The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-08

, sion which the defense sought to i'm
pose upon the government was very
delicate. In some respects he regarded
the performance OF the mission impos-
sIble. He could not conceive Of one
government addressing such a requeSt
to another. He intimated that the de-
Tense might get the documents. He saw
no reason why Schwartzkoppen and Pa
nizZardi should not be examined If they
cared to testify. The court, however.
| would have to judge.
M. Palelogue, the representative Of
the foreign office, supported Major Car
riere's views.
Colonel Jouaust promised that the
court would it's decision later.
TESTIMONY AS TO INTERVIEWS
OF ESTERHAZEY.
Serge Basset, the first witness called
today, testified that The Matin sent
him to London on five occasions to in
| terview Major E~sterhazey, who fur
| nished a mass of interesting informa-
ton concerning the headquarters staff.
Esterhazey declared that he was the
author of the bordereau, though the
witness did not believe him. Esterha-
| zey complained bitterly of the generals,
who, he said, had thrown him over
board, adding hat there was nothing
left for him but to blow out his brains.
~ "IIIlCSo duf oSdAllo o04S1oN olio
urged Esterhazey to the utmost en-
deavor to reveal the truth and the part
he had played.
Finally, while walking in Piccadi1ly,
Major Esterhazey said to the witness
point blank: "Well Ribon, (the wilt
ness pseudonym) 1 am going to tell
you what nobody SHOWS It is I who
am the author of the bordereau. 1 wrote
it in 1894 at the request of my friend,
Sandherr. There was a traitor at the
headquarters, Dreyfus, whom Sandherr
told me they wanted to catch. I did
not hesitate to do what I was asked"
M. BasSet proceeded that with Ester
hazey's consent he had each of Ester
hazey's statements verified, saying he
had decided to make the avowals be-
cause he was disguised with his aban-
donment by the generals.
In conclusion, the witness referred to
offers of money to Esterhazey.
Lieutenant Colonel B%rongniart, a
member of the court-martial-Did Es-
terhazey tell you Dreyfus was guilty?
M. BaSSet-YeS.
Colonel Jouaust-The two statements
of Esterhazey are incompatible.
NJ. Basset-It is not for me to recon-
cile them.
M. Labori-Does M. Basset know that
1 u LoLCIIdLcy oouI ICtIClS "
General Roget?
M, Basset-I do not know.
NJ. Labori-General Roget, perhaps,
will tell us.
General Roget did receive a letter
from Major Esterhazey in August, and
informed the president of the court
martial of the fact, asking him to MAXI
what use he liked of it. l refused tc
open further letters as Don as I recog-
niZed ~ESterhaZey'S handwriting.
On M. Labor asking to see the letter
Colonel Jouaust said he would not pul
the letter in evidence because it con-
tanned only abuse and recriminations.
AS M. Labor protested, General Ro-
gle said he had handed all the letters tt
the president of the court martial, be.
cause he did not wish to be compromis-
ed by Esterhazey, which was evidently
the latter's intention.
Colonel Jouaust said he had not in.
cluded ~Esterhazey's letters in the evi
dence because he did not wish the pro.
ceedings to be unduly p~rotracted, bu-
as the defense insisted the letters would
be produced.
General Roget offered to read tn
first of Major Esterhazey's letters, il
which EsterhaZey offers to prove tn;
existence of a Dreyfus syndicate. The
writer complained hat the general stat
refused to hear or accept information
he had obtained.
M. Labori-Does General Roget cor
slider the confessions of Esterhazey
valid?
General Roget-No; all versions givel
by Esterhazey are quite incorrect. HI
is an imposter, concerning whom 1 pre-
fer to express nc opinion.
ESTERHAZEY AS A MAN OF
STRAW.
AT TahOr; -Daoe Cararo1 Dnrat oan
) 1 slider EsterhaZey a man OF straw?
: Genera Roget have no proof 0
, the fact, but / am inclined to believ
hat he is.
r NJ. Labori-Was he a straw man Ii
1894?
General Roget-No, I do not think sc
: Considerable discussion ensued be
, stween Colonel Jouaust and M. Labor
l the former attempting to protect Gen
eral Roget from too close questioning.
2 NJ. Labori insisted, however, and gain
t ed his point. The examination pro
ceeded:
5 NJ. Labori-How do you explain tn
fact that Esterhazey made no confes
2 sion during the lola trial?
General Roget do not know.
NJ. Labori-You had made a speec
e for the prosecution rather than a depo
sition. I have, therefore, the right t
] question, and note the fact that 20
do not reply.
NJ. Labor then expressed surpris
that there was no mention of a man c
straw until so late a day, while all tn
{ acts of which EsterhaZey is accuse
: were long known.
M. Demange said he could not un
derstand why it was alleged that tn
defense desired to compromise the head
Q quarters staff and asked whence aros
the suggestion that Major Esterhaze
was a mere dummy.
General Roget replied that on
reason which induced the belle
3 that Major Esterhazey was
man OF straw was hat his confessio
." that he had written the bordereau W.
absolutely inadmissible. General R6
get was perfectly convinced that Estel
= hazey was entirely innocent of treaSoa
(Murmurs of assent and dissent.