The record-union., 1899-08-27
Expert BertiIIOn Continues on the
Witness Stand.
His Reasons for Believing the Accused the
Author of the BOrderedu.
Dramatic Scene Toward the End OF
the Session When NJ. Labori,
Chief Counsel for the Prisoner,
Placed Captain Freystmeter ON
the Stand.

RENNES, Aug. 26.-When the sixth
session of the third week of the second
trial by court-martial of Captain Al
fred Dreyfus of the artillery on charge
of treason began this morning in the
Lycee, AIphonse Bertillon, of the an
thropometric department of the Paris
Prefecture of Police, resumed his tesu-
nIony interrupted yesterday by the
adjournment of the court for the day
In this case M. Bertillon testified as
a handwriting expert, and gave his rea-
sons for believing Dreyfus to be the
author of the famous bordereau on
which the prosecution mainly depends
to establish the charge against the
prisoner. The comic aspect of M. Ber-
tillon's performance again appealed to
the risibilities of the audience, though
the Judges paid close attention to his
demonstrations, which were concluded
at $50 a. m, the witness saying in
declamatory tone: Il am convinced the
writer OF the bordereau is the prisoner
sitting there"
Dreyfus heard him without f1inching,
and with an expression of disdain,
which he showed in a still more notice
able manner just before the specialists
him a paper which NJ. Bertillon had
submitted TO the Judges as convincing
proof of the guilt of the accused. The
prisoner perused it for a few minutes,
and then handed it back with shrug
of his shoulders, and without uttering
a word.
There was highly dramatic scene
toward the end of the session. NJ. La
bori, leading counsel for the defense,
asked to have Captain Freystmeter,
one Of the members of the court-mar>
tial Of 1894 which convicted Dreyfus
called in contradiction of the deposi-
ton of Colonel Maurel, the presiding
Judge on that occasion, who had tes'
titled that he only read one of the docu-
ments out of the secret dossier COM
municated to the court-martial.
The. Captain. who is finely built.
Jfficer and who has a handsome, hon
est face, ascended the platform with
firm step and fearless air When he
was to recount what occurred he said
his conviction of the guilt of the pris,
oner was formed by the evidence of
experts in handwriting the deposition
of Colonel Du Patty de Clam, and he
continued, Il must add, some slight in
fiuence 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
ments were read, and he said they were
all read. This was in direct contra
diction of Colonel Maurel and NJ. La
bori at once demanded the confronta
ton of Captain Freystmeter with Col
onel Maurel The latter mounted the
stage and presented a miserable object,
his shifting eyes blearing out beneath
heavy eyebrows and looking around
him with vicious hang down look.
How do you explain this?" asked
NJ Labori-
The Colonel at bay replied savagely:
81 said I only read one document. I
did not say only one document was
read"
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, but evil
IDENTIFY determined to fight to the last,
threw a fierce look of hatred at NJ. La
bori and the audience, as the gendarmes
shouted silence, silence"
After this the audience listened spell
bound as Captain Freystmeter, in a
bold voice, told exactly what the docu-
ments of the dossier were, and how
Colonel Maurel not only read these
documents. but made comments on
them. This practically called Naurel
a thorough liar, and the Colonel glared
at the Captain furiously. Captain Frey
: -stmeter, however was not dismayed,
Lind his words, spoken in a tone Of
Ntcandor and fearlessness. must have
3 heard, and placed himself by the side
carried conviction to every hearer.
General Mercier then asked to be
of Maurel. The forbidding appearance
of these two men, both dressed in civ
iIan attire. was in striking contrast
with the erect, unfinching attitude of
Freystmeter, who wore the smart uni
form of a Captain of artillery, with
medals on his breast.
It was a remarkable scene.
Following are the proceedings in de-
tail:
The temperance on the stage of the
court-martial to-day of the properties
of NJ. Bertillon, the distinguished an
thropometer. was the signal of an out
burst of hilarity on the part of the
audience. Before continuing ms DEM
Onstration, NJ Bertillon replied to the
comments on his evidence yesterday.
In regard to the prisoners exclamation
of oh the wretch the specialist as
serted that if Dreyfus. who had up
to that time retained his self-posses-
sion, so far forgot himself at that par
ticular point as to insult the witness.
it was obviously due to the agitation.
When he saw his method of fabrcat-
ing the bordereau was discovered, my
extraordinarily ingenious demonstra-
tion yesterday proves the excellence OF
my system" added the witness.
M. Bertillon then resumed the ex-
position of the technica1ities of his sys-
fem, passing around charts. plates,
~ etc. Here followed a re-enactment OF
scenes similar to those of yesterday.
The prisoner was apparently quite in
different owhat was going on and the
Judges and counsel alone attempted to
follow the specialist in his interrninable
cryptographic problems
The witness was heard to say during