Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-29

iiS ueSidFeu tildl tESterHaZy was man
OF straw and scoundrel. The witness
admitted that he was not now positive
that there was cryptographic, sigma
ture, ALFRED Dreyfus,' in the border
eau to which he testified in 1894, add
ing that it was a matter of no import
ance. Labor asked why since the wit
ness admitted that Esterhazy wrote by
the same mathematical method as
.Dreyfus. he did not attribute the bor-
dereau to EsterhaZy. Bertillon said
the key word was found on Dreyfus'
pad and Esterhazy might have had ac-
cess to it. Bertillon admitted that he
discovered in Esterhazy's handwriting
peculiarities similar to those of the Dor
dereau. Atthe conclusion of Bertillon's
testimony Dreyfus was called on to ans
wer. and said: Il have nothing to re-
ply to the deposition of The witness.
But there is one thing of which l am
absolutely sure; that is, ! am rot the
writer of the bordereau." There
was a highly dramatic scene
towards the end of the session.
Labori asked to have Major Freystae-
ter. one of the members of the court
martial of 1894, called in contradiction
to Colonel Maurel, the presiding Judge
upon that occasion, who testified that
he only read one of the documents in
the secret dossier. Freystaeter said
his conviction of the guilt OF the pris-
oner was formed by the evidence of ex-
perts in handwriting, the deposition OF
du Patty de Clam. "and." he continued,
~ must add, some slight influence eX-
ercised over my mind by hearing the
secret dossier read He declared all
the documents in the dossier were read
This was in direct contradiction to
Manrel. Labor demanded the con-
frontation of Freystaeter with Maurel.
The latter mounted the stage and pre-
scented miserable aspect, his shifty
eyes, clearing out beneath heavy eye
brows, looking around him with a
vicious hang-dog look. ''How do YOU
explain this?" asked Labori. The col
onel was at bay and replied savagely:
II said l only read one document. L
did not say only one document was
read This called forth an outburst
of Kisses and indignant 'Ohs" from the
infamous confession. The witness,
trembling with shame, but evidently de.
termined to fight 10 the last. threw Il
fierce look of hatred at Labor and the
audience. Then the audience listened
spellbound as Freystaeter, in u dis
tinct, bold voice, told exactly what the
documents of the dossier We're and
how Maurel not only read these docu-
meuts. but made comment upon them
This was practically calling Maurel IL
thorough liar. and the colonel glared
at the major ferociously. Freystaeter.
however. was not ,dismayed. and his
words. spoken in tone of candor and
fearlessness. must have carried convic-
ton to every nearer. MERCER then
asked to be heard. and placed himself
by the side of Manrel. The forbidding
aspect of these two men was in strik-
ing contrast to the erect, unflinching
attitude of Freystaeter. 1t was a
striking scene.
Government Commissary Carrier call
ed upon Captain Valerie to explain
Bertillon's system and give his opinion
on the subject The captain said he
thought Bertillon's evidence might he
summarized in the sentence. .s'rhe
bordereau is a doctored document fab
ricated by means of secret writing. or
writing with key and key words.
mind it might appear" continued the
witness. Il propose to show, first, the
document was fabricated; second. that
it was fabricated by means of the key
word interest," third. that documents
written by the prisoner in the war Of
fee contained the words written by
means of the same key; fourth, that
the forgery was intended to enable
the prisoner to plead that there was a
plot against him; fifth, that the pris-
oner alone could be the writer" Va
lerie then attempted to prove his n.y.
pothesis, traversing practically the
same ground already laboriously trrv-
eled by Bertillon.
Dreyfus, in reply to Valerie, declar-
ed that the hypothesis that he doctor
ed the bordereau in order to have some
means of defense had fallen to the
ground. since he had never attempted
to turn it to USE "All Bertillon's meas
ures are false; all without exception"
declared the prisoner vehemently.
Then Captain Fraesteter was called.
After giving the evidence -on which he
based his, belief in Dreyfus' guilt, he
| said the secret dossier contained a bio
l SNSISu LUIS hitu
acts of treason while at the malitary
college and elsewhere; the "Cette ca
naille de d" document A letter prov
| ing lis genuineness and Il telegram
from foreign military attache, saying,
| "Dreyfus arrested. emissary warned"
| (Cries OF "Oh, ok.') Then followed
the conformation OF Fraesteter
and Maurel. as already stated.
The conformation Of Freystaeter
and Maurel having admitted the truth
of Freystaeter's statement that certain
documents, including the Pannizzardi
| telegram, We're secretly submitted to
the court-martial of 'o4, Labor ,2slled
the court to note the fact. He then
said. that as MERCER testified that he
was given an order that this telegram
be not submitted to the court and
that the order was obeyed, he would
ask permission to demand an eXplana-
from MERCER.
MERCER pointed out that Freystaeter
had spoken of the act of treason by
Dreyfus alleged to have been describ-
ed at the '94 court-martial and asked
what act was referred to. Freystaeter
said it referred to the she'll, MERCER
said $50 Captain FreyStaeter is caught