Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-20

view OF the exhaustive evidence already
given he would try to be brief. He
hurriediy reviewed the leakage in the
Ministry of War; the discovery OF the
bordereau. the arrest and trial of Drey-
fuS and the latter's alleged confessions,
before the ceremony of degradation to
captain Lebrun-Renauit. Witness said
he believed the confessions were gem
une. He next referred to Colonel Pic
quarts appearance in the Intelligence
Department. although the witness had
hesitated to appoint him because he
thought Picquart too self-conlident and
not sufficiently deferential towards his
chiefs
1T has been said" continued General
dc boisdeire. that q secret package of
papers was shown the judges of the
court martial Of 1891. l positively as
sert That. that so far as I am con-
cerned. l never ordered Colonel Pic
quart to convey any envelope to Colo
mel Mnurel.'
The General next described the inter
view between himself ana Colonel
Picquart when the latter first men
toned Esterhazy. without. however,
connecting him with the Dreyfus affair.
Witness discreditetd Colonel Picuuart's
statement that the latter asked him
Cwitness) not to mention the investi-
cation 10 General Gonec.
THE INTERVIEW WITH PICQUART
General Gle Bolsdcfrc, whose evidence
was attentively followed especially by
the members Of the court martial, then
related the incidents OF his interviews
with Picquart. how he sent Plcuuart
to see General Gonsc. and General
Gonses subsequent letter 10 the WI
ness, advising a continuance of the in
Vestigations regarding Esterhazy. but
adding that the affair must not b.
mixed up with the Drcyfus affair. AS
Colonel Picquart persisted in trying to
M TO- IL.
other duties, the witness proposed To
the Minister of War to send him. not
in disgrace. on n mission TO Tonllinr.
but the Minister of War. the General
asserted. found another mission for
him.
Everything. the General added. went
quietly for year. until NJ. Scheuver-
Kestner interviewed This was followed
by the dcnunciation Of Estcrhazy by
Matthew Dreyfus and the inquiry into
Es torhazy's proceedings
AT that time" the Witness said. "l
was convinced of the guilt of Dreyfus
and this conviction is as strong to-day
as ever" (Sensation).
ESTERHAZY 4 LIAR.
Il regard it as an abominable crime"
continued the General. ito have en-
deaNored to substitute for him a man of
straw. however disveputahle he NAV
have been, and whatever his offence
which, IL any case, would not lessen
the guilt of Dreyfus. My conviction il
the same as ut the commencement OF
the affair. Esterhazy, il is true. at a
certain psychological and singularly well
CHOSEN moment confessed to having
written the bordereau. but he has rnade
many other statements. He is always
telling lies. What is certain Is that he
could never have delivered the docu-
mentS enumerated in the borderau"
Ihen the witness briefly referred TO
the trial and acquittal OF Esterhazv.
and the latters threats 10 proclaim
himself tool of the General staff. aft
er which the General alluded To the
Henry forgery ana NJ. Cavaignac's in,
terroSationS of Henry.
POSING S y MARTYR
you know the result" said he. an
parently much moved.
VIII not tell you what l suffered
at that moment. As soon as everything
was ended rendered my resignation.
but was asked 10 withdraw H. was
told everyone could make n mistake
but l replied that while everyone was
mamie to err everyone had not the
misfortune, as l had. to assert to -
jury That document was genuine.
When. in rcallty. it was forged: that
everyone ought 10 stand by ones word.
ana that when a man happened 20 ex-
periencc such a misfortune there was
nothing left for him but TO 20 away
ana from that moment 1 have held
aloof" (Sensatom.
keplyinS 10 the court. General de
Boisdefre admitted that the leakage
at the headquarters continued after thu
condemnation Of Dreyfus. 1t ceased
for year, but in 1895, paper was
discovered proving the communication
10 a foreign government OF a document
relating TO the distribution of the ar
n < ~ 1,
eminent was perfectly acquainted with
the CHANCES made
Answering question put by n mem
Der of the court-martial relative to the
conflicting testimony of General Mer-
cier, the former Minister of War. and
NJ. Casimir-Perier formerly Preslden;
OF the French Repuhlic) witness replied
that he certainly had an interview
with General MERCER early in January
during the course of which MERCER re
marked. in regard 10 the representa-
tions Of n foreign ambassador TO The
PRESIDENT of the Republic:
1t IS not going to happen this
time. either. You can sleep in peace.
Inc incident has been settled"
At the conclusion Of General De Bols-
oeire,s testimony. Dreyfus on being
asked the usual question. repiicl Thar
he had nothing to say
GENERAL GONSE CALLED.
After brief suspension Of the SIT
ting Of the court General Gonse. who
was under chief of the General staff.
was called 10 the witness stand He
eXpiai @ 4 the motives which Influenced
his actions during the past few years.
ana said he believed h was animated
by the Hottest aims. namely-jhe pro
lection of the army against the cr.ni-
hai attacks made on 1t from ali sides"
General Gonsc said that IN spite of
Esterhazy's statements II was impos-
sible for him to have written tho bor-
dereau and sin moro impossible for
him TO have secured the information