Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-30

his self-confidence, as he speaks readily
and clearly and follows the witnesses
closely, taking notes of various points OF
their dispositions.
Major Lauth first confronted Colonel Cor
der and tried to score against him py
pointing out that Cordier was incorrect IN
general staff, since Cordier himself was
one. The colonel retorted. turning the Ia
oles on the major, as. raising ms nahu, tis
but L never bore false witness against the
Jew. ] am an honest man:
The audience applauded these renarks. KS,
Colonel Cordier then administered Wei
deserved snub TO Major Lauth by reihaFh-
ing that he (tbe colone) might be allowed
TO know more than Major Lauth with rel
crence 10 the work of the intelligence ue-
partment, since he (Cordier) replaced Colo
mel Sandherr AS chief of the department
whenever Sandherr was absent, while Ma
jor Lauth, the witness concluded, was
merely my assistant-my assistant, marx
you"
Major Lauth did not enjoy this little
scene at all.
General Roget next confronted Colonel
Cordier. The general assumed the same SUI
perior air which characterized him when
he appeared at the witness bar, struttlne
about the stage in disdainful attitudes. HIS
evidence, however, was not very striking.
nor was that of Colonel Fleur or ArchivlSl
Gribelin, who also contested minor points
OF CordierS deposition. Finally General
Mercier, who evidently appeared in order
TO demonstrate the baseessness OF the
stories as to his intentions to fly ana 10
show his determination to fight to the last
confronted Colonel Cordier. The general $
remarks were of small Importance, the
most interesting being his repetition OF
Colonel Sandherr's opinion of Matthew
Dreyfus when the prisoners brother went
to see the colonel to ask for justice IN be-
half of Captain Dreyfus. Mercier admitted
Sandherr said: ..Mathieu Dreyfus I'M
pressed me as, an honest man who was pre-
| pared to make any sacrifice to save his
brother"
NJ. De Freycinet, the former minister of
war. former minister of foreign affairs and
premier, followed Colonel Cordier on the
witness stand.
The courtroom was packed to its utmost
capacity as the distinguished French
| statesman began his deposition. 1t was
! evident the public was anxious to see the
| former minister at the witness bar. He Is
| a venerable looking man. with scanty, snow
white hair and mustache, and was dressed
| in a blue serge suit He wore a little
| black bow for tie and gave his testimony
| seated and in low voice.
| This witness was expected TO speak
| about the 35000,000 francs supposed to have
been contributed abroad. mainly in Eng
land and Germany, TO the Dreyfusian war
| chest.
NJ. De Freycinet began by expressing the
pain which he experienced at the troubles
his country was undergoing. Later ne
said he remembered a conversation with
General lamont at which there was ref
erence to money coming from abroad IN
support of the Dreyfus agitation, which
| while disinterested in France, might not
| be so abroad"
NJ De Freycinet, however, did not re-
member the details of the conversation
nor could he say if any specific amount
| was mentioned
NJ. De Freycinet then alluded to his fears
| that attacks on the chiefs of the army
might be prejudicial to discipline" adding
| Might not these attacks lead to the dis
appearance of discipline, and what thcr
would be the result if we found ourselves
in difficulties with a foreign country"
patriotic speech, rather than a deposition
concluding with the words: "All the worlC
will accept your verdict. which will oper
an era of reconciliation
The members of the court-martial treat
ed NJ. De Freycinet with the greatest o.
Difference.
The president of the court, Colone
| Jouaust declined TO put to the witnes!
some questions from Maitre Labori, lead
ing counsel for the defense. on the ground
that they had no direct bearing on thu
case. One of these questions referred e
NJ. De Freycinet's personal opinion of NJ
Scheurer-kestner, the former vice presi
dent of the senate. who has interested him
self strongly in behalf of Dreyfus. Al
| though the colonel refused to nut the ques
| ton. the witness replied that NJ Scheurer
/ Kestner was his friend, and that he had ;
| cinet was then conducted tC the witness
; seats. where he sat for few minutes be
side General Billot, chatting with that of
ficer. He left the court later. The rest o
the session was taken up with minor wit
| neSSpS