Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-09-01
A ADRAMATICI INCIDENT
Gen. Mercier, a Bitter Foe of Drey-
fus, Charged with Perjury.
And Col. Maurel Is Branded ns n Liar
Both Are Furious Over the Ex-
pOsure-Other Proceedings
in Court.

sion on saturday OF the tnlru week oil
the second trial by court-martial of
Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, of the artillery,
on the charge of treason, the feature of
the day was a dramatic scene between
Capt. Freystaetter, one of Dreyfus'
judges in 1894, and Col. Maurel presi-
dent of that court-martial.
If Capt. Freystaetter is speaking the
truth-ana he has the reputation of be-
ing man of the highest honor, whose
conscience was troubled by relations
of the intrigues and maneuvers of the
general staff-Gen. Mercier committed
perjury in his deposition and Col. Maui
rel was guilty of the suppression of the
truth
Gen. Mercier in his evidence cate
gorically denied that the incorrect de-
ciphering of the dispatch from Paniz-
zardi, the Italian military attache, was
communicated to the court-martial of
1894. Capt. Freystaetter now swears
that it was.
Col. Maurel in his deposition declared
that he read only one document of the
secret dossier, leaving the court under
the impression that this was the only
document of which cognizance was
taken. He was forced to admit that his
statement referred only to himself, but
that all the other officers read all the
documents-a statement which pro-
voked loud murmurs in the audience.
Capt. Freystaetter, however, asserted
that Col. Maurel had openly comment
ed on each document to his brother
judges. This Maurel Indignantly de-
MED.
Capt. Freystaetter did not hesitate
n second when NJ. Labori asked him if
he maintained his open statement. He
replied:
Not only did I read the documents,
but Col. Maurel read them and made
commentary after each"
The Lie Direct.
This was the lie direct to Col. Maurel,
who did not protest, but merely object
ed to the term Commentary" Maurel
thus stands before the world as self
confessed liar.
| His endeavors to throw mud at Capt.
Freystetter by cynically asking why
the latter had not spoken before during
the last five years only recoiled on him
self and placed Capt. Freystaetter in
still more creditable light. Capt. Frey.
| staetter's candid admission that he did
wrong unwittingly and that when he
knew of it he obeyed the dictates of his
conscience evoked a murmur of admi-
mtion.
Both Maurel and Mercier are furious
over the exposure, and after the court
rose and all the public were supposed
| -. L.
Col. Maurel in the courtyard and gave
him piece of his mind, even going to
the extent of calling him blocllhead.
Maurel vainly protested his helpless
ness and the impossibility of warding
off Labori's home thrusts in view OF
Capt. Freystaetter's testimony. Final
ly Mercier left him in temper.
Capt. Valerie on the Stand.
After a brief adjournment the gov
erDment commissary, Maj. Carriere,
called upon Capt. Valerie, of the artil-
lery, to explain NJ. Bertillon's system
and to give an opinion on the subject.
The captain said he thought that NJ.
Bertillon's evidence might be summar-
lied in sentences:
"The bordereau was doctored and
the document fabricated by means of
secret writing, or writing with key,
the key-word interest being found
on the blotting-pad letter attributed
to Matthew Dreyfus.'
Says Dreyfus Is Guilty.
The witness declared that as he
wished to remain on scientific ground
he would not attempt to define the mo-
| nnt,, tl,a .Nr+
dereau; but he was perfectly convincedit it
could only have been Dreyfus. Esterhazy
had declared himself to be the writer,
but that could not be true, because it
had been proved the bordereau was
forged.
In conclusion, Capt. Valerie declared
the court now had in its possession ma
terial proof of the prisoners guilt.
(Sensation.)
Dre3fus Replies.
When Dreyfus was asked the usual
question the prisoner pointed out that
the evidence of Capt. Valerie was only
q repetition of NJ. Bertillon's and that
consequently his reply to the latter ap-
piled equally to Valerie.
Reference having been made to doc
tored words in the minutes written by
him at the war Office, Dreyfus pointed
out that those minutes were written in
the presence of witnesses. He also
dwelt upon the fact that he had already
acknowledged the genuineness of the
"blotting-pad letter" which he reaf-
firmed, adding, that the hypothesis
that he doctored the bordereau in order
to have means of defense fell to the
ground of itself, since he had never at
tempted to turn the system to use.
(Sensation.)
"All NJ. Bertillon's measures are
false. All without exception" ex-
claimed the prisoner, vebemently, amid
excitement.