The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-31
pJOTTERS MAKE NEW MOVE
.,y NOW ACCUSE DRETFUs OF ACT
ING WITH EsTERHAZY.

IA. After He Was Accused-DefenceS tin
ia. Faith in the Honesty Of tho
fudge. A Secret Session To-day.
S,,.ict Gale D.spdteh TO THE Sun.
prxsgs Aug. 3o--Everybody. the defence
,,c,ud,i. was mystihed by to-day's develop
ents N the court room and the precincts
.r.rooI Gen MERCER raised point in regard
a. tha u.horship OF the bordereau, which ap-
,orantly bore strongly In the prisoners favor.
~. i,.Isted upon the Importance OF the de-
.lor,,,on M ade by one or two witnesses that
E.terbazy. from the date his name was first
connected with the borhsreau. changed his
style Of handwriting.
The defencs thought from the first that this
arrange move was preliminary 10 the develop
msnt OF the scheme. described two days ago in
Tur suS's dispatches, for the prevention OF
the aoouitta Of Dreyfus on the ground that he
did not wrlte the bordereau There is now
strone confirmation OF the fact that the head
quarters cotsrie Is preparing to launch the new
tboorv that Dreyfus was associated in this
treason with Esterhazy and WE'LL. and that he
IA no less guilty because he was not the actual
writer OF the bordereau.
Gen. Mercier, however. made no attempt to-
day to follow up his suggestion about Ester
hazy's change OF handwriting. and tho lawyers
for tho defence acknowledge themselves as
someyhat puzzled by this manoeuvre. They
'are also disappointed that the breach among
the Generals has been apparently healed. for
Gen. BoisdefYre no longer holds himself aloof
from Mercier Roget and the other extremists
among .Dreyfus's enemies.
The latter show marked revival Of spirit
which had been manifestly depressed during
the past three or four days by the overwhelm-
ing evidence Of their victims innocence.
One of the best signs OF the situation is the
fact that the Generals are making q most de-
termined struggle on every point that Arises.
This Is excellent evidence that there is no COL
fusion with the Judges and that the trial
Is genuine in every sense OF the word.
There is no doubt that they will mako
every possible use OF appeals to esprit de corps.
professional prejudice. etc.. but they must
convince the Judges that the prisoner is guilty
in order to obtain a verdict to that effect. The
defence has full confidence on this point and
therefore they do not fear to attempt to force
the Judges to decide the case upon all 1.-THE
issues instead Of upon the bordereau alone. In
fact, Maitres Labori and Demange will well
come the desperate move OF the Generals.
which they still expect
MERcIER's SURPRISING MOVES.
Dull. wet weather thia morning failed to
affect the attendance OF spectators at the
preyfus trial in the Lycee but Mercer was the
only ueHtTdi pIebcub Whoh tho Scobioh opchcu
Nearly three hours we're occupied by the testi-
mony OF MN. Meyer. Giry and Molinier. three
experts for the defence. who repeated with
considerable am pifcation the testimony they
had given before the Court Of Cessation. Each
ascrbed the bordereau to Esterhasy The
Judges followed each Of the witnesses closely
and the cross examination by Col. Jouaust.
r-espt,. Resavais- and other Judges was keen.
Presently Gen. Meroier rose and for the first
l.k- La A.. 1tss,, L.,
ter with which he had not the remotest CON-
nection. He asked the Court to read the
deposition OF Capt. Grenier before the Court Of
Cessation. This expert had testified that
Fsterhazy evidently changed his handwriting
tho moment Matthew Dreyfus accused him OF
writing the bordereau. Gen. MERCER declared
that his point seemed to him to be OF the great
est importance.
Everybody in the courtroom was puzzled at
Gen. Aercier's action in thus pointing out
what seemed to be a sign OF guilt on Ester
hays part, and the defence evidently thought
the Generals were preparing for a change OF
front OF which they the defencel had been
warned.
II. Labor instantly asked the Court why
Gen. Mercier was thus allowed to interfere. It
was good OF Mercier. NJ. Labori said to assist
the Government prosecutor. but 1t was
scarcely the role OF a witness. Col. Jouaust
nevertheless ordered Grenier's deposition read.
and the incident closed.
Meantime during NJ. Molinier's testimony
there was significant scene in the courtyard
OF the Lycee. There Gems. BoisdefYre Roget
and Gonse were In earnest consultation with
M. drlbelin. The latter seemed to be making
an explanation or argument with Gen. Bois-
deffre. and the two others assisting. When it
was ended. all three shook hands. Gribelin and
Boisdeffre went into the courtroom and for the
FIRST time in many days publicly greeted and
spoke to Gen MERCER.
At the close OF Expert GIrys evidence. Maitre
labor asked that Capt. Greniers testimony
before the Court Of Cessation to the effect that
Esterhazy's handwriting had been changed
after the accusation was made that he was the
writer OF the bordereau. be re-read. This was
done.
Then NJ. Labori said: Now want to ask
Gen MERCER whether he considers that Estet
hays writing became more or less like the
bordereau after the time specihed?"
Gen. hercier replied: " do not undertake
TO say. NJ. Bertllon thinks the writing be
came more like that OF the bordereau. but
know nothing about It,"
NJ. Labor then pointed out to the court tina
Gen. MERCER WAS urging something that wa!
strongly presumptive Of the prisoners limo
eence-the alteration OF Esterhazy's hand
could only suggest the real author OF the Dor
dereau
Az this point the usual recess was taken.
All the members OF the headquarters groul
were present when the session was resumed
and all seemed more cheerful than for day
past. The proceedings became animated from
the outset.
ATTACKS sCHNEIDER's VIEWS.
VI. Picot. a member OF the Institute OF France
began his testimony by buntly describing a
interview with Col Schneider. the Austrian
military attaehe. at the hous" OF friend. n
sooner did the witness pronounce the nam
and rank OF the Austrian military attache tina
halor Carriere. the prosecutor. shricked: .
protest IN the name of the Government aRains
the witnesses indiscretion.
Col Jouaust directed the witness to US
Initials hereafter.
NJ Picot then indicated that Col. Schncdc
told him that the pieces enumerated in tn
bordereau were OF little value. and that Ester