The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-22

Vienna, August 19.-The Allegemeine
Zeitung says: Colonel Panizzardi,
former military attache Of the Italian
embassy in Paris, has in his possession
the identical notes on Madagascar.
which is specified in the bordereau in
the Dreyfus affair. 1t is in Esterhazey's
handwriting and the paper is similar
TO that of the bordereau. 1t was sent
to Colonel Schwartzkoppen, attache of
the German embassy, who had 1t cop
led. The copy was sent to Berlin and
the original TO Colonel Panizzardi that
he might have a copy. This he did,
but he forgot to return the original 10
his brother attache."
London, August 20.-The Paris cor
respondent Of The Sunday Special says:
THE government L understand, has
decided to arrest General Mercier. 1t
withdraw the case against Dreyfus, it
having been proved that the docu-
ments relied upon to establish his guilt
are forgeries.'
London, August 19.-Thomas Terrell,
O. c. one of the leading jurists in Eng
land. who has attended some of the
sessions Of the Dreyfus court-martial,
says:
There is an air of unreality about the
whole proceedings, Dreyfus alone
seems to be in earnest. No fierce con-
ficts of intellect occur between counsel
as would be the case in England. and
in my opinion the president of the
court has already decided the question
in favor of acquittal. This appears to
hn no fr%ar, ic Ont iat " m
preserve an air of complete imoartiali
ty and, though on occasions he is un-
able to conceal his hostility to the de-
fence. his intention plainly is to ac-
quit.
The court-martial is as fair as a spe-
cial jury sitting without legal assist
ance can be. The opinions it will form
must be feeble and its judgment can
not have the least weight to the legal
mind Much prejudice is cOnfounded
with patriotism on both sides, but in
structions from the superior officials of
state will outweigh considerations of
legal evidence"
AUSTRIA TO TAKE A HAND.
London, August 2O-The Observer
publishes the following dispatch from
Vienna:
1T is probable that a formal contra
diction of the statements Of the French
generals at Rennes, regarding the
Schneider letter will be communicated
to the French government with a re-
quest that the generals in question
publicly withdraw them. Such action
by Austria Hungary would break the
ice for the German and Italian gov
ernmentS.
Copyright by Associated Press)
Rennes, August 19.-Opinions differ as
to what the judgment Of the Dreyfus
tribunal will be. TOWN. people who
know we'll General German and Cen
eral Lucas, Of this army corps, think
the decision will be against the accus-
ed. On the other hand, at the Hotel
MOdere, which is now the great con-
versational news center. the idea pre-
walls Of a reluctant judgment in his
favor.
The tribunal certainly shares the feel
ings Of the military witnesses, but
there are signs Of coming around. I
noticed member Of the court-martial
watching Dreyfus today with an ex-
preston of compassionate interest.
Then, again, Colonel Jouaust, the pres
ident, did not rebuke him for aDostro-
phiZing Captain Cuignet who led the
procession of military witnesses today
nor order him, as he was wont, not
to speak until he was addressed.
Maitre Demange is more hopeful, al
; though acknowledging the perverse use
the nationalists make Of the Schneider
. and PaniZZardi kilograms to inflame
patriotic sentiment. That party now
demands the full publication of the Sc
: cret dossier, so as to heap disgrace on
the military attaches and the illustri-
Gus German prince involved, a prince
who lived long in Paris.
I should not be surprised at a tie
. This would enable the prisoner to leave
. court free man, but would show that
half the judges believed him guilty.
The Schneider letter or telegram is
resented by all but the Dreyfusites as
an attempt to cast odium on the French
army. 1t ought to benefit the prisoner,
but does not. Military men say 1t
would set the face OF the court-martial
I harder against him.
| The majority seem to adopt Captain
! Cuignets opinion. 1t is thought, though
: not expressed thus: That the military
: attaches have behaved abominally in
the Dreyfus affair; that the French gov
I ernment is in possession OF numerous
/ specimens of Schneider's handwriting;
! that the document on which General
Mercier relied will bear every test and
/ that ii has been accepted by every min
lister of war since 1894 and been COM
pared with letters written 10 six OF
them by Colonel Schneider.
Captain Cuignet spoke with a hollow
voice, quite different from that in which
some days ago he made his virulent at
tack on DreEfus. His attitude, how
ever, was as assertive as before. though
his Language was less so. He is a fair,
sandy haired man, with a big red
moustache and a resonant, metallic
voice, good for command. He is among
the few military witnesses who have
deposed while standing.
Today his task was to destroy the ef-
feet Of the questions of Maitre De
mango and to set UP again the demolish-
ed theory of General Mercier.
Cuignet was in the fourth bureau of