The record-union., 1899-08-27

ly riveted on Dreyfus, who explained
how the exclamation. "Oh. the wretch,
escaped his lips yesterday. m. Ber-
tillon," the prisoner said, was con-
stantly turning to me while testifying,
calling me the guilty man. Isretorted
Wretch to him. These are the cir
cumstances under which / uttered the
word. have nothing to reply to the
deposition of the witness. But there
is one thing of which I am absolutely
sure, and that is that I am not the
writer of the bordereau"
Referring to his papers which were
seized at the War Office. Dreyfus said
it would not be strange to see notes
written by officers altered. He added:
Il was shown yesterday a note relative
to General De Meirbel There were in
the document corrections made by the
chief of the department himself which
shows that Immediately after having
written note. he handed it to the
chief of department.
Referring to the so-called, blotting
paper, Dreyfus said this letter was per-
fectly genuine. Madame Dreyfus can
testify to that point No one here will
doubt the word of Nine Dreyfus and
added, looking steadily at the Judges.
After brief adjournment the Gov
ernment Commissary, Major Carriere,
called upon Captain Valerie of the ar
tillery to explain M. Bertillons system,
and to give an opinion on the subject
The Captain said he thought that M
Bertillon's evidence might be summar-
lied in a sentence: 'The bordereau was
| n ho fol hria cd
by means of secret writing, or writing
with a key, the key word interest
being found on the blotting pad letter
attributed to Matthieu Dreyfus. The
system" continued the Captain, was
evidently devised to offer the prisoner
two means of escape Either he would
deny being the author of the bordereau,
by pointing to the difference of the
handwriting, or he would contend it
was a plot by showing the documents
were traced over his writings How
ever complicated the ingenuity of the
human mind might appear continued
the witness, II propose to show:
'First-That the document was ia
bricated
Second-That it was fabricated by
means of the key word Interest
''Third-That documents written by
the prisoner in the War Office contain
ed words written by means Of the same
copy.
"Fourth-That the forgery was in
| tended to enabled the prisoner to plead
there was a plot against him.
'Fifth-fhat the prisoner could alone
be the writer"
The witness then attempted to prove
ms hypothesis, traversing practically
the same ground as already laboriously
covered by M. Bertillon, during the
course of which he pointed to what
ne alleged were conclusive proofs of the
value of M. Bertillon's system.
The witness declared that as he wish
ed to remain on scientific ground he
would not attempt to define the mo-
tlVes OF the writer of the bordereau,
put he was perfectly convinced it could
only have been Dreyfus. Esterhazy
had declared himself to be the writer,
put that could not be true, because it
mad been proved the bordereau was
forged.
In conclusion, Captain Valerie de-
clared that the court now had in its
possession material proof of the pris-
oner's guilt. (Sensation.)
| W hCA DltyIuS was asked the usual
question the prisoner pointed out that
the evidence of Captain Valerie was
only repetition of M. Bertillon's, and
tnat consequently his reply to the lat
ter applied equally to Valerie.
reference having been made to doc
tored words in minutes written by him
at the War Office, Dreyfus pointed out
that those minutes We're written in the
| presence OF witnesses. He also dwelt
upon the fact that he had already ac-
knowledged the genuineness of the
/ plotting pad" letter, which he reaf-
nrmed, adding that the hypothesis that
he doctored the bordereau in order to
have means of defense fell to the
ground of it's own weight, since he had
never attempted to turn the system
to use. (Sensation)
All of NJ. Bertillon's measures are
false. ALL without exception" ex-
claimed the prisoner, vehemently, amid
| excitement.
Major Carriere asked the court to
confront Colonel Maurel and Captain
Freystmeter.
/ AS captain Freystmeter, his breast
glittering with decorations, advanced
with firm step and an air of energy he
created a good impression. He wore
short beard turning gray and a flowing
blonde mustache His hair is almost
white, although he is only AZ years old.
He deposed, saying:
| i was judge of the eourt-martial
of 1894. My belief in the prisoners
| guilt was due to the evidence of ex-
perts and Colonel Henry and Major Du
Paty de Cham. I should say it was
| strengthened by the reading of docu-
| ments which We're communicated to us,
the judges, in private room. (Great
| sensation)
The secret dossier containing, first,
a biographical dossier, imputing to
| Dreyfus acts of treason committed at
pyrotechnic school at Bourges, at the
| Military College, and while on the
headquarters staff; second, the docu-
ment known as the 'Cette canaille de
D. document; third, letter which by
showing a resemblance of the hand
writing, proved the genuineness of the
| 'Cette canaille de D. document. and
which was called the 'D,Avignon' let
ter (cries of OhD fourth, a telegram
from foreign military attache, very
distinctly asseverating the prisoners
guilt. "a great sensation and lively in
terruptlons followed this statement)
This telegram, If / remember right
ly' continued the witness was in the
terms: 'Dreyfes is arrested Emissary
warned (Renewed croes of oh, Oh.o"
AT this juncture General Mercier and
Colonel Maurel simultaneously asked
permission to speak Their action
jnta