The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-09-08
A GOOD DAY FOR DR[YF(jS.
Testimony of Witnesses in the Fa.
nous Trial Very Favorable
to the Prisoner.
LABoRPs NOTABLE REQUEST REJECTED
Tho Court Not Favorable to His Petition
That Germany he Requested to Pro-
duce Documents Described In the B0r-
misunderstanding Made Several Con-
fessions Regarding the Document.

Rennes, Sept. determination of the
secret dossier was the sole occupation
of the Dreyfus court-martial during its
sitting behind closed doors, the deci-
sion having been reached, probably in
view of the message telegraphed here
yesterday by Gen. De Gallifet, minis
ter of war, to hear the rest of Cernus-
:hi's evidence in open court.
When the open session of the court
martial began M. Labor presented a
formal application to the court for an
order upon Maj. Carriere, the govern
ment commissary, to request that in
terested foreign governments, through
diplomatic channels, communicate to
the court various documents relating
to the bordereau.
Col. Jouaust said the court would de-
eide the matter later, and meanwhile
proceed with the taking of evidence.
The first witness who was called to the
bar was the reporter, Bassett, whom
the Matin sent to London to interview
Major Count Esterhazy. The witness
deposed that Esterhazy confessed to
him that he wrote the bordereau under
orders from Col. Sandherr, who was
then chief of the secret intelligence
bureau. The order, Esterhazy said,
was to catch the traitor at the head
quarters of the general staff, whom
EsterhaZy afterwards said was Capt.
Dreyfus.
M. Labor then called upon Gen. Ro-
get to testify regarding letters he had
received from Maj. Esterhazy since the
opening of this trial. Gen. Roget
looked the ghost of his former assert
we self. His face was careworn and
showed little of that fighting spirit
which first characterized his appear
ance upon the stage. He replied that
he only opened one letter from Maj.
Esterhazy, which he had forwarded to
Col. Jouaust. Gen. Roget admitted
that he had declined to receive other
letters.
Gen. Roget said he had not considered
Maj. Esterhazy's avowals to be of any
value. NJ. Labor sought to question
Gen. Roget more closely on his state
nent that none of the generals of the
general staff had any relations with
Maj. Esterhazy, but Col. Jouaust de-
,lined to allow further discussion.
Nj. Deffs, a reporter for the Temps,
testified that he saw Maj. Esterhazy in
London and that the latter confessed
that he was the author of the border
eau.
M. Trarieux, formerly minister of
Justice, was the next witness called.
He made long deposition in favor of
Dreyfus. reviewing the history of the
Ease and his own part in connection
Herewith. He made a very telling
speech, describing how his original be-
lief in the guilt of Dreyfus was first
shaken and then completely changed
to conviction of innocence by subse-
quent developments and the noble con-
duct of M. Scheurer-Kestner, formerly
tiers exchanged between Gen. Gonse
and Lieut.. Col. Picquart also strength
ened his conviction.
At the conclusion of M. Trarieux' s
testimony, which was a verita BILE speech
for the defense, and which apparently
made an impression upon the judges,
the court-martial went behind closed
doors and examined the secret espien-
age dossier.
The court also deliberated upon NJ.
Labori's Iequest that application be
made to Germany for the documents
described in the bordereau. The de-
cision was unanimously reached to re-
ject the application on the ground that
the court was incompetent to invite the
government to take diplomatic steps to
obtain the documents in question. 1t
was also decided to hear M. Cernuschi
hohind closed doors tO.morrow