The record-union., 1899-08-30


his testimony no fewer than five wit
nesses rose and asked to be confront
ed with him. But the Colonel received
the Interruptions with the utmost good
humor.
conclusion of Colonel Cordiers state
ments. He said the scene which pre-
ceded his arrest completely bewildered
him, and merely left blunted impress
sion on his memory
The prisoner is now accustomed to
his surroundings and has a. parently re-
covered his self-confidence, as he
speaks readily and more clearly, and
follows the witnesses closely, taking
notes of various points Of their deposi-
tions.
Major Lauth first confronted Colonel
Cordier and tried to score against him
by pointing out that Cordier was in
correct in saying there were no Anti
Semites on the general staff, since Cor
dier himself was one. The Colonel re-
torted, turning the tables on the Ma
jor as raising his hand, he cried:
quite true 1 was an Anti-Semite,
but 1 never bore false witness against
the Jew. I am an honest man."
The audience applauded these re-
marks.
Colonel Cordier then administered a
we'll deserved snub to Major Lauth by
remarking that he Cthe ColoneD might
be allowed to know more than Major
Lauth with reference to the work of
the Intelligence Department, since he
(Cordier) replaced Colonel Sandherr as
Chief of the department whenever
Sandherr was absent, while Major
Lauth, the witness concluded, was
merely my assistant, my assistant,
mark you
Major Lauth did not enjoy this lit
tie secret at all.
General Roget next confronted Col
onel Cordier. The General assumed
the same supercilious air which char
aeterized him when he appeared at the
witness bar strutting about the stage
in disdainful attitudes. His evidence,
however, was not very strong, nor was
that of Colonel Fleur nor Archivist
Grebelin, who also contested minor
points of Cordier's deposition.
Finally, General Mereier, who evil
IDENTIFY appeared to show the absurdity
of the stories of his intention to fly,
TO the last. confronted Colonel Cor
dier.
The Generals remarks We're of small
Importance, the most interesting being
his repetition of Colonel Sandherr's
opinion of Matthew Dreyfus, when the
prisoners brother went to see the Col
onel to ask for justice in behalf of Cap
tain Dreyfus. Mercier admitted Sand
herr said, Matthew Dreyfus impressed
me as an honest man, who was pre-
pared to make any sacrifice to save his
brother"
NJ De Freycinet, the former Minister
of War, former Minister of Foreign At
fairs and former Premier, followed Col
onel Cordier on the witness stand. The
court room was packed to its utmost
capacity as the dfstfngt trfsf1ed French
statesman began his deposition. He is
a venerable looking man with scanty
snow-white hair and mustache; and
was dressed in a blue serge suit. He
wore a little black bow for a necktie
and gave his testimony seated, and in a
low voice.
The witness was expected to speak
about the 35,000,0 900 francs supposed to
have been contributed abroad, mainly
in England and Germany, to the Drey
fus war chest.
M. De Freycinet began by expressing
the pain which he experienced at the
troubles his country was undergoing.
Later he said he had a conference with
General Jarmont at which there was
some reference to money in support Of
the Dreyfus agitation, which, while dis
interested in France, might not Re SO
abroad
NJ De Freycinet, however, did not re-
member the details of the conversation,
nor could he say if any specific amount
was mentioned.
NJ. De Freycinet then alluded to his
fear that attacks on the chiefs Of the
army might be prejudiciaI to 1isci-
pline," adding, might not these attacks
lead to the disappearance of discipline
and what then would be the result if
we found ourselves in difficulties with
a foreign country"
In short, NJ. De Freycinet delivered a
patriotic speech, rather than daposi-
ton, concluding with the words: "All
the world will accept your verdict.
which will open an era of reconcilia-
ton"
The members of the court-martial
treated M. De Freycinet with the
greatest of Difference. The President of
the court, Colonel Jouaust, declined to
put to the witness some questions from
Maitre Labori, leading counsel for the
defense, on the ground that they had
no direct bearing on the case One Cf
these questions referred to NJ. De Frey
cinets personal opinion of NJ. Scheurer-
Kestner, the former Vice President Of
the Senate, who has interested himself
strongly in behalf of Dreyfus
Although the Colonel refused to put
the question the witness replied that
NJ. Schuerer- -Kestner was his friend and
that he had a high opinion Of his char
acter. NJ De Freycinet was then con-
Quoted to the witness seats, where he
sat for few minutes beside General
Billot chatting with that officer He
left the court later.
The testimony of minor witnesses
concluded the days proceedings.
The court adjourned for the day at
noon.
The appearance of Colonel Cordier.
formerly Deputy Chief of the Tntelli-
gence Department DIT the Dreyfus
court-martial, aroused great interest
Speaking in firnf audible tones, the
Colonel testified that September Odd,
1884, he left Paris on a fortnight's
leave of absence and that nothing was
then known in the Statistical Depart
ment of the War Office of the discovery
of treason.
Continuing, Colonel Corlier said that
the day after he returned to Paris,
Colonel Sandherr. greatly distressed.