The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-08
ROGET ASSAILS BERTULUS.
SAYS HE TESTIFIED FALSELY IN
TT DREYFUS CASE.
The Personal Character and the Methods of
the Magistrate MISUNDERSTANDING and
Du Patty de Clam Also Said to Have Lied
Gen. Roget's Idea of Dreyfus's Motive

-NrGns INORtt luth VI DiVyhuH y
for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of the Figaro.
Special cabi, Despatch to THE suS.
PARIS. April THE Figaro to-day publishes
Gen. Roget's evidence in reply to Judge Ber-
tulus's testimony. Gen. Roget began by de-
handing that the court read to him the allega-
lions made by Judge Bertulus. The court
granted the request. and Gen. Roget remarked
that the allegations reflected credit more upon
tho Magistrates imagination than upon his
truthfulness. Gen. Roget said that when NJ.
Cavaignac learned that Nine. Pais's rooms had
been searched he expressed the opinion that
an officer should survey the papers seized. 1t
afterward became known at the War Office
that Esterhazy had momentarily possessed
himself OF a State paper known as the "Liber-
atsur" document.
Consequently" continued the witness, 1T
was important to ascertain IL other papers had
been discovered there bearing on the safety OF
the State. The appointment Of an officer for
this purpose fell to me. Col. Henry was sug-
gested. and tho Minister OF Justice accepted
him. Before going. Col. Henry saw me to re-
ceive instructions. He notably asked me II he
might tell NJ. Bertulus what passed between
him and Nine. Pals when he saw hor on the sub
ject OF his duel. Unfortunately. l wrongly said:
Tell NJ. Bertulus all you like NJ. Cavaignac
reproved me for this. pointing out that Henry
was acting officially. not as a witness.
Returning to the War Office. Henry saw Gen.
Gonse and both came to my cabinet. and told
me that Bertulus wanted to see me. Henry. in
the presence Of Gen. Gonse. related the inter-
view he had had with Bertulus. | quickly
saw that Bertulus had played one of his
habitual comedies. In substance he had
said: Henry. you think that | am against
the army. That is an error. l am sorry for
the events that are passing. but am compelled
to go on. being goaded by PicIuart. though
really ] am with you. Pray tell Roget He
proceeded to weep. kiss Henry. &c. We
thought that Henry had been hoodwinked for
he begged me to see the magistrate. Gen.
Gonse was equally simple and agreed with
Henry. | absolutely refused to see Bertulus.
saying that II l we're seen going to the palace
1t would be thought that NJ. Cavaignac was
frightened. In the course OF his instructions
in sending me to interview the magistrate
subsequently. NJ. CavaiRnac said: 'Say to Ber-
tulus. thanks. The War Office is not interest
ed in the proceedings against Esterhazy and
Nine. Pals. II Du Patty de Clam is implicated
80 much the worse for him.
II reported to NJ. Cavaignac. who approved
my action. and Gonse also sustained me. More
over. l had reason previously to mistrust Ber-
tulus. whom l had met at the Xola trial through
Gonse's Introduction. Another magistrate.
seeing me speaking to Bertulus, said: Beware
OF that parsonage. He is capable Of anything.
He is a rake and a gambler and is needy
Other magistrates without being asked spoke
similarly Of Bertulus and one authorized me to
say that he had 40 spoken.
o his second visit to mo Henry brought
back three papers which were so unimportant
that NJ. Cavaignac. who was in the habit OF
keeping the most important documents in his
own cabinet. returned them Immediately. One
Of them was the English letter. the second was
a translation of the first and the third appeared
to be an extract from the two. Henry brought
these back because they referred to ". s. a
foreign agent in Brussels with whom Dreyfus
corresponded.
"Dertulus's statement was false in saying
that Bale and C occurred in this letter. and
also false in saying that Henry admitted to
him that Du Patty de Clam was the author of
the Blanche and 'Speranza' letters. for
Henry did not know. Henry was only able to
tell Bertulus what had passed in his interview
with Nine. Pals, which Interview made Henry
anxious. and upon the strength Of which Du
Patty de Clam was recalled from Angouleme by
telegraph to give explanations. Du Patty de
Clam wrote that he knew nothing OF the lot
ters and gave an explanation which was coun-
terchecked beforehand by a telegram from
Esterhazy to Henry. sent before Esterhazy and
A'A = ~ w S'hth t'NA NAhhN =" N''hN 'croNii'i
Du Patty de Clam was recalled and Immediate
ly returned. In view OF these facts. l consider
that Bertulus's remarks in regard to the bor-
dereau were worthless. l am ready to repeat
to his face what l now depose."
The President Of the court said: But Cuig-
nets report says that one document appears to
refer to an interview between the foreign agent
at Bale and Henry and Lauth. How do you ex-
plain that?'
Can Ronat rap1iad. "Tpionat 10 po;etaI->n L.
thinking that Henry brought back that docu-
ment. I placed the three documents he brought
in a portfolio. with the legend: Seized In Nine.
Pais's rooms When l left the Ministry Of Wal
] forgot them. NJ. de Freycinet requested pos
session OF them when they were found among
other unimportant About the third
scene in Bertulus's cabinet. when Esterhazy
and the Pals woman were in u gay mood and
asked for drinks. Henry reported the matter to
me. but my memory is cloudy.
"EsterhaZy." continues Gen. Roget, spoke
falsely in declaring that he was Col. Sandherr's
agent in dealings with a foreign SOY in 1884,.
There is no trace OF this left in the War Office.
He was also guilty OF falsehood in saying that I
knew beforehand OF the letter written to Presi-
dent Faure by Du Patty de Clam. with whom I
was not on speaking terms to the end OF my
term in tho War Office. NJ. Cavaignac always
saw Du Patty de Clam in his private cabinet.
Du Patty de Clam always lied to NJ. Cavaignac.
seeking to shelter himself behind higher per-
sonaRes. for reasons unknown to any one.
After the interviews NJ. Cavaignac would say:
'Du Patty de Clam appears to be sincere I re-
piled that he was telling lies. though 1t was
only then that I was possessed OF suspicious"
Asked to explain Dreyfus's motive for treach-
cry, Gen. Roge said that Dreyfus was disap-
pointed in not being graduated first instead Of
only ninth, which was his rank. owing to the
severe report Of one Of the masters. Dreyfus
appealed to Gen. Libelin de Dionne. Chief u
the Schools. who was unable to get the master
to withdraw his damaging report, The chief.
in an interview with Dreyfus. said; Il would
write a report upsetting the black one only
you are dctested by all Of your comrades.
You once said that the !Alsatians and Lor-
raincrs were better off under the Germans.
Your private conduct was scandalous at the
schools"
"Dreyfus came to the staff Office" continued
Gen. Roget. "smartinG under the remarks Of
Gen. Libelin dc Dionne. Here, also. he be-
came hated. He was arrogant and vain in