The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-30

dent OF the court-marta squelched him In
short order.
Col Fleur. who did not like Col tordisr's re-
Election upon the moral value OF his evidence.
attempted to discuss the question. Col. Jouaust
sharply told him that II was not his function
to weigh the evidence.
Gen. Mercier volunteered to corroborate the
testimony OF Col. Corder on the point that
neither the Dreyfus family nor others had at
TEN pied to bribo Col. sandherr.
At this point q recess was taken.
NJ. DE TREYc1NEr DISAPPOINTMENT.
NJ. de Freycinet. ex-Minister OF War. was
called to the stand when the court reassem-
bed. He was distinctly disappointing. He
crept in like the little whito mouse he so often
suggests. got to the witness chair. squeaked
feebly-thsre Is no other word to describe tia
few times. and retired with quaint little bows
to the Court and the counsel. Really. Freycinet
has become more spirit than substance In the
past few months. He looks like white mum
my in which some miracle still keeps the spark
OF life.
Gen. MERCER had quoted N. do Freycinet
as saying that ali Anglo German syndicate
had supplied $4,000. 900 francs for a campaign
In behalf Of Dreyfus. Maltre Demange. for
| the defence. asked the witness his authority
| for this assertion. Those who were near
enough to hear say that the reply was:
when left the Ministry OF War In the last
| Dupuy Cabinet; ! received about q hundred
| visits among my visitors being NJ lamont. l
| may have said to NJ. lamont that our agents
reported to the Government that large sums
were being sent from abroad for the purposes
| OF Dreyfus campaign. Possibly may have
mentioned 80. 600. 900 francs"
And the fragile figure in the witness-box be-
came animated. He begged Frenchmen to
l-A t-lt ~
| the Army. and besought France to accept with
out question the decision OF the Rennes court
martial.
Col. Jouaust surprised everybody by sud
denly asking NJ. do Freyolnet tho direct
| question: What do you know OF the facts In
| the case2 ?"
The court room became hushed and every
| one became intent to catch the response to this
| blunt demand for the truth.
1t 10 impossible to describe the disappoint-
| ment and evaporation over the old. old reply
| which has been made time after time for Ave
long years. The phrasing. however. was q
little different. The witness said:
| II don't wish to reply to the question be-
| cause the Cabinet OF which was q member
decided upon q revision OF this affair The
members Of that Cabinet reached this decision
| by agreeing at the Same time to subordinate
| individual opinions and convictions as to the
merits OF the case, Therefore. out OF respect
to my colleagues Of the Dupuy Ministry can
| not answer"
SYNDICATE STORY FALLS.
Maitre Labori tried to cross-examine N.
| de Freycinet about the syndicate. The witness
acknowledged that he did not know q single
instance OF money having been used In Drey'
fuss behalf
COL Jouaust refused to let the counsel fol
the defence put further questions to the wit
ness. Maltre Labori argued that De Frey
| cinet's syndicate story left the gravest imputa
| upon tho whole Court OF Cessation and upor
prominent men like NJ. Scheurer-Bes
| NJ. dc Freycinet interrupted: m. Scheurer'
Kestner is my friend. I have the profoundesi
respect for him. He 10 incapable OF dshon'
est or culpable act"
M, Labori thanked the witness. and aftsl
another little plea not to exposslFrance to the
danger OF war by q disclosure OF the secret
dossier. De Freycinet retired.
NJ CALI was the next witness. He was called
| evidently. to tell how violent Col Cordier wal
against Dreyfus and oil Jews In 1894. Tit
| only result was that the two men got into
discussion on the platform. The court wa
not interested In the matter Of their discussion
and they presently went of into the body o.
| tho hall, still arguing.
NJ Belhomme a desf old man. who hat
given expert testimony in behalf OF Esterhaz!
In 1897. took the stand and told the court tina
he was still positive that that gallant office
did not write the bordereau. After the witness
had spoken for forty Ave minutes. Col. Jouaus
asked II he would give the court little tech
nical information about EsterhaEy's handwrit
writing. The witness was apparently startled
by the idea. He exclaimed. My God!" ant
took bundle OF papers to Col. Jouaust Tor tina
oflcer's personal examination. There wer
dreary technicalities for another half hour. ant
then the session closed without the startling
developments for which the audience had beel
on the Qui rire for i've long hours.