Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-08-26
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Dreyfns Court Martial.


Rennes, Aug. 26. III Bertillon, the
handwriting expert, continued his testi.
rnony at the resumption of the court
martial today. Labor and DemaDge
intend to get Photographic experts 10
show that the negatives of photographs
of the bordereau were retouched to
suit Bertilon's theory that Dreyfus
was the author OF the document. In
summing up BartilloD affirmed he had
proved that Dreyfus wrote the border
eau, with disguished handwriting.
Why" asked Labor, 'do you say
the bordereau is ia Dreyfua's hand
writing but disguised when in 1891 you
said it was written by Dreyfus in his
natural hand ?"
Bertillon My change OF opinion is
the result of mature thought and in
vesiigation."
Dreyius here interrupted, saying that
the writing in the borderesu was so un-
like his that he relied on the document
itself to prove his innocence.
Proceedings took an exciting turn
when Captain Freystatter, q member OF
the first court-martial, took the stand
and testified that his conviction OF
Dreyfus's guilt was based on the evil
dence of experts and of Henry and De
Clam. However, ne said, the final
conviction of the judges was formed
after examining tout secret documents
which were handed to the judges exclu
sively. the fourth being the version
of the Panizzardi telegram containing
the words "Onr emissary is warned.
Dreyfus is arrested"
There was sensation when Frey
statter cited this last document as Gen
eral Mercer testified on Thursday that
the Pauizzardi dispatch was not COM
municated to the 1891 court martial,
and NJ. Paleologue had pronounced this
version forgery. Freystaetler insist
I'd that the four documents he had just
mentioned were not only presented TO
the court, but were commented on by
the judges.
Col. Maurel protested against these
statements until finally losing bis tenn
per, he shouted: Il have nothing to
say, nothing" This was greeted by
burst of lsu shter from the audience.
NJ. Labor then asked for an explana
ton from General MERCER, who walked
up flushed and indignant. The General
directed his questions al once TO Frey
staetter. ''In the first document you
nave cited, do YOU have reference to
the Robin SHELF"
YES" replied Captain Freystaetter,
"there was something about shell IL
it."
MERCER, raising his hand, shrieked:
II tax the witness with uttering fla
grant lie. There could have been no
reference to the Robin shell in that
document, because the treason concern
ing the Robin shell was not discovered
until year later"
"Well, did not say twas surely the
Robin shell, !" said Captain Freystaetter,
coolly. 81 do not remember what it
was called"
MERCER explained that he had said
on Thursday that De Clam had sub
mitted the documents to Col. Maurel
in an envelope. He now learned that
they had been compiled by Col. Sand
herr
YES" said Labor scientifically,
"Ssndherr is dead, Henry is dead, ana
De Clam is sick 10 bed"
NJ. laval, another handwriting ex-
pert took the stand and ridiculed the
false deductions of II. Bertillon. The
court then adjourned.
A few more experts will testify on
both sides, and then the witnesses for
the defense will be summoned. When
these testify, there will probably be
frequent confrOntations.
Rennes Aug 26.-It is reported that n.
Pertillon is so worked up over his theory OF
the bordereau and the ridicule to which it
has been subjected that he has intimated il
the court discredits him by acquittiDg Drey-
fus he will commit suicide.