Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-20
THREE OF HIS ENEMIES WERE ON
THE STAND YESTERDAY.
cUIeNET, GoNsE, BoIsDEFFRE
CUI6NET SAYS "DREYFUs AFFAIR Is
PART OF A BIG NATTER,
Adds That There Was "More Than One
Spy" and Tint the MILITARY At
taches Do Nothing but Spy
ing"-Dreyfus' Alleged
Curiosity.

RENNES, Aug. 19.-The stage in the
Dreyfus court-martial trial was occupied
to-day successfully by three enemies OF
Dreyfus. Major Cuignet, General De Bois-
deffe and General Gonse, who, from $50 un.
Ill II a. m, mainly devoted themselves &c
reiterating what they had previously said
in evidence against the prisoner, who fol.
lowed them with characteristic composurei
but when the moment came for him to re-
ply, the prisoner delivered one of those brief
utterances of indignation which have had
such powerful effect upon his hearers.
The long monologues delivered by the
witnesses at the beginning are heard with
certain restlessness which settles into
general drowsiness upon the part of the
majority of the audience, who are unable
TO catch one out of ten words spoken, in
consequence of the deplorable acoustic
properties of the courtroom. The reporters
are at an equal disadvantage as only q
score of them, Immediately beneath the
stage, can follow the proceedings intelli-
gently.
The telegram of denial as to the authen-
ticity of a certain letter sent by Colonel
Schneider, the Austrian military attache
10 the Figaro which, it was generally
thought, would be discussed yesterday, was
introduced to-day by Major Cuignet, who
was very emphatic in his testimony.
Major cuignet did not show to great ad-
vantage in the cross-examination. He is a
well knit, smartly uniformed young Of
ficer, and began his evidence in a loud
voice, in obvious imitation of Colonel Pic
quart, whose fearless. manner and resonant
tones made such an impression yesterday.
Major cuignet evidently, however. COM
mitted an indiscretion in dragging in Colo
mel Schneider's name, which caused a SEN
sation in court. The judges began to lean
their heads together and look serious. Then
Major Carriere, the government commits
sary, rose and, with praiseworthy abb
sence of his usual transforming gestures,
and carefully avoiding mention of Colonel
Schneider's name, made few remarks, re-
fusing, in behalf of the government, to ac-
cept responsibility for Major Cuignet's in
discretion. the fact being that the govern
ment has begun to apprehensive of trouble
if the foreign attaches names continue to
be handled about the court, as has fire.
quently occurred since the opening of the
trial
Other parts of Cuignet's evidence evoked
smiles Of incredulity and suppressed laugh
Ter, as when he declared his belief in NJ.
Bertillons wondrous chart.
When NJ. Demange took up the ma jor's
cross-examination, not very brilliant per
formance in itself, Major Cuignet imme.
,f,t,
centuated every time counsel for the de.
tense asked a pointed question, especially
where counsel threshed out the contradic.
lions with Cuignet's evidence before the
court of cassation.
Dreyfus. too, was effective when he rose
and protested against Cuignet's bitter at.
tack.
During the course of his deposition. Ma
jor Cuignet referred to the extraordinary
dossier" which, however. 1t is doubted the
government will consent to produce. Cuig-
nets reference to these documents was
very mysterious, and as nobody took the
trouble to question him on the subject
evidently little weight was, attributed to
his remark. s
Another interesting indiscreet statement
of this witness was that the secret dossier
only contained the pick of the documents
the ministry of war had in its possession,
and Cuignet said:
81 think the court ought to see the rest
of the documents. 1t would then see that
the Dreyfus affair Is part of a big matter,
and that there was not only. one spy. The
court would see that the military attaches
do nothing but SPYING"
General De Boisdeffre followed. He is
tall. and like every general except Mercier,
who has appeared in court, he boasts of
"A VnrV rOnSuicuouS haId match q hnya q rim,
of gray hair.
De Boisdeffre spoke in a blunt manner
and in somewhat gruff tones, but with a
certain air of sincerity which had its ef-
feet on the judges.
The general was treated with obvious
Difference by the members of the court
martial, but he did not appear to relish the
novelty of being questioned by a Junior
officer, one of the judges, who wished for a
few harmless explanations.
The cross-examination by NJ. Demange
was not very productive. The advocate puts
his questions in sorry to trouble YOU
sort of tone quite different from the hard,
lunging manner of NJ. Labori.
NJ. Demange, however, scored one point
When General De Boisdeffrewinsinuated
that he knew Colonel Picquart had rela-
tions with the Dreyfus family in 1896, coun-
sci questioned him, with the result that the
general was obliged TO admit that he had
no proofs of the accuracy of his state
ments. but relied on Impressions
General Gonse gave his evidence in a
quiet tone. His most interesting remark
WAS with reference TO the letter of Colonel
Schneider, whom. however he was careful
not TO name. But the whole telegram of
The Figaro he virtually declared to be a lie.
as he said: We have in our bureaux many
letters enabling us to affirm the autben.
ticity Of the letter.
The most interesting portion of the pro-
ceedings was the last half hour, when
Gonse. Picquart Billot and Dreyfus were
on their feet in a series of confrontations