The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-18
DEFENDERS OF DREYFUS.
cor, PICoUART AND ". BEhTcLoS
nRcJ1RE INV INNOCENT.

r,,,r,. Evidence Makes n Strong
,,,,re,sion On the Judgcs-Col. Lohe's
s,a., Death at Rennes Another Ira
..dy of tho Dreyfus Case-Ncwspaper
.,.or O,ercame Him-Mme. Henry's
Theatrical enunciation of Nj. Bortulus
u.,p..n Planned and tho Trick Was Ex-
,o,.d-Picauart Gives One Piece OF NOW
r,,d,nce duplicating Du Patty do Clam
Can. Roeets Evidence Breaks Down.
,Sp,e,at CaLk Ds,patch to THE Sun.
pvvvrs. Aug. l7.-.To.day brought it's trag-
.dv In the Dreyfus case, and also splendid pro-
grass toward the final vindication oil truth and
,us,ir, single human life. more or less. now
counts for little in the terrible record whlch
.tIl leaves the fate OF the French nation In sus-
,.n.o Besides. it ia only the bitter anti-Drey-
,nsites who will hold that the partsans on the
,rnosite side are responsible for the death OF
- ohe commander Of tho Rsnnes gem
dArues ..,,z -..,. n,,,rnx
Some extremist Dreyfusite organs In Paris
-,or,I,y accused Col Lobe OF making brutal
oo,,ments on the attack on Maltre Laborl. Col
ahe wa. one OF the most genial and sympa-
thotic Of men and won the gratitude OF the
CORRESPONDENTS here by his considerate treat
,nent OF them. He was at the Lycee daily. and
he took the attack upon him seriously to heart
liza became i'll and was therefore obliged to
Lava the court room to-day. few hours af-
fer leaving he died OF heart disease. The anti
Drey,us press is certain to parade this incident
A. ofsetting the assault on Labor. but com
mont on such a pretence Is unnecessary.
II was distinctly Dreyfus day in court. al
though all the witnesses had been summoned
hvthr prosecution. Gen. Roget. under cross
examination. proved q very different witness
from the arrogant. intolerant officer who yes
terday tainted the prisoner and told the
court martial what view it should take OF the
entire case.
Magistrate Bertulus. by reason OF his almost
inaudible voice. was rather a poor witness and
his testimony did not carry the full weight to
which it was entitled. 1t is In connection with
his evidence that criticism of the judges
seems for the first time necessary. They ap-
feared as though they did not care whether
they heard him or not. He had half finished
when tho President. who conscientiously tried
TO follow him. asked his colleagues II they
rould hear the witness. Half OF the judges re-
ped that they could not. but they had made
no effort to compel N. Bertulus to speak aud
lbly.
Never were the tables turned moro demon
trativey than in the attempt to create a theat-
tcal scene at the close OF NJ. Bertuus's testi-
nony Nine Henry in what was intended to
appear as a spontaneous effort to defend her
husband memory and spoil the effect OF the
witnesses declaration. denounced N. Bertulus
as he was leaving the witness box. He listened
quietly and impassvely even when she. in the
climax threw back her widows veil and point
ing her hand at him almost shrieked the name
Judas"
NJ Bertulus turned without emotion to the
Court and. although unfortunately his words
we're not heard in the body OF the hall. said
"lsympathize with this woman. She ia doing
natural thing and do not blame her. but.
Mr. President, cannot allow the Court to re-
tain the impression that this scene Ia sponta-
neous. received before coming to court to- day
an anonymous letter In which 1 was informed
that Nine. Henry would denounce me at the
close OF my testimony and would call me
Judas Here Is the letter."
The witness quietly handed the paper to
Col. Jouaust. Nine. Henry turned pale. but
remained silent and another OF the desperate
tricks OF the ant-Dreyfus party was exposed
P1couARTs IMPRESSIVE EVIDENCE
The great feature OF the day was the two
hours lucid. logical and convincing exposition
OF the truth OF this intermna BILE (my pen atIirst
otitssecond victim. For a week We have been
listening to speeches. most OF them on the side
OF the prosecution. from the witness box. but
at last we had man who gave us facts and
gave them In luminous. convincing fashion
which rapidly dissipated the dense vapor that
befogged all men minds
The Judges received Col. Picquart, theiI
former colleague who is undoubtedly still a
suspect In their eyes, with some traces OIL
prejudice. which was natural and. perhaps. In
svitable. 1t was a tremendous task for him tc
win their attention. interest. respect and finally
their confidence by sheer force Of truth and
logic
None OF these men has had any experience
OF judicial functions. and. although they are
probably unconscious OF 1t. bad esprit d.
corps is the strongest sentiment controlling
them. but Col. Picquart's progress towarG
their esteem. II not their confidence. wal
almost visible
IL Is unnecessary to repeat what he said. fo
scarcely fact was adduced but what il known
to everybody who has followed the history O
the anair. Gen. Roget undoubtedly made som'
impression on the judges. but the contrast be
tween him and Col. Picauart was enormous
ana did not fail to impress all who listened Il
the evidence Gen. Roget's harangue wa
nine-tenths hypothesis and argument ant
one'tenth distorted fact. while Col. Picqusrt'
testimony was nine-tenths hard facts and one
tenth deduction.
Col. P!cquart spoke with Ereat rapidity ant
force lie frequently turned toward Dreyius
who was hanging upon the witnesses words
ana exclaimed with sweep OF his hand
How could CAPT. Dreyfus do this2" or d" HOY
could Capt. Dreyfus do THAR" He compele
the attention Of the Judges and the audlenc
no other witness has been able to dc
lie piled argument upon argument. usin
,ogle as clear as crystal. until tn
judges leaned forward almost breathless
listening to what was evidently for the frs
tme TO minds OF ordinary comprehension
'he pain simple truth about the compiled
Hohsot the Dreyius affair. Here at last was
man who knew all about the Dreyfus case. wa
'he master OF every detail and who was able t
transmit his knowledge to any ono who woul
listen with open mind.
when Col, Picquart finished with the boz
aoreau he had absolutely destroyed it as a
terminating piece OF evidence against Drey
'us' When the hour OF adjournment wa
reached the session closed for the first tim
win evident regret on the part OF the Judge
lhu the spectators alike, Tomorrow Co