The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-19

Keep Secret the Guilt Of Estorhnxy-Doo-
uments stolen After Drsyfus's Conyic-
tion-Du Patty de CLAIMS Absence s,gnia.
oant-JudGes Uneonsciousiy show Their
Bias Against the Prisoncr-Beiief, How
ever. that They Must Aoquit Dreyfus.
SpseiaI Cable Ds,pateA 70 Tar sur.
RnNNns, Aug. 18.-From tho poin OF view OF
reason and truth II has been q great day for
the cause OF the defence In the Dreyfus case.
From tho point OF view OF the seven officers
who are sitting in judgment on the platform Of
the Lyc6e to-day's exposition OF the intricaoies
Of the case BY man whose knowledge OF Ito
mysteries 10 more complete than any other
persons. may or may not have been revela-
tion which would sweep away all doubts from
unparalleled minds
Col Picouart's testimony. which occupied the
entire session. fully bore out the expectations
created By his opening evidence yesterday that
he would leave no corner OF the case une1posed
to the bright light Of day. Still. 10 becomes
moro and more evident that Il win not suface
to show the judges the worthlessness OF all the
so-called proofs Of Dreyfuss guilt or establish
their belief In his innocence,
The unconscious bias on tho part OF Che
judges is beginning to find frequent expires.
sion. which dumbfounds the American and
English observers. What would DO thought q
for instance, OF an American Judge In great
criminal trial who spent the recess OF the oour1
in conversation with the bitteress enemy Of the
prisoner? A member Of the court-martial
spent the ten-minute interval In the proceed-
ings to-day pacing the courtyard in closest
conference with Gen. Roget. Had It been Col.
Picouert instead Of Gen. Roget tho anti-Drey-
fus press of France would have buried the In
discreet officer in abuse.
FOL Jouauat tina praatdant ~ fha oourf.
marshal. to-day repeatedly stopped Col. Pic
quart In order. as he expressed Il, to bring
him back to the point, but all the preceding
officers and ex-ministers were permitted to
deolaim on irrelevancies without check or
limit
n. Praninent. a Frenchman who 10 we'll 90
Quainted with all the members OF the court
martial. told The Sun correspondent to-day
that they were without exception i-Drey-
fusites. They bitterly despse Col. Picquart.
or did so before the trial. and consider that
nothing justifles him In betraylnR or deserving
his former associates Of the General Staff.
Nevertheless. this gentleman believes that the
court will acquit the prisoner by majority
vote on account OF the lack Of evidence.
Gen. Mercer's virtual admission that he
knowingly used false piece OF evidence against
Dreyfus makes some impression. but shruR
OF the shoulders perhaps expresses the extent
Oh lts eU6cC upon PUBIC OPINION.
Capt. CuiRnet and Generals Boisdeffre and
Gonse will give their testimony to- morrow,
COL. PIoouARr GUARDED ON HIS WAY TO COURT
Those who had feared that another outrage
would prevent the continuation OF yesterdays
startling exposure OF the infamies Of which
Dreyfus 10 the victim were greatly relieved
when Col. Picquart. surrounded by a dozen
detectives. appeared at the main entrance to
the Lyoee at 6:15 O'Clock this morning. He
entered the witness box the moment that tho
court reconvened. and with the same MASTER
full and lucid vigor resumed his exposition OF
the truth about the affair. He spoke clearly.
forcibly and rapidly. Without superfiuous
word he seized one by one each fact and held
1t up moment to the light. while he poin ted
out its Significance and its relationship to the
whole plan. Then he put It swiftly into it's
proper place in the great puzzle map. which he
has reconstructed bit by bit under the eyes Of
the Judges and the world.
He went out OF his way few moments
to dispose OF few OF Gen. Rogets
charges against him. saying that he was
ready to reply to every point therein.
Gen. Roget rose in the audience and asked
to be allowed to speak. but he was not per-
mitted to do 30.
Col. Picauart then said few words more
about the bordereau. to show that Dreyfus was
ing to the manguvres." The witness said he
would not touch the question OF the hand
writing Of the bordereau. That was not ne
cessary, and besides. there were more than
enough experts to deal with that matter.
HE RIDDLES THE SECRET DossInR
The witness then came to the secret dosser,
which. for the first time. was openly discussed.
almost without an attempt at reserve. Pic
quart said that he first saw It In August. 1895.
-
It. he asked that It now be placed in his
hands He knew every piece OF II we'll. he
said. but his explanation would be facilitated
II the originals were before the Court as he
analysed them.
Col Jouaust declared that the Minister OF
War would not permit the witness to handle
the documents.
Very WELL" responded Picquart. II can deal
with them equally we'll. though perhaps more
tediously. from memory" and this marvellous
man then proceeded to take up the dossieR
piece after piece as though II was actually DO.
fore his eyes. describing It infinitely and dis.
posing Of 1t accordingly as IL was valuable or
worthless. He applied to each case only the
simplest tests Of reason and common sense.
and his conclusions became one after another
so plain, so luminous. and so inevitable that 10
was impossible to escape from them. There
was no longer any doubt Of the influence OF
this master mind upon the seven Judge be.
hind the black table. They leaned forward.
following every word with the most intense in
terest. Their faces often expressed amaze
ment as we'll as conviction. and several times
one Of them turned toward Gen. Chan oine. the
custodian OF the secret dossier. with looks
OF establishment as a crushing blow de-
molIshed some fabric OF suspicion. PIo-
quart never struck twice In the came
spot. The moment an obstacle fell
before his nvlncible logic he dashed to the next.
without wasting stroke upon the mere ruins.
He dealt first with the four documents con-
tanned in the first portion OF the dossier taking
up the piece known al the ''doute prenve."
Every one knows" said Picquart. I'm what
language this piece is written. so presume I
may discuss It's points In translation.
The President. however refused TO allow the
witness to reveal the nationality OF the docu-
ment. which is OF course German.
There was scarcely new fact in Picquart's
IA IT.