Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-31

Three Handwriting Experts Make
Positive Declarations


THAT THE BORDEREAU WAS
WRITTEN BY MAJOR ESTER
HAY - MERCIER'S ACTION
PROVES A PUZZLE FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN WATCHING
HIS COURSE ADMISSIONS
IN FAVOR OF THE DEFENSE
ARE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION
OF IA CHANGE OF ATTITUDE OR
ELSE A GRACEFUL RETREAT
FROM AN UNTENABLE POSI-
TION-THE COURTMARTIAL TO
GO INTO SECRET SESSION
AGAIN.
RENNES, August 30.-The first wit
ness called in the Dreyfus trial to-day
was M. Paul Meyer. member OF the
institute and director of the school OF
ancient manuscripts. He deposed in
favor of Dreyfus
After hearing NM. Mollinier and Giry,
and M. Picot, a member of the insti-
tute, all of whom testified in favor OF
Dreyfus, Gen. Deloye testified against
the prisoner on the artillery references
in the borderau Then the court on
the application of the government COM
missary, Maj. Carriere, ordered that
the opening part of to-morroW's session
be behind closed doors for the purpose
of discussing documents relating to the
artillery.
The evidence of MN. Mayer, Molinier
and Giry, all of whom are handwriting
experts of the first rank, was strong
point for Dreyfus. They were most
emphatic in declaring the bordereau
was written by Esterhazy, and created
a better impression than M. Bertillon
by not introducing the fantastic dla-
grams which the latter deemed neces-
sary.
The action of Gen. MERCER in asking
to be allowed to reply to M. Mollinler
and then getting up and confirming
the professors statement that Esterhazy
changed his handwriting since 1894
puzzled the audience. That Esterhazy
should have deemed it advisable to
change his handwriting since the date
of the bordereau appears, at first sight,
to indicate that he wrote it, and that
MERCER should support Prof. Molinier
aroused discussion as to the generals
motives There are some people who
see in Mercier's unsolicited testimony
yesterday in support of the honorable
nature of NJ Matthew Dreyfus's visit to
Col. Sandherr in 1894 in behalf of his
brother, and the generals move to-day
an indication of some change of atti-
tude, perhaps prelude to
A CANDID AvOWAL
of his mistakes of 1894. On the other
hand, many persons think Gen. MERCER,
fearing that Saturdays exposure will
discredit him altogether with the judges
has conceived the idea of giving way
on certain points, which, moreover,
are almost incontestable. and thus to
some extent reinstate himself by an
affectation of impartiality.
M. Picot related an interesting con-
yersation which he had with the Aus
Hungarian military attache, Col.
Schneider, mention of whose name
evoked a prompt protest from Maj.
Carriere in the name of the govern
ment and State. Col. Schneider, accord
ing to this witness, admitted that Is
terhazy acted as a spy and wrote the
bordereau.
Gen. Roget, with his usual shrewd-
ness, seized upon M. Picot's statement
that Col. Schneider expressed astonish-
ment that French officers should have
the bad taste to question the word OF
foreign officers, to mount the platform
and make a short speech in defense OF
the attitude of the French officers, con-
GLIDING with the remark: II interven-
ed because when French officers are at
tackled they have the right to defend
themselves" These words will be pub
lished all over France and will tend to
make Gen. Roget more popular with
the army.
Gen. Deloye repeated his testimony
before the court of cessation relating
70 the 120 short cannon, hydro-pneu-
matte brake and the Robin shell.
Dreyfus, in reply, made
A REALLY CLEAR STATEMENT,
explaining that he saw the hydro-pneu-
matte brake once at Bourges, once at
the school of war, and that he never
saw it used because while on the gen.
eral staff he was never present at firing
practice
Major Carriere then made his appli
cation to have the court sit behind
closed doors tomorrow, explaining that
he desired to submit to the court GER
tain documents prepared by the gun
merry bureau, containing information
which it was not desirable to discuss in
public. The court, after elaboration,
granted the application, and also ac-