The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-23
HOSTILE TO DREYFUs.

1je,1+ Col. Berth, who was ch1ef OF
Drevfus bureau in 1894, traced the DIG
ground of Dreyfus entry into the oe-
0ar+nent. testified to the prisoner great
zeal at first and said that this later was
replaced by great carelessness III ihd''ele
of detail. -, 143,,
..1 GRADUALLY ceased to consider him. an
assistant He left an enormous amount
of ,ncompleted work. Thus, after deVot-
ing much time into initiating him into
the secrets of concentration OF troops on
the Eastern railroad system in time OF
war. l did not receive any service IN eA-
change"
Witness added that the reports he gave
Drevfus when he left were such that ne
could never enter the railroad depart
ment.
Proceeding witness reiterated that
Dreyfus was In a position to acqualnt
himself with the questions OF the Eastern
raiIroad mobilization and described con-
versation which he had with DreyIus III
1894. which, in the opinion of the witness,
threw a curious light on Dreyfus loea Oh
the fatherland.
comma risons of the handWritings, and
then, turning to the prisoners attltude
at the court-martial of 1884, he SAID 1t
painfully impressed him. and he was con-
WINGED of the guilt of Dreyfus by the evil
dence of M Bertillon. When the witness
told the minister Of war OF his impress
sions the latter sent him to President
Casimir-Perier, to whom Bertln eXPd-
tiated on the injury which would result
from the treachery of Dreyfus and the
harm which might result if he escaped.
According to Berth, NJ Casimir-Per1er
appeared much impressed and witness
gained the impression that he was
speaking to a soldier who regarded the
matter from the same point of view as
himself" (Sensation)
referring to his interviews with NJ.
Scheurer-Kestner former vice president
of the senate. whom ! always regarded
as an honorable man." Col. Berth went
over part of Col Picquart's evidence on
the subject.
At the conclusion of his evidence wit
ness declared he never ordered Dreyfus
to secure information concerning the
northern railroads, (which the prisoner
attempted to secure from Capt. Guignet.
Replying to questions on the subject OF
the alleged untimely visit Of Dreytus to
his office, witness said that the plans were
kept in his office and that Dreyfus knew
the word necessary to open the press
containing them.
NJ Scheurer-K estner, 1t also appeared,
often told the witness he was unable to
fathom the affair, and finally Berth was
advised to have a talk with the minister
of war.
AT this juncture the clerk of the court
read letter from NJ. -Scheurer-Kestner
excusing himself for being unable to at
tend the session of the court. The letter
referred to the steps of Matthew Dreyfus
to secure the rehabilitation of his brother
and described the writer's Investigations
and how it was only when Esterhazys
handwriting was shown him that his hes
itatiOn ended. The letter also described
the moments of anguish the writer ex-
perienced during the course of the cam
paign and dwelt on the opinion expressed
in the judgment of the court of cessation
and the confessions of Esterhazy that he
was the writer of the bOrdereau. In con-
clusion the letter said
You will permit an old Alsatian, NJ lie
President, to express the sentiment that
the hour Of justice will soon strike in
the interest of the army, Of justice and
of the country Great sensation.)
Replying to NJ. Demange, Lieut.. Col
Berth further explained his connection
with NJ. Scheurer-Kestner. At the maui
euvers that year witness told Gen. Billot
of the action NJ. Standardization was
taking, and the general replied: Tell
him not to do anything. I shall appeal
to my old friend
1 teIegraphed to NJ. Scheurer-KeStner
accordingly" said Berth, for I could
not enter Alsace, the Germans having
brutally forbidden me to go there"
M. Demange reminded the witness Of a
remark he made to NJ. Ferdinand Scheur-
er-Kestner, namely: There are only five
of us who know this terrible secret One
out of the five must betray it before you
can know anything
Counsel asked if the secret was not that
Dreyfus was innocent
Bertin-Oh, no: no.
M. Demange-According to the terms of
the conversation?
Berth (energetically)-No no; and I'll
tell you why. I have never concealed
two things from the members of the
Scheurer-Kestner family. Firstly, that
M. Scheurer-Kestner would be doing
great service if his efforts. resulted in es-
tablishing the innocence Of a man who
had worn the uniform Of a French officer;
secondly, that was convinced Of the
guilt of Dreyfus. (Sensation.)
M. Demange-Did you not once make
the following remark: This Jew was
thrust at headquarters, and we had to
get rid of him?'' ~
Lieut.. Col. Bertin-No: never. I abso
lutely deny it. When I was in the war
office the Jewish question was never
raised. Dreyfus was regarded as q COM