New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-26
BERTILLON'S SYSTEM.
HIS ABSURD ATTEMPT TO
PROVE DREYFUS'S GUILT
BY MEASUREMENTS.
FEAR THAT THE JUDGES MAY TAKE
HIS TESTIMONY SERIOUsLY-HAND-
WRITING EXPERTS OCCUPY
THE DAY AT RENNES.

Rennes, Aug 25.-After NJ. Bertilon. ths
Handwriting expert who is at the head Of the
Anthropometric Department Of the Prefecture OF
Police Of Paris had finished the first install
ment Of his so-caed demonstration OF the guilt
Of Captain Dreyfus. prominent Dreyfusard
referred to him as the I'm de steele Cagliostro"
The Dreyfusards refuse to regard him as any
thing but the prince of quacks. They cover his
remarks with rdicule. and protest that the ad-
mission of his fantastic theories evidence be-
fore the court martial is disgrace to France.
1T is shame" the remark heard on all
sides when the session closed. and the audience.
mainly made up OF Dreyfusards. was being
pressed outside by the gendarmes. who clear the
courtroom as soon the court adjourns.
FEAR EFFECT ON JUDGES
Nevertheless even the Dreyfusards do not de-
ceive themselves TO the effect which NJ. Ber-
tilon's testimony, or demonstration" may have
upon the judges, who, they fear, will be gulled
by what the Dreyfusards consider spurious. All
the Judges have passed through the Ecole Poly
technique. the highest school OF science In
France, and they are thus peculiarly interested
in such evidence" NJ. Bertillons. Moreover.
with the aid of the innumerabe diagrams and
specimens Of writing which he submits 10 them
they may be able to follow hts reasoning intelll-
gibly. which is more than any member OF the
audience could do to-day. II the judges accept
Berton's premses-that Dreyfus, as expert
spy. did not write ordinary handwriting but in
close imitation. even contriving to give the let
ters the appearance OF having been traced In
order to be able to repudate them forgery
II detected-then the structure built upon this
groundwork may be scientifically correct.
Even Dreyfus, when shown Bertiltons demon
strations, admitted the ingenuity and pausibil-
ity OF the system, though he naturally declared
that It was built upon a false basis.
NJ. BERTILLoN's EXCITED TESTIMONY.
A remarkable feature Of NJ. Bertillons depo-
sition was the heat and excitement that he put
into what expected TO be a calm, dispas-
sionate exposition OF his theories He thundered,
shouted and waved his arms, as though engaged
in some terrible dispute. Once he literally
shrieked and numbers Of the usual audience.
who had been unable TO follow him and were
taking the air in the courtyard rushed back
into the hall. breathlessly inquiring what had
happened and imagining that he was fulminat-
ing some dreadful denunciation Of the accused.
Their excitement was turned into hilarty
when they found that he merely impress
| ing upon the judges the significance Of the ex-
! act space measured in centmetres. between
| two words III the DOrCeTcdu. iIilitdlS
nesseea all of whom sit in a bunch, leaving
! Colonel PicQuart and NJ Bertulus severely lso-
| lated followed NJ Bertillons statements with
! a grave and wise expression or countenahce'
! upon which never suspicion OF smile APP
! peared as though they understood every word.
Evidently they had received confidential order
! to preserve this attitude; for without seeing tne
diagrams they certainly could not nave uhuer-
! stood him any better than did the general pup
/ lic who treated NJ Bertillon as a farceur.
| MAY INVOKE GERMANYS AID.
; The ECHO de Paris announced to-day mat
/ the counsel Of Dreyfus had obtained possession
/ OF certain documents mentioned In the DOR
! dereau in Esterhazy's handwriting. whch they
would produce m court next week as coup
! de theatre The correspondent of The Associ-
ated Press inquired to this in trustworthy
Dreyfusard quarters this afternoon. lie was as
! sured that the statement was erroneous. but
! was also told that the defence intended. In the
+ event Of Captain Dreyfus being recondemned TO
ask the German Government to communicate
these documents proving his innocence. ana
B that they had reason TO believe such request
would be granted.