunction with the evidence already
heard, will constitute fresh proof of the pris-
oner's indiscreet behavior when employed on the
of u.ac
preyfus was probatloner during the latter half
If 1893 Among other duties. l connected
With the railroad service and the mining Of rail-
roads with the view Of interrupting traffic IN
case Of need. IT is hardly necessary TO point
out the secret character Of such matters. Drey-
fus was probatoner on the Eastern railroads,
and had been ordered specially to study the
mining on them, and possessed information re-
lating solely TO them. One day Dreyfus asked
me TO give him the general scheme Of mining
which l possessed, giving as a reason for his
request mat he was anxious to increase his
knowledge. and that IT was necessary for him
TO know the general scheme in order properly
TO carry out the work intrusted to him. l
piled that did not see the necessity of giving
him the scheme, and that, in any case, he had
better apply TO his own chief Major Berth.
Dreyfus pretended that Berth would not impart
any information
Day after day he pestered me, so that final
ly. having no reason TO distrust him. 1 began
giving him explanations. Dreyfus displayed the
keenest interest and took copous notes. When,
later. his house was searched these notes
not dscoverable. l do not know what became
Of Them but 1t is difficult to believe they were
destroyed. considering the Importance he seemed
10 attach TO the information and the persistence
shown in procuring it,"
MAJOR CUIGNET'S TASK.
After launching the above declaration, which
ne apparently considered 10 be weighty evil
-. Fl q