The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-06


"oulu announce its decision later.
Esterhazy's Confession,
Serge Basset. the first witness called to-
day, testified that the Matin sent him n
London on five coca asions 10 interview Mai.
Esterlazy, who furnished a mass of in
tereseng information concerning the head
quarters staff. Esterhazy declared that
ne was not the author of the bordereau.
though the witness did not believe him.
EsIerhazy complained bitterly of the gem
erals who, he said, had thrown him over
ooaru, addlng that there was nothing left
LOT MN but TO blow out his brains. The
witness advised against suc eide and urged
hslethazy to the utmost endeavor to re-
veal the truth and the part he had plaved.
fihaily' While walking in Piccadily. Mai
Esterhazy said to the witness point
blank:
Weh Ribon dhe witness pseudonym).
l am going to tell you what nobody knows.
Ii IS l who am the author of the borde-
feau. l wrote it in 1894 at the request of
my friend, Sandherr. There was traitor
at headquarters, Dreyfus, whom Sandherr
tod me they wanted 10 catch. did not
hesitate to do what I was asked"
M. Basset proceeded to state that with
Esterhazy's consent he had each of Es-
terhazys statements verified, Esterhazy
saying he had decided to make the avow-
ais, because he was disgusted with his
abandonment by the generals.
In conclusion the witness referred to Of
fers of money to Esterhazy.
Believed Dreyfus Guilty.
Lieut. Col. Brongnlart, q member of the
courtmartial: Did Esterhazy tell you
Dreyfus was guiity?"
M. Basset: Yes
Col. Jouaust 1.-THE two statements of
FSterbaZV arc incOmnatibla
NJ. Basset: 1T is not for me to recon-
cie them"
NJ. Labor: Does M. Basset know that
Maj. Esterhazy addressed letters to Gen
Roget?"
N. Basset: 81 do not know"
NJ. Labor: Gen. Roget, perhaps, will
tell US"
Gen. Roget: 'I did receive letter from
Maj. Esterhazy in August, and informed
the president of the courtmartal of the
fact, asking him to make what use he
liked of it. 1 refused to open further let
ters as soon as 1 recognized Esterhazys $
handwriting"
On NJ, Labori asking to see the letter
Col. Jouaust said he would not put the
letter in evidence because it contained only
abuse and recriminations
As NJ Labori protested, Gen. Roget said
he had handed all the letters to the presi-
dent of the courtmartial because he did
not wish to be compromised by Esterhazy,
which was evidently the latter's intention.
Col. Jouaust said he had not included
Esterhazy's letters in the evidence because
he did not wish the proceedings to be un-
duly protracted, but as the defense insist
ed the letters would be produced.
Gen. Roget offered to read the first of
Mai. Esterhazy's letters, in which Ester
hazy offers to prove the existence of
DTeyfus syndicate. The writer complain
ed that the general staff refused to hear
or accept information he had obtained.
EstcrhRzy an ImpOstOr.
NJ. Labori: Does Gen. Roget consider
the confessions of Esterhazy vald?"
Gen Roget: NO; all versions given by
Esterhazy are quite incorrect. He is an
imposter concerning whom 1 perfer 10 ex-
press no option"
NJ Labori: Does Gen. Roget consider
Esterhazy a man of straw?'
Gen. Roget: 81 have no proof of the
fact, but l am inclined to believe that he
is"
NJ. Labori: "Was he straw man in
1S94?"
Gen. Roget: mo. do not think So"
Considerable discussion ensued between
Col. Jouaust and NJ. Labori, the former
attempting TO protect Gen Roget from
too close questioning.
M Labori insisted, however, end gained
his point The examination proceeded:
M Labor: How do you explain the
fact that Esterhazy made no confession
during the Zola trial?"
Cen Roget: Il do not know"
NJ. Labor: "You had made speech
for the prosecution rather than deposit
ton. I have therefore, the right to ques-
ton and note the fact that you 90 not re-
ply"
nf
M. Labori then expressed surprise that
there was no mention of a man OF straw
until so late a day, while the acts of which
Eeterhazy is accused were long known.
N. Dernange said he could not under
stand why it was alleged that the defense
desired TO compromise the headquarters
staff. and asked whence arose the sug-
gestion that Maj. Esterhazy was mere
dummy.
Gen. Roget replied that one reason
which induced the belief that Esterhazy
was a man of straw was that his con-
fession that he had written the bordereau
was absolutely inadmissable Gen. Roget
was perfectly convinced that Esterhazy
was entirely innocent of treason. (Mur-
murs of assent and dissent)
Gen. Roget next attempted, but without
success, to refute the evidence given on
saturday by NJ. De Fonds Lamotte rela-
tive to the SeHteuCGs am 7oi'iS ~ tiAC
maneuvers," saying the circular issued
NAV have been indefinite.
Capt. Dreyfus at this juneture pointed
out. with reference to the sentence, Il
am going 10 the maneuvers," that the
court possessed the correspondence and
could Judge whether 1t contained definite
instructions.
The sentence in the bordereau, 81 am
going to the maneuvers," expressed
nositive ;dea He not only never went 20
The maneuvers, but never could have at
tended them.
Confessed to Deffres, Too.
NJ Deffres. a correspondent of the
Temps, deposed that Maj. Esterhazy told
him In London that he (Esterhazy) was
the writer of the bordereau.
A Judge: did 1t not occur to you to
ask the obvious question who delivered
The documents mentioned in the borde-
reau?"
NJ. Deffres: Never
Senator TrareuX, ex-minister OF justice
was the next witness. He looked straight
at the Judges while testifying When
Drevfus was convicted the witness said,
he was convinced like everybody else OF
the prisoners guilt but violent diatribes
g. l.