The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-30

with F,sterhazy's writing, who, he ad-
ded in everybodyS opinion had rela-
tions with Colonel schwartzkoppeh' tne
former German military attache at
Paris, and the dissimilarity between
the writing of the bordereau and. that
of the prisoner -
The members of the court martial
were apparently much interested and
asked Prof. Molinier a number OF ques-
tions to which he replied, upholding
his conclusion that Esterhazy was the
writer of the bordereau.
General Mercier requested to speak
and called attention to the fact that in
his testimony before the court of cas-
was apparent in EsterhaZy'S handwrit-
ing after 1894 and asked that the pro-
fessor's former evidence be read.
NJ LabOri, leading counsel for the
defense inquired if General Mercier in
tervened with the object of verifying
Prof. MOlinier Counsel added that it
seemed to him that General Mercier
interviewed less in the character of the
witness than representative of gov
ernment commissioner. He therefore
would be grateful to the general if he
would kindly explain the bearing of his
remark.
General Mercier replied that on this
special point he desired to confirm the
evidence of Prof. MOlinier, which he
said corrobOrated NJ. Bertillon's state
ment that Esterhazy, the man of straw,
changed his handwriting in order to
replace Dreyfus.
In conclusion General MERCER said:
Having emphasized the point in re-
gard to the change in Esterhazy's writ
ing in 1897, perhaps before, 1 am sat
isfed." (CommOtion)
Prof Giry, also of the Scnool of An
cient Manuscripts traversed ground
similar to that covered by Prof. Mo
linier He said the bordereau only had
a superficial likeness to Dreyfus hand
writing and asserted that it was GER
t2TT F4a Nf ST ea1rf glTT
The witness also said the bOrdereau
was not written with the aid of the
key words.
noticed a change in Esterhazy's cali
graphy and Prof. Giry replied that he
had studied the question but did not
think there had been any marked
change.
Counsel then asked whether General
MERCER had meant to intimate that Es-
terhazy's handwriting had become
more or less like that of Dreyfus since
1894, to which the general replied that
he had not wished to express an opinion
but he reiterated that M. Bertillon had
shown that Esterhazy's handwriting
had become more like that of the bor-
dereau.
NJ Labori retorted that in that case
Gen. Mercier should not have repeated
the evidence of NJ. Grenier before the
court Of cessation, as A. Grenier show
ed NJ. Esterhazy's caligraphy had be
come less and less like the writing
both of the bordereau and of Dreyfus.
BERTILLON IS SNUBBED.
NJ Bertillon at this juncture said he
desired to speak, but the president OF
the court, Col JOuaust hastily rose and
said amidst laughter:
The sitting is suspended"
Then NJ. BertilIOn resumed his seat in
high dudgeon.
On the resumption of the sitting NJ.
Gorges Picot. a member of the insti-
tute was called for the defense, NJ
Demange of counsel for the prisoner
explaining that PicOt was summoned
because in May last he had an inter
view with foreign military attache in
the course of which mention was made
of the document inserted in the dossier
by Gen. Mercier.
Col. Jouaust cautioned the witness to
be careful in his statements.
After promising to exercise care, NJ.
Picot started with saying that he had
an interview with the AustrO- -Hungar-
ian military attache.
Col. JouauSt stopped the witness say
ing:
You cannot continue like this"
Major Carriere, the government com
missary also exclaimed sharply: I
protest in the name of the government
and state against the indiscretion COM
mitted by the witness"
NJ. Picot then recommended his testi-
mony, saying he had an interview with
a certain military attache."
The attache expressed surprise at the
incorrect attitude of French officers,
in doubling the word of foreign Off
GERS
MY Impression" added the witness.
was that he was anxious to assert
firmly and unequivocally the absolute
innOcense of DreyfuS. (SenSation.)
Regarding the bordereau,'' con-
tinued NJ. Picot, the attache said only
three documents, enumerated, were re-
ferred to, the fact being that the 9TH
ers We're padding, meant TO swell the
dossier'
ESTERHAZY A SWINDLER.
The witness noticed that the attache
employed the expression hydraulic
brake" and never pneumatic brake. In
Picot said, declared that he believed
him a swindler The attache also as
serted that Esterhazy had relations
with Colonel Schwartzkoppen, who dis
missed him because Esterhazy only
brought Information devoid of interest.
1T was then" continued NJ. Picot,
that Esterhazy tried to enter the war
Office and almost succeeded, and it was
then that he wrote to Colonel Schwartz
koppen the letter since known as the
bOrdereau.
In reply to the writer of the bor-
dereau" added NJ Picot Colonel
Schwartzkoppen wrote the telegram
card known as the Petit Bleu, but on
reflection he crumpled it up and then
threw it in the fire place
At this juncture General Roget asked
leave to speak and stationing himself
beside the witness. he said he must
strongly protest against NJ. Picot's evil
dence regarding the military attaches
surprise that their French officers did
not believe their foreign colleagues.
What does the witness mink con-
tinued General Roget, of the foreign
officer. who having caused the publi-
cation in the Figaro of an emphatic
denial of a statement of General Mer-
cier was afterwards obliged to ackn0w-
lege the authorship of document.
the paternity of which he at first de-
MED ?"
NJ Picot retorted that he had only re-
peated statements made TO him and had
abstained from comments on them. He
had, therefore, nothing to say in reply
a 90