The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-07


eral quoted a number of statements to
the same effect alleged to have been
made by Freystaetter.
Gen. Mercier continuing said he re-
preached Capt. F'reystaetter for en-
gaging in newspaper discussions which
perhaps resulted in his ideas that others
were being substituted for his personal
recollection which indicated a certain
mental arrangement.
In support of the theory of 1unacy
Mercter mentioned that Freystaetter,
while in Madagascar was once guilty
of disobeying his commander, and on
thirty natives without trial
JOUAUST CALLS A HALT.
The allegations of Gen. MERCER caus-
ed so much excitement in court that
Col. Jouaust requested the general not
to enlarge on the subject In cOnclus-
ion Gen. MERCER invited the judges to
pay no attention to Capt. FreyStaetter's
statements, but to accord to the evil
dence which he himself had the honor
to give, all the confidence and moral
authority they would have reposed in it
if the Freystaetter incident had never
happened.
Maitre Demange said he agreed with
Gen MERCER that the Freystaetter incl
dent could be dropped without injuring
the case of Dreyfus
Thank Cod" said the lawyer, at am
here in court of justice where the
question of justice is being discussed
before honorable men and loyal sold
ten
The reports of experts were next read
showing that the tracing paper on
which the bordereau was written was
similar to paper used by Esterhazy and
official records were produced show
ing DreyfuS was wrong in regard to
the number of probatiOners in 1894.
The prisoner admitted that his recOI-
lections were perhaps not precise.
M. Labor said he regretted Cernuschi
was not present as counsel desired to
question him and in any case he, M
Labor wanted to add to the dossier GER
tain letters showing Cernuschi had suf-
fered from insanity and was destitute
of moral sense. The defense had dis
covered that applications had been
made for CernuSChiS eXtraditiOn and
he was pronounced to be altogether
worthless and unreliable. Counsel also
said that although representing himself
to be a political refugee if Cernuschi
had not left Austria he would have been
placed in an asylum for the insane.
NJ. Labor then asked that a letter
from the witness Grenier should be
read.
The government commissary admit
ted receiving the letter but said it was
of no Importance.
Counsel thought otherwise and read
a copy of the letter which Grenier had
sent him simultaneously with the one
to Major Carriere.
THE GRENIER LETTER
The letter referred to an epistle from
interest in questions outside of his dut-
les, that Esterhazy had in his posses
sion official documents, that he con-
cerned himself with the mobilization
of the troops and that he had expressed
supreme contempt for the French army.
Col. Jouaust remarked that if the
letter had reached him he would not
have made use of it, as it had nothing
to do with the DreyfuS case.
This called forth murmurs of assent
and dissent and NJ. Labor retOrted that
he was of quite an opposite opinion. He
said Gen. Chamoin had handed the
court a letter from Col. Schwartzkop-
pen to his government announcing
that he was about to send them infor-
nation regarding the real electives of
the Russian army and this was also re-
ferred to in ESterhaZy'S letter
Col. Schwartzkoppen had also men
toned the Paris and Toulon manoeu-
vers which would explain the phrase,
Il am going to the manoeuverS." This
letter was written a fortnight after the
clared he would be glad to hear the
generals on that point.
Gen. Roget accordingly marched to
the platform. In regard to the mobili-
cation of the Russian army he said a
we'll informed article on this subject
had appeared in the Revue Bleu owing
to the indiscretions of a certain person
he would not name, as he. the general,
did not wish to compromise him.
Capt. Cuignet confirmed Gen. Roget
adding that 1t must not be concluded
that the information furnished to the
German general staff did not emanate
from Dreyfus. The fact that it took a
fortnight to reach it's destination proved
nothing.
Gen. MERCER also interviewed to show
that any information furnished by Es-
terhazy could have had no value.