Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-09-05
DREYFUS IS UPHELD.
Col. Cordier Declares His Belief in
Prisoners Innocence.
BACKS HIS OPINION WITH PROOF.
EFFORTS to Break Down His Testi.
mony Fail-De Freycinet, the
Venerable Statesman, Makes
q Patriotic Plea.

Rennes, Aug. 3O.-Gen. MERCER, the
former minister of war, and most OF the
other generals interested in the case
were present in the hall of the Lycee
Tuesday morning when the second ses-
sion of the fourth week of the second
trial by court-martial of Capt. Alfred
Dreyfus, of the artillery, charged with
treason, was opened. There was no
special incident.
Col Cordier, deputy chief of the in
telligence department under the late
lieut.. Col. Henry, and who. since his
previous appearance in court, had been
released by the minister of war, Gen.
Marquis de Gallifet, from his oath of
professional secrecy, was the first wit
ness called Tuesday. He testified to
the effect that the late Col. Sandherr
and not Lieut.. Col. Henry received the
famous bordereau.
Strongly Favors Dreyfus.
The witness deposed strongly in favor
of Dreyfus and was most amusing in
delivering his testimony. He kept the
court and even the judges in roars of
laughter by his comical manner and
witticisms. He is q short, stout man
with jolly face and very red nose.
The colonel declared that his belief in
the guilt of Dreyfus was first shaken
when the date of the bordereau was
given as May. The witness declared
stoutly that he was now convinced
Dreyfus was innocent.
Speaks Good Words for Picquart.
Col. Cordier then spoke up strongly
for Col. Picquart, as conscientious
soldier and an honorable man and
threw light upon the situation which
existed in the offices of the intelligence
department of the war Office. He ex-
planned that Henry was jealous of Pic
quart because the latter was given
charge of the statistical section which
Henry had hoped to get for himself.
because of Picquart that Henry COM
mitted his forgery.
Dreyfus Speaks.
Dreyfus spoke few words at the con-
clusion of Col Cordier's statements. He
said the scene which preceded his arrest
was so fantastic that it completely be-
wildered him and merely left blunted
impression on his memory.
Maj. Lauth first confronted Col. Cor
der and tried to score against him by
pointing out that Cordier was incorrect
in saying there were no anti-Semites on
the general staff since Cordier himself
was one. The colonel retorted, turning
the tables on the major, as, raising his
hand, he cried:
quite true. l was an anti-Semite,
but never bore false witness against
the Jew. am an honest man.
The audience applauded these re-
marks.
Not Very Striking.
Gen. Roget next confronted Col. Cor.
der. The general assumed the same SUI
perciiius air which characterized him
when he appeared at the witness bar,
strutting about the stage in disdainful
attitudes. His evidence, however, was
not very striking, nor was that of Col.
Fleur, or Archivist Gribelin, who also
contested minor points of Cordier's
deposition.
De Freycinet on Stand.
NJ. de Freycinet, the former minister
of war, former minister of foreign af-
fairs and premier, followed Col. Cor
der on the witness stand.
The Dreyfus Fund.
M. de Freycinet began by expressing
the pain which he experienced at the
troubles his country was undergoing.
Later he said he remembered CONVEX
sation with Gen. lamont at which
there was a reference to money COM
ing from abroad in support of the Drey-
fus agitation, which, while disinter-
ested in France, might not be so abroad.
M. de Freycinet, however, did not re-
member the details of the conversa-
ton, nor could he say if any specific
amount was mentioned.
Patriotic Speech.
In short, M. de Freycinet delivered a
patriotic speech, rather than a deposi
ton, concluding with the words: GAL
the world will accept your verdict
which will open an era of reconcilia.
tion.''