The Portland daily press., 1899-09-06

president 20 retire with .tne judges 70
prisats room and decide the question"
m. Paleologue, the representative of
the foreign office. supported Major Car
riere's views. He said, III understnd
perfectly the importance the defense at
taohes to the production Of the documents
enumerated in the Dor dereau. seeing that
the whole case turns upon them. But
while the request of the accused appears
to be based upon logic and Justice. 1t
seems inRdmissihls from diplomatic
point OF view. Considerations Of the
highest order are opposed to the govern
ment taking the Initiative II Is requested
to ke in regard TO a foreign power
Colonel Jouaust promised that the court
would announce Its decision later.
Serge Basset, the first witness called
today, testified that the Matln sent him
TO London on i've occasions to int srview
Major Esterhazy. Esterhazy declared
that he WAS not the author of the border
eau, though the witness did not believe
him. Esterhazy complained bitterly of
the generals who, he said, had thrown
him overheard, sddine that there was
AOehAHe AoAe ACt ann Wv W tfASW Sot 4sS
b. aims. The witness advised against sui
cite ard urged Esterhazy to the utmost
eneeavor to reveal the truth and the part
he had played. Finally, while walking
in Piceadilly. Major Esterhasy said TO
the witness point blank: "Well, Ribon
(the witness's pseuuonym) am going to
tall you what mol oily knows. 1t is l who
am the author of the bordereau. wrote
1t in 1894 at the request of my friend,
Saldherr. There was traitor at head
quar- tiers, Dreyfus, whom Sandherr told
ne hey wanted to catch. / did not hesi-
tate to do what was asked"
NJ Bsfs proceeded to say that with
Fsterhrzy onsent he had ksterhazy's
statements verified. Estsrhazy raid he was
led TO make the avewals tecause he was
d disguised 18th his abandonment by the
generals. In conclusion the witness re-
ferred to offers of money to Esterhazy.
Lieut.. Col. Brongniart, n member of
the court martial-"Did Esterhazy tell
you Dreyfus was guiltyf'
:. NJ. Bassett--" -
Colonel Jouaust--"The two statements
OF Esterhazy are Incompatible.
M. Bassett-"It is not for me to recon.
cils Them"
Major Carriere vas invited to express
his opinion and said: "There is much to
say but prefer to remain silent. have
made 1t rule not to enter into discus
sion with witnesses. but as NJ. Bassstt
8 ated that Major Esterhazy has asserted
that Colonel Sandherr told him to writs
the bordereau, I, ON behalf of Colonel
Sandherr's memory protest against uoh
insinuations. He was incapable Of such
an order.'
NJ. Labori-''I hope this protest is not
addressed to the defense"
Major Carriere-"It is not addressed TO
counsel for the defense 1t is addressed to
the man who was capable OF launching
such statement"
. III. Labori-"Does Nj. Bassett know
that Major Esterhazy addressed letters to
General Rogets"
NJ Bassett--"I don't know"
NJ. Labori-''General Roget, perh APPS,
Will tall usa''
General Roget-"I did receive a letter
from Major Estsrhazy in August and in
70 med the president of the court martial
of the fac, asking him to make what SO
he liked of 1t. / refused to open further
letters as soon as recognized Esterhasy's
handwriting.
On III. Labor asking to see the letter,
Colonel Jouaust said he would not put
the letter in evidence because 1t con.
tanned only abuse and reoriminations.
As NJ. I4aborl protested, General Roget
said he had handed all the lettsrs to the
president OF the court martial because he
did not wish to be compromised by Estsr-
hazy, which was evidently the latter's
intention.
Colonel Jouaust said he had not in
cluded Estsrhazy's letters In the evidencs
because he did not wish the proceedings
to be unduly protraeted but as the de-
Tense insisted the letters would be pro-
duced. General Roget offered to read the
first Of Major Estsrhazy's letters in which
Esterhazy offered to prove the existence
of Drsyfus syndicats. The writer CON-
planned that the general staff refused to
hear or accept information he had OBJ
tanned.
Major Carriere said he, too, had re :
ceived numerous letters from Major Es-
teFhazy which he had never read.
n. Labor" General Roget con.
slider the confessions of Estsrhazy validP'
General Roget-"No, all versions givsn
by Esterhazy are quite incorrect. He Is an
impostsr concerning whom 1 prefer to
express no opinion"
NJ. Labori-"Does General Roget oon-
sidsr Esterhazy man of straws'
General Roget-"I have no proof of the
facs but am inclined Is believe he is.'
Al. Labori-''Was he a straw man In
1884,"
General Rogst-''No. don't think SO. -
Nj. = Labori-'Why was Major Ester
hazy's role of straw man not mentioned
In the trial of IS06?'
General Roget''I was not present and
don't know"
Considerable discussion ensued between
Colonel Jouaust and NJ. Labor, the for
mer attempting to protect General Roget
from too close questioning.