The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-29
Of professional Secrecy, Gives
Valuable Testimony
IN DREYFUS' INTEREST
Says Sandherr, and Not Henry,
Received the BOrdereaus
Declares That Henry Was
Jealous of Picquart.
Former War Minister De Frey
cinet Testifies.

Rennes, Aug. 29.-Gen. Mercier. the
former minister of war and most of the
other generals interested in the case,
were present in the hall of the Lycee
this morning when the second session
of the fourth week of the trial by court
martial of Alfred Dreyfus of the ar
ti1ery, charged with treason, was
opened.
Col cordier, deputy chief of the in
telligence department under the late
Lieut.. Col Henry who since his prev
fous appearance in court, had been re-
leased by the minister of war, Gen. De
Marquis de Gallifet, from his oath of
professional secrecy, was the first wit
ness called today. He testified to the
effect that the late Col. Sandherr and
not Lieut.. Col. Henry received the
famous bOrdereau.
The witness deposed strongly in
favor of Dreyfus and was most anus
ing in delivering his testimony He
kept the court and even the judges in
roars of laughter by his jolly face and
a very red nose. The colonel declared
that his belief in the guilt of Dreyfus
was first shaken when the date of the
bordereau was given as May. The wit
ness declared stoutly that he was now
convinced Dreyfus was innocent.
HENRY WAS JEALOUS.
Col. Cordier then spoke up strongly
for Col. Picquart as a conscientious
soldier and an honorable man and
threw light upon the situation which
existed in the offices of the intelligence
department of the war Office. He ex-
planned that Henry was jealous of Pic
quart because the latter was given
charge of the statistical section which
Henry had hoped to get for himself
COrdier expressed the belief that it
was because of Picquart that Henry
permitted his forgery. The evidence
of Col COrdier was delivered in loud
voice accompanied by humorous asideS.
He several times mentioned the am
bassador of Germany which caused the
president of the court Col JOuauSt to
intervene and tell the witness that he
must not introduce the ambassadors
name or refer to Germany. The hasty
corrections of the witness when he re-
peated the same slips of the tongue as
he did more than once and the anus
ing manner in which he avoided men
tiOntng Germany at other times caused
the greatest merriunent. During his
testimony no fewer than five witnesses
rose and asked to be confronted with
him. But the colonel received the in
terruptions with the utmost good
humOr
Dreyfus spoke a few words at the
conclusion of Col. COrdier's statements.
He said the scene which preceded his
arrest was so fantastic that it COM
pletely bewildered him and merely left
a blunted impression on his memory.
DREYFUS HAS BRACED UP.
The prisoner is now accustomed to
his surroundings ~and has apparently
recovered his self-cOnfidence. as he
speaks readily and clearly and follows
the witnesses closely, taking notes of
various points of their dispositions.
Major Lauth first confronted Col
COrdier and tried to score against him
by pointing out that COrdier was in
correct in saying there were no anti
semites on the general staff since Cor
der himself was one. The colonel re-
tOrted turning the tables on the major
as raising his hand he cried: quite
true. 1 was an anti-semite but I never
bore false witness against the Jew
am an honest man"
The audience applauded these re-
marks.
Col. Cordfer then administered a well
deserved snub to Major Lauth by re-
marking that he (the coloneD might be
allowed to know more than Major
Lauth with reference to the work of
the intelligence since he CCordier) re-
placed Col Sandherr as chief of the
department whenever Sandherr was
absent while Major Lauth. the witness
concluded, was merely my assistant.
My assistant, mark YOU
Major Lauth did not eniov this 1i++1a
scene at all --1''
Gen Roget next confronted Col. Cor
olef- Ihe general assumed the same
Superclllous air which characterized
MIN when he appeared at the Witness
par, strutung about the stage in dis
ualnIul attitudes His evidence. how
ever, was not very striking nor vac
Inat OF Col Fleur,or Archivist Grfbelfn
VINO also contested minor points of Co..,
dier's deposition. III
Finally Gen. Aercier. who evi5an+1,,
appeared in order to demonstrate ~,
Daselessness of ethe stories of his in
tentlons to fly and show his deterDair79
non non TO fight 10 the last. confronted
Col Cord1er- The generals rer7arl-e
We're OF small Importance. the most IN
Lerest1ng being his repetition of C1ol
Sauuherr opinion of Afafhiel Dra1-f7,s,
Wnen the prisoners brother Went to eee
1ne colonel to ask for justice in baba1F
Sandherr said '0o
dathieu Dreyfus impressed me as
an honest man who was DreDa~ed -
Ai4sAAe any sacrlhce to save his brother
DE FREYCINET TESTIFIES
M De F,reycinet. the former minister
OF war, former foreign minister an1
premier followed Col Cordier on ~
witness stand. 'A9
Inc court room was packed fO fts 7,+
most capacity as the distinernisba7
Erehch statesman began his deDosifioD
II was evident the public was anvio,7s
70 see the former minister at the yvit
ness par He is a venerable Iool-in~r
man with scanty. snow white hair o-3
mustache and was dressed in the bl11a
serge SUIT. he wore q little black how
Tor necktie and gave his tesfin1oy,,,
seated and in a low voice
ms witness was expected 70 sraat-
eDout the $4,000 600 francs supposed to
nave been contributed abroad rnaIni,y