The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-05
Prosecution Springs n Surprise by In
Producing an Austrian Political
Refugee as a Witness.
HIS TESTIMONY DAMAGING
But TT Is THOUGHT HE Is A PAID
TOOL OF THE MILITARY CLIQUE.
VI. Labori Makes a Demand That May
Result in Securing Evidence from
Foreign Governments.

A
RENNES, Sept. 4.-As the end OF the
Dreyfus court-martial trial comes within
sight the French government is beginning
to display fear that the verdict may give
rise to troubles, and orders have just been
received by two regiments of infantry and
one cavalry regiment, already within hail Of
Rennes. to hold themselves in readiness to
march on the town at the first sign Of dis
order to occupy all strategical points and
to repress manifestations in their inception.
The local anti-Dreyfus organs by their
anti-foreign articles have already singled
out foreigners as enemies of the country,
and there Is little doubt that foreign jour-
nalists will be the first victims OF the vio-
lence of the mob-not so much Anglo
Saxons Austrian. German and Russian
Jews. who form a majority Of the press rep
resentation of their respective countries.
To-day's session opened rather badly for
Captain Dreyfus, as surprise was sprung
on the defense in the advent of an Austrian
political refugee. Eugene Cernushi, who
came out with hat-footed denunciation
CT the accused which. even though IL may
eventually be proved pure fairy tale, Is
bound for the moment to exercise a malig-
nant influence on the French people who
have not seen Cernushi and are thus unable
to form a personal opinion of the man who
launched these direct accusations against
Captain Dreyfus- Cernushis appearance is
undeniably against him. Nobody even sus-
poets that he is what he claims to be, a
scion of the royal Servian house. On the
contrary, one would take him to be groom
dressed In his best Sunday suit. 1t was re-
marked that as soon as he had delivered
have him put on oath at to-morrow's ses-
sion behind closed doors in order that he
might be punished If guilty of perjury he
left the courtroom and was not seen again.
STRONG AGAINST DREYFUS.
Ccrnushi's testimony. which was in the
form Of letter to the president of the
court-martial. Colonel Jouaust. was most
unequivocal. He claimed that on three dis
tinct occasions. twice in France, and once
at Geneva, he was told by a high-p placed
foreign officer that Dreyfus had communi-
Gated reasonable documents to foreign
power. In the third instance Cernushi said
the officer showed him documents emanat-
ing from Dreyfus, and that this officer left
France two days prior to the arrest of Cap
tain Dreyfus. The allusion was evidently
to Colonel Schwartzkopren, the military at
tache OF the German embassy in Paris in
1894. whose movements were coincident with
those described as the movements of the
officer OF Cernushfs deposition.
Now, this evidence is of transcendent
importance to the prosecution, and 1t is in
credible. unless Cernushi is proved to be a
kumbug, that the government commissary.
Major Carriere. should have admitted that
he had received letter from him offering
important testimony. and thrown 1t aside on
the ground OF it's coming from a political
refugee. The deposition evoked expressions
OF incredulity. One suspicious feature was
the fact that although the witness said he
could not speak French fuentIy. his letter
to Colonel Jouaust. asking an opportunity
&c testify. was drawn up in perfect French.
He explained that he had been assisted by
his wife in writing the letter.
This introduction OF foreigner as
witness for the prosecution gave Nj. Labori
an opportunity to submit the most impor-
tant request he has made throughout the
trial, a request. which. IL granted by Colonel
Jouaust. though this Is extremely doubtful.
would certainly have momentous conse-
quences. M. Labori announced his inten-
ton. In view of the step taken by the pros
ecution In calling in foreign evidence. to
ask that inquiry should be made through
er the documents mentioned in the border
eau were actually communicated. and. if go
by whom. This involves an application to
the German government. which the court
martial IS scarcely likely to approve In
any case. the application means the length
ening of the trial for several weeks.
MAY LAST A FORTNIGHT.
The introduction OF Cernuschi and the
other developments OF the day, IL is gen.
orally predicted. imply another fortnight's
sitting. at the least. Cernuxchi will be
heard Tomorrow behind closed doors. At
the same time there will be probably an ex-
animation Of the secret dossier TO which
Captain Cuignet referred this morning and
which NJ Labor Immediately asked to have
produced IN court This dossier consists of
twelve or fourteen documents, and IL Is
dimcuit To see why. IL they had any value,
the etat majors have not had them pro-
duced earlier. The etat majors are not in
TIE habit CT holding back documents CAL
cuiafed to prove of the slightest service to
their cause, as is shown in the case OF the
note concerning NJ Hadamard's doubts of
the innocence OF his cousin, which was in
correct. but was nevertheless included in
the secret dossier. while the importan,
document stating. on the authority of the
French minister In Rome. that an Italian
military attaehe paid Esterhazy 1000
francs was studiousIy omitted from the
secret dossier. IL is perfectly evident that
the italian attache did not pay Esterhazy
such a gum on account OF. as the Frenc n
say, his beautiful eyes. and the document
WAS the best evidence that Esterhazy Is the
trailer Nevertheless the etat major care
fully kept this out OF view.
nj
tieian. cornered General Gonse on the lat