The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-26
Puts One Anti-Dreyfus Witness
Against Another.
A Colonel and a Major Contra
diet Each Other.
BERTILLON'S FARCE
Resumed Today, to the Amuse-
ment of the Audience.
Again Brings In His Load OF
Stage Properties.


sion of the third week of the second
trial by court martial of Capt. Alfred
Dreyfus of the artillery on the charge
of treason began this morning IN the
Lycee, NJ. AlphOnSe BertillOns cnleI OF
the anthrOpOmetric department OF the
Paris prefecture of police resumed ms
testimony interrupted yesterday by the
adjournment of the court for the day
In this case NJ. BertillOn testified as a
handwriting expert and gave ms Ie4-
sons for believing DreyfuS to be the
author of the famous bOrdereau upon
which the prosecution mainly depends
TO establish the charge against the
The comic aspect of NJ. Bertillon's
performance again appealed to the risl-
bilities of the audience, though the
judges paid close attention to his dem
onstratiOns which were concluded at
$3.50 a m, the witness saying IN
decIamatory tone:
r am convinced the writer of the
bOrdereau is the prisoner sitting there
Dreyfus heard him without hinching
and with an expression OF dlSdaln
which he showed in a still more notice
able manner just before the specialists
testimony when NJ. Demange handed
him a paper which M. BertillOn had
submitted to the judges as convincing
proof of the guilt of the accused
The prisoner peruSed it for few
minutes and then handed it back with
d shrug of his shoulders and without
uttering a word
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
There was a highly dramatic scene
toward the end of the session. NJ. La
bOri, leading counsel for the defense,
asked to have Major F'reystaeter, one
of the members of the court martial
of 1894 which convicted DreyfuS, called
in contradiction of the deposition of
Col. Maurel, the presiding judge upon
that occasion, who had testified that
he only read one of the documents out
of the secret dOssier communicated to
the court martial
The major who is a finely built officer
and who has a handsome honest face,
ascended the platform with a firm step
and fearless air. When he was to re-
count what occurred he said his con-
VictiOn of the guilt Of the prisoner was
formed by the evidence of the experts
in handwriting, the deposition of Col.
Du Patty de Clam, and" he continued,
I must add, some slight influence was
exercised over my mind by hearing the
secret dossier read
The witness was then questioned as
to whether one or more of the docu-
Inents were read and he said they We're
all read. This was in direct contradfc-
ton Of Col. Maurel, and NJ. Labor at
once demanded the conformation of
Major Freystaeter with Col. Maurel.
The latter mounted the stage and pre-
sented a miserable object his shifty
eyes, blearing out beneath heavy eye
brows and looking around him with a
vicious. hang-dOg look.
How do you explain this?'' asked
N. Labori.
agely; I said only read one dOcu-
ment. I did not say only one document
was read
OUTBURST OF Kisses.
This statement called forth an out
burst of Kisses and indignant Obs"
from the audience. which looked upon
It as an Infamous confession The wit
ness, trembling with shame evidently
determined to fight to the last threw
a fierce look of hatred at NJ. Labori
ana the audience as the gen d'armes
shouted silence. silence"
After this the audience listened SMELL
bound as Major FTeystaeter in a dis
tinct bold voice told exactly what the
documents of the dOssier We're and how
Col. Maurel not only read these idocu-
mentS but made comment on them
This was practically calling MaureI a
liar and the colonel glared at the major
1erOctOusly. Major Freystaeter how
ever, was not dismayed and his words
spoken in tone of candOr and fear
lessness, must have carried conviction
TO every nearer.
Gen. MERCER then asked to be heard
and placed himself by the side of
MaureL The fOrbidding appearance of
these two men, both dressed in civilian
attire, was in striking contrast with
the erect, unhinching attitude of Frey
sIaeter who Wore the smart uniform
OF major of artillery, with medals on
MS breast 1t was a remarkable
scene
PROCEEDING IN DETAIL.
Following are the proceedings in de-
tail:
The reappearance on the stage of the
court martial today of the properties
OF NJ BertillOn, the distinguished an
thropometer, was the signal of an out
Durst OF MARTY on the part of the
audience.
Before continuing his demonstration
NJ Bert1IlOn replied to the comments
upon his evidence yesterday In rega rd
70 the prisoners exclamation ssOb
the wretch the specialist asserted
that If Dreyfus who had uD TO fbat
tine retained his f-possession SO far
forgot hlnself at that particular DoiYt
as to insult the witness it was obxriolle
~ due to agitation when he saw his
nethod Of fabricating the bordereau
was discovered
Ny extraordinarily ingenious demon
Stfatlon yesterday proves the excel
renee or my system added the witness
M Bertllon then resmued the exDOSi
ton of the technicalities of his sve-
tenn passing around charts. plates etc
..Ira1 LolI0Wed a re-enactment of
scenes similar to those of yesterday
ne prisoner was apparently quite In
allLefeHI TO what was going on and fba
JuuseS ana counsel alone ATTEMPTED TO
19lloW the specialist in his intermin-
aoIe cryptographic problems.
The witness was heard to saw d7,,ire-
his demonstration:
The system have the honor 10 a1
pam TO you can easily be ca rria7 ~,
under your eyes, and if you like 7 viii
again read the notes" ~
ROARS OF LAUGHTER
ROars of laughter greeted the denra-
catory reply OF Colonel Jouaust. presi-
cent OF the court martial, who said:
~Oh, don't trouble yourself"
As the comedy was prolonged If grow
- "earlsome that the audience brought