The record-union., 1899-08-20

tually declared to be a lie, as he said:
1--WE have in our bureau many letters
which enable us to affirm the authen-
| ITCHY of the letter.
The most interesting portion of the
proceedings was the last half hour,
when Gonse, Picquart, Billot and Drey-
fuS were on their feet in a series of con-
| formations, a move which, however,
| had dramatic elements, and which pro-
duced much emotion in court, and oc-
casioned from Dreyfus unexpected out
bursts of pent up feeling. The pris-
oner spoke several times to-day with
an indignation which rang sincere. But
| he never struck those chords which
| thrilled his hearers last Monday and
| Saturday. The confrontations of Drey-
fus and then Rtcquart with General
| Gonse and General Billot were only
side issues which did not raise ques-
tions of fundamental Importance, and
cannot be said to have had much effect
either way, SO far as the testimony it
self is concerned. But from the point
of view of the prosecution, it is always
a clever game to bring the Generals on
the stage in the role of indignant de-
| fense of the honor of the army for, as
superior officers, their appearance is
bound to exercise a certain impression.
Moreover, to-day gave General Billot
the opportunity for one of those melo-
dramatic speeches on the loyalty of
former Ministers of War which always
go down with the crowd. and which this
morning ELECTED an outburst of cheer
ing from the public in court, which
demonstration was quickly suppressed
by the gendarmes and the hearing was
adjourned until Monday.
Following is the evidence in detail:
Major Cuignet, the first witness
called, was not in uniform, as he is
not at present attached to any corps.
Before beginning an account of the
especial Investigations into the case
which I was ordered to make by Min
| listers of War from NJ Cavaignac to NJ.
de Freycinet," said the witness. Il wish
to mention a personal fact, which, in
conjunction with the evidence already
heard, will constitute fresh proof of the
prisoners indiscreet behavior when en-
! ployed on the headquarters staff I was
/ on the staff when Dreyfus was a pro-
/ bationer, during the latter half of 1898.
/ Among other duties / was connected
with the railroad service and the min
/ ing of railroads, with the view of in
/ terrupting traffic in case of need. 1t
/ is hardly necessary to point out the
secret character of such matters. DrGy-
! fus was a probationer on the eastern
railroads, and had been ordered to spe-
cially study the mining of them, and
i possessed information relating solely to
| them.
"One day Dreyfus asked me to give
| him the general scheme of mining
| which I possessed, giving as the rea-
son for the request that he was anx-
ious to increase his knowledge, and
that it was necessary for him to know
the general scheme. in order to properly
carry out the work intrusted to him
cessity of giving him the scheme, and
that in any case he had better apply
to his own chief, Major Bertin
"Dreyfus pretended that Bertin would
not impart any information. Day after
day he pestered, so that, finally, hav-
ing no reason to distrust him, I began
giving him explanations. Dreyfus dis
played the keenest interest, and took
copious notes. When, later, his house
was searched, these notes were not dis
coverable. I do not know what became
of them. But it is difficult to believe
they were destroyed. considering the
Importance he seemed to attach to the
information and the persistence shown
in procuring it."
After launching the above declara
ton. which he apparently considered te
be weighty evidence of the treachery
of Dreyfus, Major Cuignet proceeded
to recount in detail the task which
General Gonse assigned to him in May
1898, of classifying the documents in
the Dreyfus- -Esterhazy and Picquart
cases.
THE first question I will ask here.
said the witness. "is Dreyfus guilty
My conviction of his guilt is based ar
three grounds: First, his confessions Il
Captain Lebrun-Renault; second, the
> reasonable nature of the contents o.
the bordereau: third, the results of the
/ examination of the secret dossier.
5 will add to these points the evidence
Of the expert Bertillon Qaughter) a!
: indirect proof; the means employed by
r the family of Dreyfus to secure tn,
: prisoners rehabilitation. I protest that
2 campaign had been undertaken
1 against justice throughout our coui
i try"
i The Majors outburst of heroic
t evoked cynical smiles and indication:
2 of dissent, coupled with marks of as
t sent from the assemblage.
The witness next spoke of the secre
, dossier of the War Ministry, containing
: information relating to the interview
/, between NJ Trarieux, former Minister
[ of Justice, and Count Ternielli, the
, italian ambassador, (which country,
: said Cuignet, benefited by the treach
cry"
Regarding the confessions said Il
have been made to Captain Lebrun
Renault, the witness said he still be
: people do not believe the confessions tC
Captain Lebrun- Renault they will be
lieve no human testimony"
Continuing, the witness reasserteC
that the bordereau was written BY
Dreyfus at the end of August, and in
: cidentally the Major protested agains
!, Colonel Picquart's insinuations agains
Du Patty de Clam. He then returned
a to the secret dossier of the War Office
+ from which, he declared. the court wa.
q sure to draw important deductions.
! 1.-THE first portion of the dossier." he
said shows that in 1893 there was 9
: constant leakage in the Ministry al
\ War. We have had proofs of the plans
\ of fortifications reaching the hands Of
I a foreign power. 1t is known to a Ger.
tainty from the letter of an agent of &
t foreign power that the stolen plans EN-.
anatad froro fba Nipic+,.xv of We, .