The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-29
IN FAVOR OF DREYFuS
Witnesses Say That He Is limo
cent.
AN ERROR is CONFESSED
Member OF the Old Court Martial Now
Convinced That Esterhazy Wrote
the Bordereau - Will Ques-
ton Du Patty de Clam.

Rennes, Aug. 2S.-The balance of the
evidence to-day. for a change, was in
favor of Dreyfus. Five witnesses were
for him and two against him.
The most interesting testimony was
that of Chief Handwriting Expert
Charvay, who had come to declare that
he had changed entirely his opinion,
which in 1894 was against and now is
in favor of Dreyfus, who, he to-day
affirmed, was not the author of the
bordereau. His candid confession of
error was received with murmurs of
satisfaction in court, which became
discreet applause, in spite of Colonel
Jousaust's patent disapproval when he
solemnly added:
Il declare here, on my soul and con-
science, that the bordeIeau was written
by EsterhaZy."
The most important incident, how
ever, was Colonel Jousaust's acquies-
cence to Major Carrieres request that
a interrogatory committee he instructed
to take Colonel Du Patty de CLAIMS
deposition. The initiative came purely
from the government commissary, M.
Iabori and Demange having no faith
in such measure, because Du Patty de
Clam escapes cross-examination, which
the present circumstances. Du Patty de
Clam being witness for the prosecu-
ton, Major Carriere will simply pre-
pare a list of questions which an ex-
amining magistrate will put to Du
Patty de Clam at his residence, and no
body supposes that the witness Will be
very much embarrassed by the inter-
rogatories.
To-day the central figure in the court
yard, which Is the leading place for all
the leading personages of the trial dur
ing the suspension of sessions was
Captain Freystmeter, who was the sub
ject of many flattering remarks upon
his manly and soldierlylike bearing.
Indeed the interest in him was so great
that some persons waited all night long
outside the door of the court in order
to obtain standing room in the rear
part of the court room in the hope or
seeing him at to-day's sitting, an I'M
preston having gone abroad that ne
might be recalled. His modest and
frank manner inspired admiration IN
all except the generals and the other
military witnesses for the prosecution,
who seemed afraid of him and scowled
in his direction from the other side OF
the court yard.
Captain Freystmeter will not remain
here until the end of the trial, but VIII
| leave Rennes in a few days.
| NJ de Freycinet, formerly minister OF
war, arrived this afternoon and VIII
| testify tomorrow.
| The first witness to-day was M
| Paray-Javal, the draughtsman. whose
| evidence was interrupted on Saturday
| by adjournment of court.
General MERCER did not seem very
cheerful to-day and hardly said word
| to General Gonse during the whole
morning, but during a brief suspension
-. h.
| Gonse and Roget walked up and down
| the court yard of the Lycee, engaged
| in conversation. General Boisdeffere
| was not present to-day. He has been
absent the past few sessions and |,
is rumored here that he is DESTROYS q
leaving the sinking ship OF the genera
| staff.
The center of interest in the cour
yard was Captain Freystmeter OF thf
| marine infantry, who testified so ia
yorably to Dreyfus Saturday, and WHIT
seemingly gave the lie to Colonel Mau
rel, president of the court martial o
1894, in the most important feature o
the latter's evidence. The captain hell
a veritable reception of friends "n'
pressed around him and shook hands
| The friends, however, were all clVlllans
Not a single uniformed officer spoke t
him, which is the first fruit of frank
ness and a clear indication of the de
termination of the military clique t
ostracise him.
After two witnesses testified and ar
gued against NJ. Bertillon's system !
was the opinion of the sympathizer
with Dreyfus that if the statement
of witnesses were correct they had sim
ply pulyerized NJ. Bertillon. The latte
wished to reply, but the court decline
to allow the specialist to go over tn
evidence again, taking the ground tina
the evidence would never end II ever
expert did the same An amusing seen
followed. Bertillon pleaded that
had a personal statement to make an
mounted the platform, but had hardl
uttered half a dozen words when Co
enel Jousaust saw he was merely fe
grinding the evidence and to the grea
satisfaction of the audience CURLY tol
the specialist to leave the platform
which discounted him.
Tessionere's testimony against DreS
fus followed. Then Charvay, an eo
pert, who previously declared Dreyfu
the author of the bordereau, was called
His testimony proved of greatest intel
est as he confessed that he had mad
an error, and was now convinced thf
Esterhazy, not Dreyfus, wrote the boz
dereau The announcement made
. deep impression on the court and Wa
greeted with general murmurs of sa
. isfaction.
, The next witness, Pellier, also test
fed favorably to the prisoner.
Cordier, another expert, then deposo
that as a result of an examination. !
had become convinced the borderaa
was not written by EsterhaZy, bi
, could not say it was written by Dire.
fus because he had not seen the prisol
: er's writing. The witness kept u
court in continual roar = laughter /
the extraordinary modula.i0ns of u
; voice, misplaced emphasis and gesture
: The final witness, Varnaud, mail
tanned the declaration made before Il
, court of cessation that ne bcrderca
r was not written by Estarha2y.
Colonel Jousaust announced that {
! | Freycinet who resigned the ministry
, war, May 6 of this wear, succeeded
| | Krantz, who in turn succeeded
: | General Marquis de Gallifet on Il
, | downfall of the Dupuy ministry. w0u