The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-15

suHaclent and asked him TO investigate
the matter further.
The general dealt with the role of
colonel Picquart, whom he said he
holds in the highest esteem.
lie is intelligent" said General Bill
lot, and gave me valuable informa-
tlon about the organization of neigh
boring army and its artillery. This in
FORMATION showed the necessity of con-
unuing the reforms in our artillery
commenced by that great initiator,
General MERCER.
am who am neither an engineer
nor an expert in handwriting" added
General Billot. saw in that direction
LIE grand work he had accomplished. -
After this General Billot referred to
Colonel Picquarts proposition ITO en-
trap Esterhazy, whom ne suspected,
but General Billot forbade this. He
added that Colonel Picquart'S action
was without authorization. General
BIllot referred TO the eminent services
Colonel Picquart rendered to the army,
leading TO his being entrusted with a
confidential mission to the east and af-
forwards to Tunis. He energetically
protested against the allegation that
Z he had desired to send Colonel Picquart
10 a place from which he would never
return He explained his devotion to
the country and army, and anxiety re-
SpectlnS the secrets of the national de-
Tense often entailed exceptional meas
ures. like resignation and going to dis
tant points, whence it was possible to
return with a superior rank and where
heroissn certainly wiped out everything
except treason. (Sensation.)
Attitude Toward Esterhazy.
After justifying his course towards
Colonel Picquart, General Billot ex-
pialned what he had done in connec-
ton with Esterhazy. He then renewed
ms protest against the attack the de
tenders of Dreyfus made upon him dur
ing the trial of NJ. Zola, and concluded
with expressing a regret that while in
power he was obliged to devote most
OF his time TO the Dreyfus affair, which
time he added. ought to have been
given TO the guardianship of the ma
tional defense.
M. Demange invited General Billot to
explain the slatemenJs of MN. Barthou
and Polncaire, former ministers, that
the general was once so doubtful of the
guilt of DreyfuS that he did not sleep
for several nights. General Billot ac-
knoWledged the statements were true.
Answering questions of counsel, the
general said Colonel PicQuart's reVela-
tionss produced doubts in his mind. but,
he added, al the same his conviction
Of the guilt Of Dreyfus remained I'M
changed
There was a great sensation when NJ.
Demange mentioned the opinion ex-
pressed by NJ. Barthou that General
Biliot had been forewarned in regard to
the forgery of Lieutenant Colonel Hen
ry. The general acknowledged that
the Henry forgery was among the fac
tors arousing his doubts.
The Henry Forgery.
Continuing. General Billot said he
was immensely surprised and deeply
affected by the revelation of the forg-
cry. He said:
II never could have believed a su-
perior officer could be guilty Of forg-
cry
General Cavaignac, former minister
Of war, was the next witness called.
Replying to the president of the court,
he said he was the first cabinet min
lister to assume responsibility to Drey-
fus- He had closely followed the in
quiry Of the court of cessation and
still he desired to associate himself
with the responsibility of those in 1894
who protected the honor Of the army
against treason ,Sensation-)
Continuing. the witness said that
among the principal points upon which
he based his convictions was the con-
fession to Captain lie Brun- Renault, in
support of which contention he quoted
Dreyfus, but which in reality was part
of General CONF report of the minister
of war on Colonel Du Patty de CLAIMS
report of the alleged confession.
NJ CaVaignac admitted the possibility
of mistakes in human testimony, and
said they ought to be taken into ac-
count when condemning a fellowman,
but he asserted he was. convinced of
the guilt of Dreyfus, because his ac-
cusers were so entirely in agreement in
their testimony
Proofs of Prisoners Guilt.
The witness also said he found addi-
tionai proofs of the prisoners guilt in
the technical character of the border |
eau, and thought the bordereau alone
established the fact that the treason |
had emanated from the bureau of the !
general staff, and from an officer who
vas able to secure all the information |
desired.
According to NJ. Cavaignac, even in !
his attempts to hide his crime. the ac-
cused had allowed words TO escape him |
which indfsputably established his |
guilt Everything, according to this |
witness, condemned Dreyfus, and, he |
claimed, in spite of the prisoners de- |
mails, il was established that he had |
been everywhere it was necessary to
procure the information in question |
1t was established, the witness asserted. |
that the prisoner had copied plans of |
the proposed concentration of the army.
Witnesses. he claimed, would testify in
support of this assertion.
NJ. Cavaignac next discussed the de-
malls of Dreyfus, and said his excuses
of lapse of memory We're inadmissible.
Dreyfus, he claimed, was aware of the
changes in the bridge corps belonging
to the artillery, and also of the details
pf concentration. Why, then, the wit
less asked, had he denied this knowl-
adge?
Says Esterhazy Was Not Traitor.
Ii was impossible. according to NJ.
TO credit that Esterhazy
was a traitor. even admitting the Dor
dereau was written by him Esterfazy.
he insisted. could only have acted as
the intermediary Of an accomplice. The
inquiry of the court Of cessation proved
treason was really committed, and he.
NJ Cavaignac, had not based his con-
siction of the culpabilty of Dreyfus
solely on the handwriting of the Dor
dereau- in the secret dossier, he said.
there were many elements for convic-
ton, and he proposed TO discuss all the
made by 70 >eigners. with
the view OF exculpating Dreyfus.
For instance, he said. there would
be official dement's (deniaIsl which ]
would leave plenty of room for the -
truth TO escape. Besides, it was quite
possible the accused was guilty of
treason without having had direct re-
lations with the agents of a foreign
government, and a certain ambassador
had admitted that his military attacbe
had spieG under the immunity granted
to diplomats.
NJ Cavaignac also found in tbo co,, |