The record-union., 1899-09-06

as witnesses he deemed necessary to
summon. M. Labori said he thought
this step would worry nobody and that
it was in conformity with precedents.
Major Carriere replied that he did
not think the Government could ask
another Government for the restoration
of the documents. He suggested that
the defense could obtain and submit
the papers officially to the Court He
saw no objection to hearing Colonel
Schwarzkoppen and Signor Panizzardi
if they consented to come.
M. Paleologue said that while M.
Laboris request appeared quite logical
and just, there were diplomatic consid-
erations which made it inadmissible for
the Government to take such an initia-
tive as was proposed by counsel for the
defense.
Colonel Jouaust said the Court would
decide the matter later. and meanwhile
proceed with the taking of evidence.
The first witness called to-day was
Reporter Bassett, whom, the "Matin''
sent to London to interview Major Es-
terhaZy. The witness deposed that Es-
terhazy confessed to him that he wrote
the bordereau under orders from Col
onel Sandherr, who was the chief of
the Secret Intelligence Bureau The
order Esterhazy received was to catch
the traitor at the general headquar-
ters, who, Esterhazy afterwards said,
was Captain Dreyfus.
Major Carriere here burst out with
an extraordinary protest against Major
Esterhazy's insinuations Nagainst Col
onel Sandherr.
II protest" he cried. sin the name
and memory of Colonel Sandherr
against the insinuations introduced
against him."
M. Labori ignored this protest, which
he styled a ridiculous pretension.
NJ. Labori then called upon General
Roget to testify regarding letters he
had received from Major Esterhazy
since the opening of this trial.
General Roget to-day looked the
ghost of his former assertive self His
face was careworn and showed little OF
that fighting spirit which first charac-
terized his appearance upon the stage
He replied that he only opened one let
ter from Major Esterhazy, which he
had forwarded to Colonel Jouaust Gen
eral Roget added that he had declined
to receive other letters.
NJ. Labori then asked Colonel Jouaust
to have the letters read.
Colonel Jouaust at first declined, but
NJ. Labori insisted so firmly that Col
orel Jouaust after wrangling awhile
e e way and consented that the let
tefY should be read later. Colonel Jou-
aust explained that he opposed the
reading of the letters because they only
contained personal attacks upon va
rious parties and would only lead to q
prolongation of the trial
General Roget then read the one Es-
terhazy letter which he admits having
opened. In this letter Major Esterhazy
said he could not prove the existence
of the alleged syndicate organized ir
the interest of Dreyfus, and complained
that the general staff had refused tC
give him a fair hearing.
M. Labori then put a series of ques-
tions intended to bring out the fact that
the general staff had made use of Es-
terhazy even after he was known tc
be unreliable.
General Roget said he had not con-
sidered Major Esterhazy's avowals tc
be of any value.
NJ. Labori sought to question General
Roget more closely on his statement
that none of the Generals of the general
staff had any relations with Major Es-
terhazy. but Colonel Iouaust declined
to allow further discussion This led tC
another scene between the President ol
the court-martial and counsel for the
defense, NJ. Labori declaring that Gen
eral Roget, who came more as a public
prosecutor than as witness, refused
to reply to probing questions.
A little later NJ. Labori pushed the
question on General Billot on what is
known as the liberating document.
General Zurlinden then came upon
the platform dressed in the uniform
eye-glass. He spoke a few words re-
garding the general staffs belief in
Major Esterhazy.
NJ. Demange asked General Roget his
opinion of Major Esterhazy.
Il have an absolute conviction" re-
piled General Roget, amid cries of .sOh'
from the audience, THAI Major Ester
hazy is stranger to treason"
General Roget then delivered a short
discourse in reply to the statement that
NJ. de la Fond -Lamothe on Saturday
that the phrase in the bordereau, 81
am going to the maneuvers," showed
that Dreyfus could not be the author
of the bordereau.
General Roget maintained that La
mothe was wrong.
Captain Dreyfus in a clear voice
emphatically insisted that the circular
of May II, 1894, announcing that the
probationers could not go to the man
| euvers was written in the clearest Ian
guage, which the court would see, il
it We're read. He reiterated that he haC
never asked to go to the maneuvers
for he was absolutely convinced that
such request would not be granted.
NJ. Deffes. reporter for the Temps
| testified that he saw Major Esterhazy
in London and that the latter confessed
that he was the author of the border.
eau. The witness added that he raised
the question of the letters of Nine
Boulance. and brought away the i'm
preston that Esterhazy wrote the
"Uhlan" letter.
NJ. Trarieux, formerly Minister ol
Justice, was next called He made q
long deposition in favor of Dreyfus. re
viewing the history of the case and his
own part in connection Herewith.
NJ. Trarieux is an excellent speaker
with a good presence. His deposition
| closed the public session. He made q
very telling speech, describing how his
original belief in the guilt of Dreyfus
was first shaken. and then completely
changed to conviction of innocence by
subsequent developments and the noble
conduct of NJ. Scheurer- -Kestner, for
merly Vice President of the Senate.