Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-29


appearance of discipline, and what then
would be the result if we found ourselves
in difficulties with foreign country
In short. NJ. De Freycinet delivered q
patriotic speech, rather than a deposition,
concluding with the words:
"All the world will accept your verdict.
which will open an era of reconciliation.
The members of the court-msrtial treated
NJ De Freycinet with the greatest of def
erence.
The president Of the court, Col Jouaust.
declined to put 20 the witness some aues-
lions from Matte Labor. leading counsel
for tbs defense on the ground that they
had no direct bearing on the case.
One of these questions referred to M. De
Freycinets personal opinion on M. Scheur-
er-Kestner the former vice president of
the senate. who has interested himself
strongly in behalf of Dreyfus. Although
the colonel refused to put tho question, the
witnsss replied that ID. Scheurer- Kestner
was his friend, and that he had high
opinion of his character.
NJ. De Freycinet was then conducted to
the witness seats. where he sat for few
minutes besides Gen. Blllot. chatting with
that officer. He left the court later.
The testimony of two minor witnesses
oncluded the days proceedings.
Proceedings In Detail.
Following are the proceedings in detail:
The appearance of Col Corder, formerly
deputy chief of the intelligence department
of the war Office. the first witness at the
Dreyfus court-martial today aroused great
interest, as. since his previous appearance,
the colonel has been released by the min
lister of from his oath of professional
secrecy. Speaking in firm, audible tones,
the colonel testified that September %,
1894, he left Paris fortnights leave of
absence. and that nothing was then known
in the statistical department of the war Of
flee of the discovery of the treason.
Continuing, Col. Cordier said that the
day after he returned to Paris Col. Sand
herr, who appeared greatly distressed.
handed him a copy of the bordereau on
foolscap paper Sandherr and Cordier ami
matedly discussed the boTdereau. Sandherr
considering 1t ample evidence of treason.
The document vas photographed. and an
investigation was opened, resulting in suS
picions against DreyfuS being aroused.
Prior to this there presumption of
DreyfuS guilt. 1t was October that the
suspicious of the prisoners guilt became
definite.
Witness said he believed the bordereau
arrived at the war Office after September
81. He could not say who received it.
Very few officers were then aware that ire
son had been committed. Witness thought
it necessary to enter into these particulars
in reply TO the statements of his assistant,
Maj. Lauth, before the court of cessation
At this point Maj. Iauth, rising in the
center of the court. exclaimed:
Il beg leave to speak, my colonel
Proceeding with his testimony, Col. Cor
der said he believed the bordereau was
handed TO Col. Sandherr by Col Henry.
Cordier then explained what was the cor
binary channel by which informa ton
reached the war office.
Delivered by n Spy.
1.-The ordinary channel" the witness said,
was a very clever spy attached to the in
telligence department, who had the habit
of visiting great houses, but who preferred
the company of servants to the company of
their masters"
Cordier then described the method of
piecfng documents, and showed how the
bordereau pasted together by Henry,
who was usually intrusted with such work.
The witness said piecng documents pos
seSsed fascination for the men who We're
engaged upon such work. like the passion
of fortune telling by cards.
Men who have once pieced paper" said
the witness. amidst laughter, will always
continue to do So
Referring to the spy who has been dubbed
as the Ordinary Channel" Col. Cordier
said the former did not directly receive the
documents from the embassy from which
they We're distracted. A woman, he ex-
planned, served as an intermediary, and, the
ordinary channel having been closed it
was found necessary to negotiate directly
with the intermediary, otherwise the wo-
man. with whom rendezvous were usually
made in churches But the Ordinary
channel s services Were still available else
where, his way continued. Possibly
continued the witness, the spy endeayored
to renew his relations with the embassy
Such was the situation at the moment of
the reception of the bordereau. -.
Dealing with the leakage discovered by
tie military authorities, Col. Corder said
he ascertained it was occurring at Bourges
NllneSS recalled the fact that an artificer
named Thomas was sentenced for trea son
in 1894. The foreign correspondents of
Thomas did not notice his arrest and con-
seauently. letter addressed to him was
intercepted and reply was sent. This let
Ter asked Tor plans of "A shell. The head
quarters staff obtained the plans and sent
then 10 Thomas correspondents. The lat
Yer repheu, thanking Thomas. and inclosing
banA notes. which were credited to the
funds of the headquarters staff
hatever has been said to the contrary
witness maintained that the leakage at
Bourges could not be ascribed to Dreyfus
This also was the opinion of Col Sandherr
VINO frequently hi d recourse to the witness
intimate knowledge of this question in the
futile efforts to discover evidence against
Dreyfus
various LeakaEes Described
Cordier, whose evidence greatly Interested
his hearers, described the various leakaees
He especially referred to very serious
case designated leakage of St. Thomas
Aquinas. in which a clerk of the Church
OF St Thomas Aquinas, Paris was mixed
up In espionage and a serious leakage in
the ministry of marine
Inc witness recalled how information Of
the leakage Of 1894 was received primarily
ne name mentioned was that of a gentle
man, 1orty-iiVe years of age and decorated
VINO used to convey documents to the en-
basSy. which the witness described as a
house with large garden.
Colonel Cordier emphasized the fact that
the above personal description did not bear
the slightest resemblance to Dreyfus but
reSembled much more closely another off,
Ger whose name had been mentioned and
could no longer be prosecuted or convicted
Inc witness then referred TO the spy
GteneeS denunclations, TO the effect that
ofhcerS of the headquarters staff were
guilty or treachery, but the colonel ex-
piained that it was very difficult to accent
Guenee's statement gospel.
Witness regretted Guenee's death as he
said, the court would have been edited nv
his testimony IN regard to the manner in
which many things We're fabricated
referring next TO what he STYLED the
huge undertaking of Richard Cuers
l.aJoux CO. the colonel declared the
object was nothing less than recruiting
German spies for the service of the French
government. He said the organization
would have been of the greatest utility in
the event of war, and said regrets were
ffEUUpnT ha laSt