The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-26

NShet pul ludt lIliS WOulO NOT prevent
his conviction, because he was a Jew.
(Sensation.) A brief discussion ensued
regarding the character of Colonel Pic
quarts former orderly, Savignaud, who
testified yesterday to posting letters in
May and June, 1897, addressed by the
colonel to NJ. Scheurer- Kestner, the
former vice president of the senate
who was prominent in obtaining re-
vision of the Dreyfus case During this
discussion Savignaud protested that he
had been confounded with a bandsma n
of the same name who had a bad char
acter.
former sergeant, who was at one
time employed in the war office, testi-
fed to seeing Dreyfus copying a list of
railroad stations mentioned in the plan
of mobilization, to which Dreyfus re-
piled: 1T is true, but / copied the list
by order of Captain Besse.''
The evidence of the handwriting ex-
perts followed NJ. Colbert after testi-
flying to the facts published April %
and April "a, vehemently protested
against the insinuation that he was an
interested witness. The court closely
followed Goberts exhaustive story of
his examination of the bordereau and
bis interviews with Generals Mercer,
Boisdeffre and Gonse. Colbert as
serted that the handwriting of the bor-
dereau was natural and fluent, but that
it was almost illegible, whereas Drey-
fus, even when writing rapidly, always
wrote most legibly.
The witness asked General Gonse if
an envelope accompanied the border
eau, as he, NJ. Colbert, wished to see
what the writer's careful caligraphy
was like, explaining that the address
of letter Is always in a firmer hand
than its contents. General Gonse re-
fused the request on the ground that
the witness must not know the name
of the addressee. The general also re-
photographed, alleging that if the war
office photographers were allowed to
photograph it all Paris would be ac-
quainted with the bordereau the next
day. Uaughter.)
Thereupon the witness remarked:
General Gonse, this is very interest
ing confession"
NJ Colbert then suggested that the
work be entrusted to the prefecture of
police, where M. BertillOn is the oho-
tographer. Until then the witness said
he had never heard of Nj. Bertillon as a
handwriting expert, saying he became
an expert for this special occasion when
he was called into the war office.
Uaughter).
General Gonse. it appears from the
testimony, was greatly enraged when
he learned of the result of NJ. Gobert's
examination of the bordereau and visit
ed the expert repeatedly. The latter
always insisted on learning the name of
the suspect.
1T was not proper" said NJ. Colbert.
for me to accuse anyone without be-
ing perfectly cogrizant of the facts.
especially in circumstances of so grave
nature. (Sensation) I would not
accuse anyone anonymously, for to do
so would be contrary to the law
Amidst laughter in court, the wit
ness described how, from an eXamina-
tion of an official report on Dreyfus,
from which Dreyfus' name had been re-
moved, M Colbert had the malicious
satisfaction of telling General Gonse
the name of the uAlcer they wanted to
arrest 1t was after M. Colbert had re-
fused to incriminate Dreyfus that M.
Bertillon was entrusted with the exam
ination of the bordereau. and after a
few hours study M. Bertillon positively
attributed the bordereau to Dreyfus.
From that time forward NJ. Colbert
heard no more of the Dreyfus case. He
was not asked to submit a report, but
described to the then minister of jus
tice M Guerin, the circumstances of
the case.
M. Guerin," continued the witness,
'intimated that these were soldiers
affairs which did not concern him as
chief of the civic judiciary"
Colonel Jousaust asked NJ. Colbert for
more definite criticism of the bor-
dereau, and the witness replied that he
noticed certain similarities between the
handwriting of the berdereau and that
of Dreyfus, but he added there We're
important differences which proved to
him that Dreyfus was not the author
of the bordereau, and his opinion has
since been confirmed, because 1t was
now proved the bordereau was the work
of Esterhazy." (Sensation)
Replying to the court, M. Colbert sug-
gested that the judges compare the
bordereau with letter admitted to be
in Esterhazy's handwriting and dated
from Rouen. Aug. II, 1894 and with
documents written by the prisoner
You will then Enthusiastically recog-
nize," said Colbert, that the bordereau
is in Esterhazy's handwriting and not
in the handwriting of Dreyfus" (Great
General Gonse asked permission to
question NJ. Colbert and said:
I'm what army list did you look for
the name of Dreyfus?"
NJ. Gobert-I used the list which Is
kept in business houses.
The general pointed out that this list
did not give the information claimed by
NJ. Colbert, but the latter maintained
that he had stated nothing but the
pure and simple truth.
General Gonse alluded to certain un-
desirable acquaintance formed by NJ.
Colbert, the latter replying, amid
sensation in court; Il emphatically
protest against the insinuation of Gem
eral Gonse. There Is not a single word
If truth in what he says"
There was further dispute between
ionse and Colbert over circumstances in
with the latter's examina-
lion of the bordereau Colbert said that
Colonel Abbeville was present, but the
after promptly advanced and said he
lad never seen Colbert before to-day.
adding:
IF NJ. Gobert's other recollections are
is exact as this. the court will draw
is own conclusions" (Murmurs of dis
ipprovaD.
Dreyfus here declared in the most
positive manner that he had never
been at the Bank of France. where Go
bert was employed, or had relations
with any ore there. The prisoner as
;erted that his sole desire was to know
he truth. He admitted he had been
in various financial operations,
1ut said he had never asked for either
ptt rI,l t,,f A..