The San Francisco call., 1899-08-20

brun Renaud. Witness said he believed
the confessions were genuine. He next
referred to Colonel PiCquarts appearance
in the Intelligence Department, although
the witness had hesitated to appoint him.
because he thought Picquart too Self-con-
fident and not sufficiently deferential to-
ward his chiefs.
at has been said" continued General
de Boisdenre that a secret sec s package o., OF
court-martial Of 1894 l positively assert
that so far as | am concerned | never or
dered Colonel PicQuart to- convey any en-
velope TO Colonel Maurel | may add that
Colonel PicqUart never doubted the guilt
of DreyfuS and never even expressed
doubts Of his guilt when he took over the
duties of Chief Of the Intelligence Depart
ment.
The first instructions l gave him were
to follow up the Dreyfus affair and it is
we'll known what was the result of those
instructions"
The general next described the interview
between himself and Colonel Picquart,
when the latter first mentioned Esterhazy.
without. however connecting him with
the Dreyfus AFFAIR. Witness discredited
Colonel PicQuarts statement that the lat
ter asked him (witness) not to mention
the Investigation to General Gonse.,
''is friend of thirty years standing.
have always had the greatest confidence
in him and certainly should not have en-
tertained an idea to leave him in ignor-
ance Of what was occurring"
General de Boisdeffre. whose evidence
was attentively followed especially by
the members of the court-martial. then
related the incidents of his interview with
Picquart, how he sent PicQuart to see
General Gonse and General Gonses sub
sequent letter to the witness advising
continuance of the investigation regarding
EsterhaZy, but adding that the affair
must not be mixed up with the Dreyfus
affair. AS Colonel Picquart persisted in
ing his other duties. the witness proposed
to the Minister of War to send him not
in disgrace to a mission to Tonking, but
the Minister of War. the general asserted.
found another mission for him.
Everything. the general added. went
quietly for year, until Nj. Schuerer-
Kestner interviewed. This was followed
by the denunciation of Esterhazy by Mat
thieu Dreyfus, and the inquiry into Ester
hays proceedings
AT that time" the witness said. Il was
convinced of the guilt of Dreyfus, and
this conviction is as strong to-day as
ever. (SenSatiOn.)
Il regard it as an abominable crime to
have endeavored to substitute for him
may have been and whatever his offenses,
which, in any case, would not lessen the
guilt of Dreyfus. My conviction is the
same as at the commencement of the af-
fair Esterhazy. it is true. to a certain
psychological and well-chosen moment,
confessed to have written the bordereau,
but he has made many other statements.
He is always telling lies. What is GER
tain is that he could never have delivered
the documents enumerated in the bor-
dereau."
Then the witness briefly referred to the
trial and acquittal of Esterhazy and the
latter's threats TO proclaim himself tool
of the general staff, after which the gen.
eral alluded to the Henry forgery and NJ.
Cavaignac's interrogations of Henry.
You know the result" said he, appar-
emily much moved. Il will not tell you
what ] suffered at that moment. AS soon
as everything was ended, l rendered my
resignation, but was asked to withdraw
mistake, but | replied that while
everyone was. liable to error, every
one had not the misfortune as l had
to assert to jury that document
was genuine when in reality it was
forged; that everyone ought to stand by
ones word and that when man hap
pened TO experience such misfortune
there was nothing left for him but to go
away, and from that moment / have held
aloof" Sensation.)
Replying to the court, General de Bois-
deffre admitted that the leakage at mil
itary headquarters continued after the
condemnation of Dreyfus. 1t ceased for q
year but in 1895 a paper was discovered
proving the communication to a foreign
government of document relating to the
distribution of the artillery and showing &
that a foreign government was perfectly
acquainted with the changes made.
Answering question put by a member
of the court-martial relative to the con-
ficting testimony of General Mercier, the
former Minister of War, and M. Casmlr-
Pefler, formerly PreSlQent OF the French
republic, witness replied that he certainly
| had an interview with General MERCER
| early in January, during the course Of
which MERCER remarked in regard to the
representations of a foreign ambassador
to the President of the republic, 1T is not
going to happen this time, either. You
can sleep in peace. The incident has been
settled"
De Boisdeffre declared he was no less
certain of what had been said in regard
to the confessions. of Captain Lebrun-Re
maud. The general was also perfectly GER
tain the incident at the Elysee did not oc-
cur January 8, 1895. 1t was, he said, the
9Th or 7th. r
What is certain" added he, 'fs that
| when it occurred / remained personally al
the Ministry of War"
M Demange referred to General Roget
deposition to the effect that Dreyfus was
certainly intelligent. but that he would
! quarters staff, and asked the witness
opinion on the subject. The general an
! swered: II can only express the same
| opinion as General Roget"
| NJ. Demange-Was not EsterhaZy. with
! your knowledge, assisted at the court OF
! inquiry by Major Du Patty de Clam, whe
! gave him advice?
of Pc it. B0iSdeifre-i am absolutely not aware
Colonel Jouaust, president of the court
put the usual questions to the
! say to General de Boisdeffre," and re-
sumed his seat.
After Drle1 suspension OIL the sitting
! of the court General Gonse, who was
under-chief of the general staff. was
called to the witness stand. He explained
| the motives which influenced his actions
| during the past few years, and said he
believed he was animated by the loftiest
aims, namely the protection of the army
against the criminal attacks made on il
| from all sides"
J In this connection General Gonse dwelt
on the danger to France of the System OF
espionage so cleverly organized against
| her by foreigners" and said that in spite
of Esterhazy's statement 1t was impos
sible for him to have written the Dor.
dereau, and still more impossible for him
| to have secured the information contained
! therein. He added that there were nc
traces of indiscretion discovered durinf
the investigation against EsterhaZy Con
tinuing the witness deplored the fact tha
the court-martial of 1894 was held behind
| closed doors, adding: II regard it as
| great misfortune. The witnesses GER
tainly said a great deal more at the secre
trial than they would have done at pub
lie trial But the Judges had better op
portunity of forming an opinion, ever
though the public might maintain doubts
] deplore 1t keenly."
General Gonse denied that Esterhazy
had received money from the Intelligent,
| Department. and describing the "strang,
behavior of Dreyfus and his "frequen
! acts Of indiscretion," the witness begged
the court to summon the secretary of tn,
Ministry of War who surprised the pris
oner prying in the offices at time wher