Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-08


nesses, would be dispensed with. adding
that the consideration of the dossier would
probably occupy four days.
The court afterwards retired to deliber-
ate upon the case of the absentee Witness
es. the soldiers in the courtroom, in re-
sponse to the word of command of the
lieutenant in charge, carrying and pre-
senting arms, the judges leaving and re-
entering to the rattle of rifles, as the line
of soldiers brought their weapons, like a
piece of machinery, smartiy to the pre-
sent and then dropped their butts heavily
to the ground. This performance was re-
peated every time the court retired. Drey-
fus was withdrawn into an inner room
during the courts retirements.
On the final return of the court Major
Carriere said he thought the absence of
Esterhazy ought not to prevent the trial
from proceeding. Let him come or not"
he said. 'it matters nothing to U.S."
The Charge Against Dreyfus.
Colonel Jouaust began by saying: 1T re-
suits from the documents just read that
you are accused of having brought about
Vaccinations or held relations with a for
eign power, or one or more of its agents.
in order to procure 1t means, by deliver
ing it documents, indicated in the incrim-
mating bordereau, TO commit hostilities or
to undertake war against France. I notify
you that you will be allowed to state dur
ing the course of these proceedings, any,
thing that appears to you useful for your
defense"
Dreyfus replied with a vehement declara-
ton Of innocence, repeating several times:
II am innocent" in voice which Quiv-
cred with emotion. The agonized manner
in which he uttered his protestations of
innocence had a most painful effect and
must have evoked the sympathy even of
his most inveterate enemies.
The prisoner grew more composed as the
examination proceeded, answering every
question without a moments hesitation.
The acoustics of the courtroom were abom-
Unable. only those within few feet of
the judges being able to follow the exam
ination closely. Even NJ. Laboni. who was
seated behind Dreyfus. within three yards
of him, held his hand to his ear in order
to catch the questions and answers.
Examination of Dreyfus.
Colonel Jouaust then read the bordereau
and afterward asked:
I'm 1890 were you at Borgess."
Dreyfus replied: Yes. my colonel"
Jouaust-"The 1aO-break was then being
made and you were in position to know
the construction Of the break?"
Dreyfus-"I knew the principle Of It,"
Jouaust-"Had you any information re-
specting its workins?"
Dreyfus-"No, l did not know the details,
never having worked it."
Jouaust-"Did you have the break at the
military school?"
Dreyfus-''I don't remember"
Jouaust-"At the beginning of 1894 you
entered the general staff?"
Dreyfus-"Yes, my colonel"
Jouaust-"Have you talked on gun 12o
and its break?''
Dreyfus, who then had regained his
composure, spoke distinctly and in a way
which carried conviction with it. Answer
ing the last question, he said:
mo. never had any knowledge of this
gun while l was in the bureau of the gen.
eral staff"
Jouaust-"The second document of the
bordereau relates to mobilization. Had you
any knowledge thereof"
Dreyfus-'I was not in the bureau deal
ing with mobilization
Denies All Allegations.
Jouaust-"You had to do with transports.
Now, when the regulations concerning the
conveying of troops in 1894 were modified,
there were difficulties in insuring the trans
port of troops and provisional measures
were nowhere changed in the following
spring. Did you know of these diff
cultieS?
question in 1894 I had certain documents
concerning the provisioning and conveying
of troops"
Jouaust-"You had papers in your pos
session intended for print?"
Dreyfus-"Yes. l sometimes made mis-
take in the bureau to which they should
be sent
Jouaust-"You had these papers twice?"
mr. al
documents"
Jouaust-"You must have known the con-
tents of these documents?'
Dreyfus-"I never asked for them from
any one."
Jouaust-"The third document relates to
artillery formations. You ought to be &C.
quainted with these matters?"
Dreyfus--"No"
Jouaust-"Major Morin-Milon sent you
special documents from the 18th to the Goth
of July, 1884, a month before the date of
the bordereau?" -
Dreyfus-'I only had incomplete informa-
ton"
Jouaust-"At the end of 1894, had you
knowledge of information sent to Lieuten-
ant Bac by the third bureau on the eff
fectiveness Of the batteries Of the 19o
guns?'
Dreyfus-"No"
Jouaust. with movement of impatience-
This is astonishing. The bureaux know
what documents pass from one to the
other"
Says Witnesses swore Falsely.
Dreyfus-"What 1 say is correct"
Jouaust-''I turn to the fourth document,
q note referring to Madagascar. There are
two papers. A corporal who copied them
saw you pass through his Office going to
the colonels room"
Dreyfus-"I went through occasionally"
Jouaust-"You could have obtained this
document from the corporal's desk?"
DreVfiIS-s'ThiS q Ont
Jouaust-"No; but 1t could be done The
copying was finished on the 2sth, and the
bordereau dates from several days later.
Now, for the fifth document-the proposed
firing manual for field artillery. Did you
know the contents of the manual?"
Dreyfus temphaticallyJ-"Nev
Jouaust-"A witness says you communi-
Gated it to him.
Dreyfus (veherlentIy)-"No,n never"
Jouaust-'A major lent this firing manual
to you?"
Dreyfus-"No. my colonel. deny 1t ab-
solutely."
Dreyfus then entered into an explanation
of dates, but his memory failed him.
Jouaust-"What work We're you engaged
In on the fourth and first bureaux?"
Dreyfus enumerated the different tasks,
adding:
II was only occupied with current mat
ters and perhaps few studies of which
Jouaust-"At the military school you
were reproached with saying the Alsatians
We're happier as Germans than as French
men?"
Dreyfus-"No. I never uttered such
words"
Hated Because He Was q Jew.
Jouaust-"How do you account for the
lad note against you, written by certain
general?"
Dreyfus-"He said he wanted no Jews on
the general staff."
Jouaust-"How did you know what he