The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-19
PICQUART,S TESTIMONY

RENNEs, August 1s.-when the
second trial by court-martial OF Capt.
Alfred Dreyfus, charged with treason,
was resumed in the Lycee at 7:25 this
morning. Colonel Picquart former
chief of the intelligence department Of
the war office. was called to the witt
ness stand and continued his deposition,
which was interrupted yesterday by the
adjournment Of the court for the day.
The colonel gave his testimony in the
same loud, fearless tone of voice that
characterized his manner yesterday. He
began by declaring he thought It nec-
essary to reply to General Roget's ver-
liable arraigument OF him while on the
stand.
At the outset Of Colonel Picquarts re-
marks. Roget interposed and said he
would reply to them.
Colonel Plcquart practically occupied
the whole Of t0-day's sitting with q
rnasterful presentation Of his side Of
the case. He spoke for flve hours, and
his voice at the end Of that time began
to show signs OF fatigue. His testt-
mony was followed with the closest at
tention by the members OF the COURT
martial and by the audience and dur
ing the brief suspension OF the court
Generals Mercier, Roget, Bitiot and De
Bolsdeffra and other witnesses
sauntered together up ana down the
court yard Of the Lycee or gathered IN
little groups anlmatedly discussing PIC
quarts evidence, which, although 1t
contained but few new facts, was SO
cleverly placed before the tribunal and
was spoken 30 effectively that It could
not fail to repeat the impression he
made yesterday.
words, which came as q balm TO the
wounds inflicted upon him by Mercier
and Roget. and the prisoner frequently
and closely scanned the faces OF his
Judges. as though seeking to read their
thoughts.
From the standpoint Of the apecta-
tors, the session was the most unevent-
full one since the opening OF the trial.
Even the conformation at the END
lacked the dramatic force Of the SINH
lar incidents which have marked al
most every previous sitting.
A Fine Performance.
Plcqunrt's deposition was a fine per-
formance. He spoke without notes and,
In view Of the mass of facts adduced, 1t
must be ranked as feat Of memory.
The members of the courtmartial took
eopious notes during PIequart's testI-
mony, md 1t was quite evident that
several Of the explanations he gave
came as fresh light.
Then, when PIcduart concluded, both
General Roget and General Mercler
jumped up and asked 70 be heard con-
tradlctoFily.
get 10 speak first. He thereupOn faced
Colonel Plcauart, who replied promptly
10 his questions, which the general de-
llvered in n theatrical manner ana
with frequent gestures.
General Mercier adopted a quieter
tlemeanor. Neither. however, said any
thing which could be described as
damaging to Colonel Plcquarts evil
dence.
The feature of PIcquart's deposition
wns his recital Of the intrigues against
him and the pressure exercised Dy
Henry with the view of hxinB on the
witness the blame for communicating
Information to the newspapers.
Then, turning to the distant mission
upon which he was dispatched. Pic
quart described the irritation he felt
when he saw he was being removed be-
cause he was no longer wanted as head
OF the intelligence department. He ex-
plnined that II this disgrace had been
frankly avowed It would have been
nnch less painful TO him. The colonel
also said that during his absence his
correspondence was tnmpered with.
Dealing with his mission to Tunis,
which Picuuart said ought to have
been intrusted to n commlssary OF po-
lice, the witness declared It was then
that Henry, abandoning his underhand
Intrlgues. began n campaign OF open
persecution. Henry wrote to the VIII
ness, accusing him OF communicating
information 20 the press. with disclose
md with attempting to suborn oitieers
in connection with the Petit Bleu.
Forged Documents.
II was then Plcduart learned Of the
existence OF the forged secret doou-
ments directed against himself and
foreEaw his own ruin II the DreyfuS
nfInir was re-opened, and, to sAfeguaru
himself. he entrusted to a lawyer friend
n certain letter from General Gonse,
NJ the same time acQuRinting the law
var with whnt he knew OF Eaterhazy'
and lnstructlng the lawyer how ne
shnuid Intervene, III the occasion da-
nanded H." This lawyer, NJ LeoloIs,
communicated with NJ, Scheurer' kest-
mar then one OF the vice presidents OF
the gennte and the representations OF
the latter to Premier Meline'H govern
ment followed. A..
When Plcqunrts furlougn was 1ue'
General lie Clerc, commanding IN Iu-
mis-. was ordered to send Plcquart 10 the
frontier OF TripOli. lie Clerc com.
mented TO tho witness on this abnormal
order, and Plcquart connded 10 the
general the probable reasons Tor u ana
his belief in the innocence OF DreyIus:
General I.e Clerc thereupon ordered
PIrGunrt not to go beyond Gabes.
In the meanwhile tho campaign IN
Paris was continued. EsterhG7y APP
peared among the witnetHses ana ae-
PlcGuart here created sensation by
Incidentally remarklng that the judges
In 1894 were shnmefuliy deceived IN
having the document containing the
words "Cettc camille de d. cOmmu'
nlcatcd 10 them.
Witness bitterly Teclted the detnllB OF
tho various mnchinations wish the
view Of discriminating him. inHtigateu Oy
Henry, Esterhazy and Patty de clam.
Colonel JouuuBt, (president OF inc
CourD, having naked for explanations
on certain points. Plcqunrt said;
III tell you all this, gentlemen u 10
TO show what must have been tne
WAa