The Saint Paul globe., 1899-08-20

RENNES, Aug. 19.-The stage was oc-
mics of Dreyfus, Maj. Cuignet, Gen. de
Boisdeffre and Gen. Gonse, who, from
$50 until II a. M, mainly devoted them
selves to reiterating what they had pre-
viously said in evidence against the pris-
oner, who followed them with charac-
teristic composure; but when the mo-
ment came for him to reply the prisoner
delivered one of those brief utterances
of indignation which have had such a
powerful effect upon his hearers.
The long monologues delivered by the
witnes ses at the beginning are heard
with a certain restlessness which settles
into general drowsiness upon the part
of a majority of the audience, who are
able to catch one out of ten words spok-
en-, in consequence of the deplorable
acoustic properties of the court room.
The reporters are at a disadvantage as
only a score of them can follow the pro-
ceedings intelligently.
The telegram of Debats as to the au-
thenticity of a certain letter sent by
Col Schneider, the Austrian military at
tache, to the Figaro, which It was gen
orally thought would be discussed yes
terday, was introduced today by Maj.
Cuignet, who was very emphatic in his
testimony.
Maj. Cuignet did not show to great
advantage in the cross-examination. He
is a wen-knit smartly uniformed young
officer, and began his evidence in low
voice, in obvious imitation of Col. Pic
quart, whose fearless manner and reso-
nant tones made such an impression yes
terday. Maj. Cuignet evidently COM
mitted an indiscretion In dragging in
Col. Schneider's name, which caused a
sensation in court. The judges began to
lean their heads together and look seri-
Gus. Then Maj. Corriere, the govern
ment expert, rose, and with his usual
stormy gestures and careful avoiding of
Col. Schneider's name, made a few re-
marks, refusing, in behalf of the gov
eminent, to accept the responsibility for
Maj. Cuignets indiscretion, the fact be-
ing that the government has begun to
get apprehensive of trouble if the for
eign attaches names continue to be
banded about the court, as has fre-
quently occurred since the opening of
the trial. Other parts of Cuignet's evil
dence evoked smiles of incredufity and
suppressed laughter, as when he declar-
ed his belief in M. Bertillon's wonderful
chart.
When M. Demange took up the major
cross-examination, not a very brilliant
performance in itself, Maj. Cuignet i'm
mediately showed uneasiness, which was
accentuated when the defense asked a
pointed question, especially where coun-
sci threshed out the contradictions with
Cuignet's evidence before the court Of
cessation.
Dreyfus, too, was effective when he
rose and protested against Cuignet's Bit
ter attack During the course of his de-
position Maj. Cuignet referred to the
''extraordinary dOssier,' which, 1t is
doubted however, the government will
consent to produce. Cuignets reference
to these documents was very mysterious,
and as nobody took the trouble to ques-
ton him on the subject, evidently little
Importance was attached to his state
ments. Another indiscreet statement of
this witness was that the minister Of
war had in his possession the pick of
these documents, and Cuignet said:
Il think the court ought to see the
rest of these documents 1 think the
Dreyfus case is part of big matter,
and that there was not only one spy.
The court would see that the military
attaches do nothing but spying.
INDUCED IN HEROES.
Maj Cuignet, the first witness called.
was not in uniform, as he is not at pres
ent attached to any corps.
Before beginning an account of the
special Investigations into the case which
was ordered to make by ministers of
war from NJ. Cavaignac to NJ. de Frey
cinet," said the witness, 81 wish to men
ton a pertinent fact which in conjunction
with the evidence already heard, will con-
stitute fresh proof of the prisoners In
discreet behavior when employed Oh the
headquarters staff. I was a member Of
the staff when Dreyfus was a probation
er, during the latter half of 1895 Among
the other duties, I was connected with the
railway service and the mining of rail-
roads, with the view of interrupting traf-
f1c in case of need. It Is hardly necessary
to point out the secret character of such
matters.sDreyfus was a probationer on
the eastern railroads and had been or
dered to especially study the mining on
them, and possessed information solely
relating to them. One day Dreyfus asked
me to give him the general scheme for
mining, which possessed, giving as
reason for his request that he was anx.