Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-25

MN, pTOCVtUtU
the identity of letters therein with letters
in documents admittedly written by Ester
hazy. saying that while the resemblance
was not apparent in Dreyfus' handwriting,
in Ester hays there We're marked peculiar
tiles of punctuation and the manner of be-
ginning lines. which We're also noticeable
in the bordereau, but which were not found
in the prisoners caligraphy.
Proceeding, the witness traversed the
old ground of the peculiarities of tracing
paper which it is known Esterhazy used.
and the date of the bordereau must be
July "a, 1894.
The expert refused, in reply to a question
by the court to admit that the bordereau
was written in disguised hand. He said
1t had been written with great rapidity,
precludlng all idea of doctoring or tracing.
Gen. Gonse asked permission to question
M. Colbert. and said:
I'm what army list did you look for the
name of Dreyfus?'
NJ Gobert-"I used the list which is gen.
orally kept in business houses"
Did Ut Contain the Information.
The general pointed out that this list did
not give the information claimed by NJ
Colbert. But the latter maintained that he
had stated nothing but the pure and simple
truth. Gen. Gonse having alluded to
tain undesirable acquaintance formed by
NJ. Colbert. the latter replied, amid a SEN
sation in court:
II emphatically protest against the in
SllluduOIlS Oh zen. OOnSe. 1neTe is not d
single word of truth in what he says"
There was a further dispute between Gen.
GonSe and NJ. Colbert over circumstances in
connection with the latter's examination of
the bordereau. NJ Colbert said that Col.
d'Aboville was present, but the colonel
promptly advanced and said he had never
seen M Colbert before today. adding: IF
Nj. Gobert's other recolections are as exact
as this the court will draw its own con-
illusions" (Murmurs of dsapprovaL)
Dreyfus here declared in the most posi-
- bot 10
Bank of France. where NJ. Colbert was en-
ployed, or had relations with any one there.
The prisoner reasserted that his sole de-
sire was to know the truth. He admitted
operations. but said he had never asked
either for written verbal information
from the Bank of France.
There was general movement of Curl
osity when NJ. Bertillon, the well-known
specialist in the measurement of the human
body. was called, and the interest deepened
when the chief of the Identification depart
ment advanced to the witness bar He was
soon afterwards followed by four soldiers
and non-commissioned officer bearing
portfolios, drawing boards and variety of
packages and paraphernalia, which were
deposited the platform to the amuse
ment of the audience.
Would BE Understood by Few.
NJ Bertillon prefaced his evidence by saw
ing his explanations would be understood
only by very limited number and there
fore. he asked the court to permit him to
refer to documents which he had brought,
in order to make his evidence more intelli
gible. daughter)
The specialist then unpacked packages
of photographs, plans, etc. and another
table was brought in to hold the mass of
papers produced
In a monotonous tone NJ. Bertillon proceed
ed in manner Of school boy, reciting a
lesson to demonstrate technically how he
reached the conviction of Dreyfus' guilt,
reciting the facts published April %. He
said he proposed to prove to the court:
First-That the bordereau was "a doctored
document.
Second-That it could only have been
manufa ctured by the prisoner.
Third-That it had been written in a free
hand by means of a key-word placed be-
meath tracing paper in such way to be
quite visible.
The witness, continuing, declared Dreyfus
did not have recourse to Initiating Ester
hays free handwriting because it required
too long to study, and he used the tracing
process because it is easier to learn and
more likely to be successful.
With the view of illustrating his meaning
NJ. Bertillon handed round photographs of
the bordereau. etc. During the course of
demonstration the specialist advanced to
the judges bench, and, with his finger,
pointed out illustrations of his theories.
MN. Demange and Labor, the judges and
others gathered in a group around him.
Dreyfus appeared to be stupefed by the
comparatively incomprehensible jargon. and
many of the audience left the court.
Suddenly the wondering attention of those
remaining in the hall was riveted by the
photographic remark enunciated by NJ.
Bertillon, in loud tones.
A Fabricated Document.
I'VE clearly have before US a fabri-
Gated document. The one word always
rests upon the other. with a divergence of
1.25 millimeters and 2.25 millimeters. That
is phenomena which is unnatural
NJ. Labor watched the specialist for
few moments and then returned to his seat
holding up both hands and enchanting: 1T
is most extraordinary"
NJ Bertillon continued his explanations
and caused such a whirl in the brains of
his hearers that Colonel Jouaust finally re-
marked:
I'VE must have few minutes rest
When the session of the court was re-
sumed, NJ. Bertillon made further demon
STATIONS. He compared words of the Dor
dereau with words in the documents of
comparison. Leaning on the judges bench,
he placed the entire bordereau over a
graphic canvas and proceeded to show that
by doing SO Dreyfus succeeded in formu-
iatlng the principal rules which served to
guide him in making his joining marks,
remarklng that any copyist possessing a
Key to these rules could learn to replace
the entire bordereau.
The witness, continuing, proceeded to
demonstrate the practica bility of this.
when persons are accused" he said,
1t is not sufficient to meet the charge with
denials, but it is necessary to prove that
they have not done what they are charged
with. In this case the handwriting was
disguised There is, therefore, presump-
tive proof that the prisoner is guilty"
After this NJ. Bertillon pointed out that
five questions in the bordereau We're traced
in the same manner and added:
Summoned to Cherche Midi.
Il had reached this point in my expert
ments when l was summoned to the
Cherche Midi prison by Major d'Ormesche-
vile. The major explained that he wished
my personal opinion cryptographic
methods, sympathetic inks. ETC., which
might help the family of Dreyfus in CORE
spending with him. The request was partly
due to the fact that a number of letters
addressed to the prisoner by his family
had been received by the officials.
During the course of the Interview Major
d'Ormescheville produced ontVf these let
tiers. l had hardly cast my eyes on it when
l was astounded to notice the same kind
of negative 'O' with which l had been
so struck. 1t was in letter from Madame
Dreyfus.'
The specialist then pointed out how he
found the peculiarites of the Dreyfus
handwriting in the letters of other members
of his family and proceeded to give a long
and perfectly unintelligible exposition, de-
signed demonstrate that this DrOVe6 the