New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-26

! President Of the Senate who has been prom-
nent in obtaining a revision OF the Dreyrus case
! During this discussion Savignaud protested tna'
! he had been COMPOUNDED with a bandsman Oh 'he
same name who had bad character.
An ex-sergeant who was at one time employer
! IN the War Office testified to seeing DresiuS
! copying the list of railroad stations men'oneu
| in the plan Of mobilization, to which DreyiuS
replied: 1T is true. But I copied the list oy
order Of Captain Besse."
The testimony Of the handwriting experts fol-
low ed M. Colbert, after testifyng to the Iacts
published on April % and April "a. vehemently
! protested against the insinuation that ne was
an interested witness He referred to his thirty
years Of service. during which he had reported
| on thousands Of documents. and added. visioiy
| anected. "I protest against the term interested
expert But" turning toward the prisoner
/ after all l have no right to complain when
! look at this unfortunate man now before you
| (sensation) The Court closely followed M 90
bert's exhaustive story Of his examination OF inc
bordereau and his interview with Generals Mer-
cier. De BoIsdeffre and Gonse.
! POINT FAVORABLE TO DREYFUS.
He asserted that the handwriting OF the bor-
dereau natural and fluent. but that 1t was
almost illegible. whereas Dreyfus even when
",
witness asked General Gonse II an envelope ac-
| companied the bordereau. as he, M. Colbert
wished to see what the writer's careful callis-
raphy was like. explaining that the address Of a
letter is always in a frmer hand than are its
| contents.
General Gonse refused the request on the
| ground that the witness must not know the
| name OF the addressee. The General also de-
| cided not 10 allow the bordereau to be photo
grained alleging that II the War ONCE photog-
raphers were allowed to photograph 1t. all Paris
would be acquainted with the bordereau the
| next day Gaughter)
ThereUpon the witness remarked: general
Gonse this is a very interesting confession" M.
| Colbert then suggested that the work be In
| trusted to the Prefecture Of Police. where M.
Bertlon is the photographer. Until then, the
| witness also said. he had never heard OF M.
Bertillon as a handwriting expert, adding that
! he became an expert for this special occasion,
when he was called in the War ONCE laugh
| teri
General Gonse 1t appeared from the testimony,
| was greatly enraged when he learned OF the
| result Of NJ Gobert's examination OF the Dor
dereau. and visited the expert repeatedly. The
latter always insisted upon learning the name
OF the suspect.
ut was not proper" said M. Colbert. for me
to accuse any one without being perfestly cog
infant of the facts. especially in circumstances
of so grave a nature. would not accuse any
one anonymously. for to do 80 would be con-
trary 10 the law
Amidst laughter in the court the witness de-
scribed how, from an examination Of an official
report on Dreyfus, from which Dreyfus's name
had been removed. NJ Colbert had the malicious
| taIli
of the officer they wanted to arrest.
WANTED A REPORT AGAINST DREYFUs.
1t was after NJ Colbert had refused to in
| crimnate Dreyfus that NJ. Bertillon was in
| trusted with the examination Of the bordereau.
| and after few hours study. NJ. Bertillon posi-
| lively attributed the bordereau to Dreyfus
From that time forward NJ. Colbert heard no
| more Of the Dreyfus case. He was not asked
70 submit a report but described to the then
| Minister of Justice NJ. Guerin. the circum-
| stances Of the case NJ Guerin. continued the
witness intimated that these were soldiers
affairs" which did not concern him as Chief OF
| the Civil Judiciary.
| Colonel Jouaust asked NJ. Colbert for more
definite criticism of the bordereau. and the wit
ness replied that he noticed certain similarties
between the handwriting Of the bordereau and
that Of Dreyfus. But there were many important
| differences which proved to him that Dreyfus
was not the author Of the bordereau, and his
| opinion had since been confirmed. because 1t
was now proved that the bordereau was the
work of Esterhazy."
| Replying to the Court, NJ. Colbert suggested
| that the Judges compare the bordereau with a
letter admitted to be in EsterhaZy's handwrt-
ing and dated from Rouen on August II. 1894
| urItta NV
You will then Enthusiastically recognize" M. Go
bert added. that the bordereau is in Ester
Hays handwriting and not in the handwriting
| Of Dreyfus" decided sensation)
The witness at this juncture identified the
bordereau as the same which was submitted
| to him. and he proceeded to point out the iden-
ticaity of letters therein with letters admittedly
| written by Esterhazy, saying that while the re-
| semblance was not apparent In Dreyfuss hand
writing in Esterhazy's there were marked Pc
| culiarites Of punctuation and the manner OF
beginning fresh lines. which were also notice
| able in the bordereau. but which were not found
in the prisoners chirography.
| Proceeding the witness traversed the old
| ground Of the peculiarities of the tracing paper
| which ii is known Esterhazy used. and said the
| date of the bordereau must be July "A. 1894
| The expert refused in reply to a question by
| the Court to admit that the bordereau was
written in a disguised hand. He said that II
had been written with great rapidty, preclud
| ing all idea of doctoring or tracing.
| GENERAL GONSE TRIES TO TRAP HIM
General Gonse asked permission to question
| M. Colbert. and said I'm what army list die
YOU look for the name Of Dreyfus?"
| NJ Gobert-I used the list which is generally
| kept in business houses.
| The General pointed out that this list did moi
| give the Information claimed by NJ. Colbert
| But the witness maintained that he had stated
nothing but the pure and simple truth.
General Gonse having alluded to certain un
desirable acquaintance formed by NJ. Colbert