The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-29
A RED LETTER DAY
FOR CAPT. DREYFUS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

the typical dissimilarities upon which |
laid stress. between the writing of the
bortdereau and the documents submit
ted for comparison, namely that the
double s. is not found between the bor-
dereau and the new handwriting. In
other words the double S of the bor-
dereau is found in Esterhazy's writing
After repeating the evidence he gave
before the Court of Cessation, Nj. Char
away declared it was the new element,
the handwriting Of Esterhazy which led
him to declare he did not adhere to nus
conclusions in 1894
NJ. Charavay energetically protested
against General Mercier's accusations
adding that what convinced him that ne
had made mistake i'm 1894 was the
publication of Esterhazy's letters, the
discovery of the Henry forgery, the
inquiry ofthe Court of Cessation and
EsterhaZy's confession.
The conscience of the Witness conf
PEELED him to say that i'm 1894 he was
msled by similarity in handwriting.
at is great relief to my conscience"
NJ. Charavay said. ''to be able to say
before you and before hin who is the
victim of my mistake, THAT the bordereau
is not the work of Dreyfus, but of Ester
hazy'
Replying to Colonel Jouaust, the wit
ness said that the more examination
of the bordereau and the documents pre-
scented for comparison Were sufficient to
convince him that the bordereau was
not written by Dreyfus
NJ. Pelletier, another expert, pre-
faced his evidence by SAYING he desired
to make a definite statement ON the
poiRs upon which he was i'm entire dis
agreement with General Mercier. The
Inter had testified that the witness re-
fused to use certain documents submit
ted to him for comparison ian common
with the other experts and said he had
been led to regard NJ. Pelletiers work
with some suspicion because of certain
incidents in which NJ. Pelletier, being
summoned to appear simultaneously in
different courts. had written TO both
exclising himself ON the ground Of at
tendance at the other.
General MERCER declared This made
him suspicious of NJ. Pelletier's report
in favor of Dreyf1s, infelTing that his
failure to comply with the summons of
the examining magistrate in November
1894. was connected with his report
whereas the report the w.tncSs pointed
out, was handed i'm October 9th.
Continuing the witness said that after
fresh, superficial examination of the
writing OF Esterhazy and Dreyfus he ex-
pressed the opinion that the hordereau
only be ascribed to Esterhazy.
Nj. Couard, the official archiviSt and
expert in the Esterhazy case in 1897.
then testified that he was instructed by
Major Ravary, to expertly examine the
bordereau and specimens of EsterhaZy's
handwriting. The witness insisted upon
experimenting with the original border
eau and specimens of Esterhazy's cali
graphy, written by Esterhazy in the
presence of experts. Beyond this the ex-
perts and Esterhazy had no relations.
The latter, therefore, could not have
been influenced. and the witness pro-
tested against M. Zola's accusations and
adhered to his opinion Of 1897 that the
bordereau was not the work of Ester
hazy
Replying to a question NJ Couard,
while reasserting that the bordereau was
not the work of Esterhazy. declined to
commit himself in regard to Dreyfus,
whose handwriting he had never been
called upon to examine.
NJ. Varinard. who with MN. Couard
and Bolhomme acted as expert in the
Esterllazy case, was the next witness.
He adhered to his report that the bor-
dereau was not the work of Esterhazy,
and said he persisted in his opinion in
spite of Esterhazy's statements to the
contrary.
Before adjourning the court for the
day Colonel Jouaust announced that NJ
DeFreycinet, former Minister of War.
NJ. Gallifet and Colonel Cordier would
be examined tomorrow.
The Government commissary, Major
Carriere, said:
Il have handed the court letter re-
garding the health of Colonel Du Patty
De Clam. 1t indicates that Du Patty De
Clam is writing his evidence, and that
he will send it to us. That dispositions
has not arrived. / therefore ask the
President Of the court to be kind enough
to instruct the reporter of the second
court martial to have the evidence of Du
Patty De Clam taken by commission"
Colonel Jouaust assented to this and at
11:50 o'clock the court adjourned for the
day.