Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-24

and his efforts to discover something
about him. He said he was not ac-
quainted with Esterhazy, and never
had Esterhazy watched. Previous to
this, the utmost efforts had been made
to provo the contrary, and to show Col.
Pioqurat knew Esterhazy. The colonel
emphasized this point, with the view,
rs explained, of showing how certain
newspapers had travestied the facts,
and he created mild sensation by
adding: Il shall have occasion TO
point out other and similar examples.
The witness then rebutted the charges
against him of unnecessarily delaying
the prosecution OF Esterhazy. He said
his object was to avoid arousing sus-
picion in regard to an officer who, per-
haps, was entirely innocent.
what a mistake. y he added, would
have been avoided in 1894 had they
acted in the same way in regard to
Dreyfus. -
This remark caused murmurs of ap-
proval in court.
What the witness gathered about
Esterhazy's character, he continued,
created the worst impression upon him,
but he learned nothing to connect
Esterhazy with any act of espionage.
"Esterhazy," Col. Picquart said,
gambled, led life of debauchery, and
lived with Mademoiselle Pays. y
Col. Picquart described the vague
replies of Col. Henry whom questioned
on the subject of Esterhazy. Col. Pic
quart had decided to speak to Gen. De
Boisedetfre about Esterhazy. | told
him all had done in regard to Ester
hay" he said. 1 affirm that Gen. Do
Boisedeifre knew that this question
was to remain u secret between US, and
that | was not to mention it except to
the Minister of War. l knew Ester
hazy was anxious to enter the War
Office, and did not regard his desire
favorably. l communicated my i'm
pressions to my chiefs, who approved
all my steps, and the application of
Esterhazy was rejected. His insistance,
however, only increased my uneasiness
regarding him, and | resolved to obtain
specimen of his hand writing. l
was immediately struck with the SINH
larity of his handwriting and that of
the bordereau, and, forthwith, l had
the letters of Esterhazy which were
in Iny possession photographed, and
showed the photographs to Du Patty de
Clam and M. Bertillon 1.-THE handwrt
ing expert) between August 25th and
September 5th.'
The colonel emphasized this point,
because Nj. Bertillon affirmed he saw
the photographs in May, 1896, and
made note of them, whereas the
letters were not written on that date.
The conflicting testimony of Col. Pic
quart and M. Bertillon on this point
had been used to discredit the former S
evidence.
Col. Picquart, continuing, said Patty
de Clam, on seeing the writing, forth
with declared it was that of Matthew
Dreyfus, the brother Of Capt. Dreyfus.
coNFRoNTATIoN NOT SENSATIONAL.
At the conclusion OF Col. Picquart's
deposition, Gen. Roget and Gen. Mer-
cier rose together, and asked to be
| allowed to confront with the witness.
| The conformation, however, only lasted
a few minutes, and did not prove sensa-
tional, having reference to compare
lively minor points.
After Col. Picquart had reiterated
his statements, the court adjourned,
at IL. 40 a. M, until tomorrow.
The deposition of Col. Picquart
occupied the entire session.
Rennes, France, Aug. 19.-No special
incident occurred this morning, when
the second trial, by court-martial, Of
| Capt. Alfrd Dreyfus of the Fourteenth
Artillery, charged with treason, was
resumed at the I.ycee.
The first witness called today was
Major Cuignet, formerly attached to
the Ministry of War. The witness, who
declared he was convinced Of the
by NJ. Demange, Of counsel for the de-
fence, who succeeded in pointing out
that several of his statements contradict.
ed his previous depositions.
DREYFUs PROTESTED vEHEMENTLY.
The president of the court, Gel.
Jouaust, asked Dreyfus if he had any
thing to say, whereupon the prisoner
rose, and again vehemently protested
against the denunoiations leyelled
against him, an innocent man.
Major Cuignet was not IN uniform,
as he is not at present attached to any
corps.
Before beginning an account of the
special Investigations into the case,
which was ordered to make by Minis.
tiers Of War from NJ. Cavaignac to M.
Do Freycinet,' y said the witness, 81
wish to mention personal fact, which,
in conjunction with the evidence
already heard, will constitute fresh
proof of the prisoners indiscreet be-
havior when employed on the head
quarters staff. was on the staff wher
Dreyfus was probationer, during the
latter half of 1893. Among Other
duties, vas connected with the rail
road service and the mining of rail
roads, with the view of interruptine
traffic, in case of need. 1t is hardly
necessary to point out the secret char
acter of such matters. Dreyfus was
probationer on the eastern railroads
and had been ordered to specially
study the mining on them, and pos
sassed information relating solely tt
them. One day, Dreyfus asked me t.
give him the general scheme of mining
! which | possessed, giving as reason
for his request that he was anxious tt
increase his knowledge, and that it was
necessary for him to know the genera
scheme, in order to properly carry GU
the work entrusted to him. | replied
that did not see the necessity Of Civ
ing him the scheme, and that, in any
case, he had better apply to his owr
, chief, Major Berth. Dreyfus pre-
tended Berlin would not impart an,
, information. Day after day he pesteret
. me. SO that finally, having no reason Il
distrust him, / began giving him OK
. plantations. Dreyfus displayed tn,
keenest interest, and took copiou.
: notes. When, later, his house wa
, searched, these notes were not discov
} cred. L do not know what became o
r them; but it is difficult to believe they
= were destroyed, considering the import
} ance he seemed TO attach TO the in
formation, and the persistence show