The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-22
Appeared to Have the Document at the
Very End of His Tongue.
DREYFUs DID NOT WRITE 1T
AS He Gould Have Had No knowledge OF
the Matters Contained in 1t at the
Time 1t Is Alleged to Have
Been Written = Ester
- hazy Mentioned.
Special to News-Democrat.

Special to Democrat.
Rennes, Aug. 1S.-Lieutenant Colonel
piauart today exceeded his brilliant
performance of yesterday in his de-
fense of Captain Dreyfus He made his
points eloquently and pulled the stuff
fing from the case built up against Drey-
fus by the ex-ministers of war and
General Roget. The climax of the
courts testimony was reached when he
cried, 'I am convinced Esterhazy is the
guilty man." Piquart took full adVan-
tage Of the French law which allows
q witness to be his own advocate. He
took his place on the stand with the
same cool convinced demeanor he had
yesterday and spoke rapidly, showing
marvellous feats of memory with regard
to the contents of the secret dossier.
He began by fatty contradicting some
of the insinuations made by Roget yes
terday against him. Roget was recall
ed to the stand and brief but warm
argument followed between him and
Piquart. Piquart maintained that the
line in the bordereau, II am going to
the maneuvers," could not have been
written by Dreyfus, as he could have
no knowledge of the maneuvers at the
time the bordereau was written.
Piquart then proceeded to dissect the
documents named in the act of accusa-
ton. He swore the writing in these
was the same as that in the letter
Henry forged. These declarations Gre
ated profound sensation.
TACKLED THE DOSSIER.
Piquart then attacked the secret dos
sier, which he declared yesterday con-
tanned absolutely no proof of the pris-
oners guilt. Both Col. Jouast and Cha
moine, who have charge of the dossier,
warned Piquart to use discretion in his
reference to the dosser a warning
which he barely acknowledged Piquart
claimed that it was Henry who ordered
the petite bleu so as to make it appear
that Esterhazy's name, which appears
in the note, had been forged. When
Col. Jouast refused to let Piquart see
certain documents, the witness recited
their contents perfectly from memory.
Dreyfus looked like q new man as he
listened to Piquart's testimony. There
was a slight smile of pleasure on his
face. The audienc listened with breath
less interest to Piquart's clear demon
strations and there were murmurs of
approval as he scored De Clam, Ester.
hazy, Gonse and others Of his enemies.
Piquart frequently referred to his own
persecution and related the story of
his Punishment to Africa just as he
was hot on Esterhazy's trail. He told
of his return and subsequent arrest
for forgery that could only lead to the
conviction of Esterhazy who Henry and
De Clam thought to shield with the
machinery of the war office. Il know"
exclaimed Piquart, with dramatic ges-
ture, Il am convinced that Esterhazy is
the guilty man." The sincerity of the
conviction of the witness stirred the
corrt. Some started to cheer, but the
court quickly suppressed the demon
stration. Piquart then related De
CLAIMS story of the yelled lady and
other stories invented to shield Esterha-
zy. He showed up the plot in a glarlng
light. The sensation ended with dra-
| matte confrontat ton of the witness with
General Roget and General Mercier.
1t was an exciting moment Plquart
was pale, but his eyes shone and he was
keyed to high pitch. Both generals
were excited and talked with loud
voices, speaking sometimes both at
once. They claimed the contents and
details cited by Piquart were wrong
Piquart insisted that they were right
and that the generals ought to know it,
General Roget" he exclaimed ~ shall
talk. l refuse to be threatened" When
the session ended Piquart had talked
the generals to standstill.