Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-26
A PERFECT FARCE
Enacted at the Dreyfus Court
martial, on Friday.
BertiIon Makes Laughable Exhibition
With Socalled Evidence.
More Testimony for Dreyius and Opinion
Grows in His Favor.

9Th session OF the third week of tho
second trial by courtmartial of cant
Alfred Dreyfus of the artillery, charg-
ed with treason, occurred at 635 A NJ
today, without any extraordinary in
cident. The clerk of the court read n
medical certificate, signed by two doc
tors, whose names We're unknown 10
the audience, declaring it was impos-
sible for Col Du Patty de Clam to leave
his bed to come to Rennes and testify
Maitre Labor. leading counsel for
the defence, asked the president of the
court Col. Jouaust. to instruct two
wcll-known medical men to examine
Du Patty de Clam, but Col. Jouaust re-
fused.
Mr.. Rowland Strong. an English
newspaper man, was then called to
the witness bar and deposed to the
fact that Major Count Esterhazy con-
fessed to him that he wrote the ia
nous bOrdcreau.
The next witness was NJ. Colbert. an
expert of the Bank of France. who can
claim the honor of being the first man
in France to have declared in favor OF
DreyfuS. He eXhorted. on examining
the documents in the case. that Ester
haZy and not Dreyfus wrote the Dor
dereau. The witness opened his depo-
sition with brief personal statement
protesting against being characterized
as doubtful expert" by the military
party. But" he added, in tones of
profound pity and turning towards
Dreyfus, Il have no right to complain
and am silent when | see before me
the unfortunate man who sits there
A murmur of approval from the
audience greeted these words of SYM
pathy.
NJ. Colbert then repeated the evidence
he had given before the court of CaSSa-
ton. He gave his testimony in a clear,
convincing manner and was most en-
phatic in attributing the bordereau to
Esterhazy. Answering question of the
judges, NJ. Colbert declared his con
viction that the bordereau was written
in a running natural hand and said
there was no tracing or other trickery.
Gen. Gonse asked to be confronted
with NJ. Colbert and put a number Of
questions. over one or two Of which
the witness stumbled. to the infinite
satisfaction OF the military witnesses,
who smiled and exchanged joyful
chances.
NJ Ecrtillun the noted anthrOp1mctrist.
was called as the next witness. lie w"ic
a dark blue frock coat and carried high
hat in his hand. NJ. Bcrtillon requested
that his diagrams and papers he brought
in. The request was granted and VI. Der
tillon retired for a moment Later he re-
turned at the head of a squad composed
Of an infantry sergeant and tour privatcs.
al staggering under the weight Of inn
mcnSc leather SatchclS. hulging WIFI
documents and charts which they depos-
itrd on the stage as q roar Of laughter
echoed throughout tho court Even tho
Judges were unable to suppress smile
as they gazed on NJ. Bertill1n's stage
properties strcwn over half the platform.
The witness began by saying that only
intelligent men could follow his CNplana
lions. ana the court was half emptied az
the audience after audibly smiling at his
extraordinary words and expressions.
arnn became bored ana went out.
N. Bortillon commenced his deposition
at $50 A. NJ 1t occupied the whole Ut
this session and viii. perhaps. occupy u
good part Of tomorrow's session.
The court room presented curious
scene while NJ Ber,illon. whom the Drey-
fusards. in their most induScnt momen,s,
describe as dangerous maniac spent
the remaining hours Of the session IN *
planning in unintelllgibc terms, hi; in
faIliblc system" Of proving Drcyfus was
the author OF the bprdcrcau Tho major
ity of the public, however utterly unable
to comprehend NJ. Bcrtillon's theories.
had Mt thc court room. Even LA Dame
Blanche" Uhc white LADY,. abandoned hc.
post.
IN the meantime NJ. Bcrtillon, with
gestures ana in the snrill, pitched voice
of a quack at a country fair, continues
his monologuc. producing every minute
some fresh paper covered with wondefi VI
hicroglyphics. copies Of which he present
ed to the judges who. with an expression
of owllilc wisdom. carefully examined
them their heads clustered together tHeli
eyes gazing on the long, wide strips 81
paper. while NJ Bertillon leaned over
their table. trying to explain his mysu
flying diagrams. which were afterwards
passed to NM. Labor and DemahSe' VT"
however. apparently did not derive ihucH
profit from their perusaL
Drevfus gazed at the scene with loof
of stupefaction. The cearest utterahC'
of NJ. Bertillon, during the course VI us
demonstration, was that the hahu" i'''''5
of The hordcrcau "obeys a gcometrlca
RHYTHM. of which | discovered the equd
ton in the prisoners blotting PAD.
The witness finally announced that -
would give practical demonstrated"
the writing Of the bordereau accoi ui..'
To his system. Then ne inca iO''l'
cleared the desk attached to the "'tie?
br drew his chair nearer. depoSi'eu ~
high hat on the floor. and, sltuiis ~"
began copying the bordereau' ,,.o
The audience watched nm, pe"' -.
the desk. busily drawing letters, /
judges gazing at him. until at the I've
10 minutes. the people and the Juu5 Ian
came restlessly impatient, anu - -, ;,
aust remarked that it was no' 80
to copy the whole bordereau, an"
few lines would suffice. ,se
A few minutes later NJ Berti'.o" ,afor
strobe 10 the judges table ana la,u n
them his copy. The judges couns' ar
government commissioner Je,,,s+are
reese. and the clerk of the cour ~, -
around in one group. eager 70 stran
suit. The audience watched IN s,rnrce
spectacle. until Col. Jouaus' snectatol
his shoulders and then the e.,,ad d al